10 Things Smokers Should Know About Cigarettes

Friday, May 08 2009

Countless studies and mountains of evidence have shown us the health risks of smoking cigarettes, yet smokers continue to smoke, and new smokers begin every day.  Many people simply ignore health information about smoking, while others have not been properly informed. 
Here are 10 things smokers should know. 

1. Smoking cigarettes causes cancer.
   Cancer, the second leading cause of death, was among the first diseases linked to smoking.  Smoking can lead to lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, oral cancer, stomach cancer, and more.
    
2. Smoking cigarettes causes premature skin wrinkling.
   Tobacco has been associated with premature aging and skin wrinkling.  This happens because smoking impairs blood flow to the skin.  Nothing but sun damage ages skin faster than smoking.
    
3. Smoking can lead to erectile dysfunction and infertility.
   Studies have proven that smoking is a major cause of ED.  Plaque bulid-up in the arteries prevents adequate blood flow to the body, including the penis.  Additionally, smoking damages sperm and can reduce sperm count, resulting in infertility.
    
4. Smoking is more harmful to women.
   Adding to the growing evidence that smoking is a greater health risk for women, a recent study shows that women have an increased susceptibility to tobacco carcinogens, which makes them more likely than men to develop cancer from smoking.
    
5. Smoking while pregnant can cause serious health risks to the mother and the baby.
   Smoking deprives babies in the womb of oxygen, which increases the likelihood of low birth weight, lung damage, and preterm labor.  Further, the chance of an ectopic pregnancy is increased.
    
6. Chronic smoking can lead to emphysema.
   The chemical irritants in cigarette smoke can slowly lead to emphysema, which destroys lung tissue and causes shortness of breath.
    
7. Heart attack and stroke risk are increased by smoking.
   The more a person smokes, the greater their risk of heart attack and stroke.  Studies have shown that smokers are five times more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers.
    
8. Smoking decreases your lifespan.
   Smokers reduce the length of their lives with each cigarette they smoke.  Some studies claim that each cigarette smoked takes away 11 minutes of your life.
    
9. Smoking harms the health of those around you.
   Secondhand smoke causes nearly 50,000 deaths every year in the U.S.  Secondhand smoke exposes non-smokers to some of the same health issues that smokers face, like cancer, disease, and premature death.  Even pets are affected by secondhand smoke.
    
10. You stink!
    Smoking makes you stink, plain and simple.  Your breath stinks.  Your clothes stink.  Your skin stinks.  Nobody likes stink.

It can be extremely difficult to quit smoking. Fortunately, there are a number of options available to assist smokers with kicking the habit. Viamedic.com sells Zyban, a nicotine-free medication that helps to suppress both the urge to smoke and withdrawal symptoms. Talk with your doctor about the various options available to help you quit.