Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Cigarette use is detrimental to nearly every organ in your body; it can cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, type 2 diabetes, and several other chronic and serious health conditions. Through secondhand smoke (SHS), the impact also extends beyond the smoker. SHS, which affects 58 million nonsmoking Americans, increases risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), impaired lung function, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, and more frequent and severe asthma attacks. Quitting smoking and tobacco use is the only way to prevent these tragic outcomes.
The quitting process may be a complicated and challenging journey, but quitting tobacco will significantly increase your quality of health, mental health AND save you money. If you decide to quit, it is important to know your “why.” It could be one of these reasons, more than one, or something completely different. No matter the reason though, use this as motivation in your journey.
Statistics On the Impacts of Smoking
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Physical Health
By quitting smoking, you can improve your physical health in both short term and long term ways. Some of the many benefits to your body include the decrease in heart rate, the carbon monoxide level in your lungs will decrease, and you will be at lower risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer. No matter how long it takes or when you quit, the health benefits are immediate and last the rest of your life. Click the link below to learn more about the various ways quitting can help you live a longer, healthier life!
Mental Health
Although many people use tobacco products as a form of relaxation, they can actually have the opposite effect. Smoking can cause anxiety and stress when used frequently; so much so that behavioral health conditions and smoking have become correlated. Similar to your physical health, you can improve your mental health in the long term by quitting smoking. Click the link below to get a better understanding of the impact that tobacco use has on your mental health.
Finance
New York has some of the highest prices for cigarette packs. No matter how frequently you smoke, you can save immense amounts of money by quitting. The money you don't spend on smoking presents many opportunities for you to make a positive life change, whether you decide to save it or to put it towards a new, healthier hobby! Click the link below to learn more about the statistics on the prices of tobacco products.
Please see here for additional resources on Why to Quit.