Frequently, when I tell patients to use a smoking cessation program, they are concerned primarily about the cost of a given program. However, the terrible toll of smoking has to be our primary concern. Consider these smoking related facts:
1) Smokers are at a much higher risk of most cancers. The most common among these are, cancers of the lungs, mouth, tongue, throat, esophagus, bowel and bladder.
2) Each cigarette smoked shortens the life-span of the smoker by 14 minutes, which adds up to 4 hours per pack.
3) Smoking causes blindness. Macular degeneration which is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. is closely related to smoking. Cataracts are also caused by smoking.
4) Active and passive ( second hand) smokers have frequent chest infections.
5) Smokers have a limited sense of smell.
6) Smoking causes aging of the skin by depleting vitamin A content of the skin. This causes most smokers to have facial skin that is about 10 to 20 years older, than their chronological age.
7) Mothers who smoke run the risk of having higher risks of many pregnancy complications and these problems contribute to risks for the baby.
8) Every year 400.000 Americans die due to smoking related illnesses.
SMOKING CESSATION
There are several interventions available to help stop smoking.
The following are
specialized resources:
1) American Cancer Society
2) American Heart Association: 1-800-AHA-USA1
3) www.smokefree.gov
4) 1-800-QUIT-NOW
5) American Lung Association: 1-800-LUNG-USA