Quit Smoking Now

It’s amazing how little smokers know about the dangers of smoking with all the information that is out there. Every smoker knows about the possibilities of lung cancer and emphysema, it’s also the major single cause of cancer mortality. Many don’t know it’s related to other cancers such as bladder and pancreatic cancer. Even facial wrinkles can be attributed to smoking. Smokers generally have higher medical costs than non-smokers.

Half of all smokers will die because of the habit, talk about a danger. Smoking is responsible for about thirty percent of all cancer deaths. Smoking has also been attributed to leukemias. Eighty seven percent of lung cancer deaths are smokers. Lung cancer is the most difficult to treat and one that can be prevented.

If that isn’t enough, cancer deaths are only about half of smoking related deaths. Other dangers associated with smoking are heart disease, aneurysms, bronchitis, stroke, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, weight loss, facial swelling, and overall weakness. When smokers get any type of upper respiratory ailment, they have twice the healing time that non-smokers have.

Reduced fertility, high risk of miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and infant death all have links to smoking. Gum disease, cataracts, bone thinning, hip fractures, and peptic ulcers are all dangers to those who continue to smoke.

Smoking affects every organ in the body, causes many diseases, and affects those around us. In 2000 the Center for Disease Control reported that over eight million people had at least one chronic disease that was related to smoking, many of these people had more than one. All these diseases steal quality of life away from the people who have them, it limits activities, struggling to breathe makes it difficult to get around.

Secondhand smoke has harmful dangers as well. Children of smokers, on average, are more likely to have upper respiratory ailments such as chronic bronchitis or asthma. Even common ailments like colds and ear infections are twice as common in children of smokers.

Smokers and ex-smokers have to be more aware of the dangers they face. It’s important to make sure your doctor knows so you get the preventative care you need. You will also want to pay attention to any other signs or symptoms, like checking the inside of your mouth for changes, a change in cough or a new cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, or trouble breathing should be reported to your doctor immediately.

No one can stress the importance of being aware of these dangers and to pay attention to what your body tells you.