There is nothing good about smoking cigarettes. It is important for everyone to know that more than 8 million people are sick or disabled simply because they use tobacco and 450,000 Americans die each year as a result of smoking. Some of the chronic diseases associated with smoking include cardiovascular disease (heart attacks, strokes, claudication), emphysema (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and lung cancer. Less serious side effects include gum disease, premature aging and wrinkling of the skin. In short, cigarette smoking is the most common cause of preventable death and disability in the United States.
Eric Lindblom reports in his Fact Sheet, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids in September 2010 that 6 million kids under 18 who are alive today will ultimately die from smoking unless the rates decline. Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murder and suicide combined. Lindblom goes on to point out that of the kids who become new smokers each year, almost one third will ultimately die from it. Smokers lose an average of 13 to 14 years of life because of their smoking.
The health problems related to smoking take a tremendous toll on the health care budget. The total annual private and public health care expenditure caused by smoking is estimated to be $96 billion. Productivity losses caused by smoking each year amount to $97 billion. Taxpayer’s yearly federal and state tax burden from smoking-caused government spending comes to an average of $619 per household.
Indeed, there is nothing good about smoking cigarettes. If you or someone you know is smoking and would like to learn more about quitting, the best place to start is with your personal physician. There are many strategies available to assist you. Make that call today.