How to Quit Smoking

By Stacy Simon Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Since the release of the Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health 50 years ago, there have been 20 million deaths due to tobacco. Almost half the deaths from 12 different types of cancer combined – including lung, voice box, throat, esophagus, and bladder cancers – are attributable to cigarette smoking alone. In addition to cancer, smoking greatly increases the risk of debilitating long-term lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It also raises the risk for heart attack, stroke, blood vessel diseases, and eye diseases. Half of all smokers who keep smoking will eventually die from a smoking-related illness. That’s why it’s so important to quit. And no matter how old you are or how long you’ve smoked, quitting can help you live longer and be healthier. But quitting is hard, mostly because nicotine, a drug found naturally in tobacco, is so addictive. It’s as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Even so, millions of Americans have quit, and you can too. People have used many different methods to quit. Here is what the research tells us about how well they work: RESOURCES: Great American SmokeoutGuide to Quitting SmokingHelping a Smoker Quit: Do's and Don'tsStories of Hope Medications Research shows that using a medication to help you quit smoking can double your chances of being successful. The ...
Source: American Cancer Society :: News and Features - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Smoking/Tobacco Source Type: news