Smoking: American Heart Association's Nine Lifestyle Habits

The health benefits of tobacco have only recently been brought into the light. As a new area of research, few sources have extensive knowledge of the subject. Some of the few studies have shown that tobacco can be used to fight certain forms of cancer, prevent Parkinson’s disease, and battle obesity. Doctor William Campbell Douglass, “who himself smokes 3 to 4 cigars a day,” has spent years unraveling the mysteries of tobacco. Doctor Douglass’ explanations pointed to several statistics indicating moderate smoking can improve conditions of patients suffering from specific forms of cancer (Douglass). He also describes a study which shows that women who smoked regularly were at a risk that was 54% lower than women who did not smoke (Douglass). Several other independent studies have also proven the benefits of tobacco. A 2010 study published

In America, there are many studies on the relationship between tobacco use and cancer that was conducted. These studies estimate that about a third of cancer deaths related to tobacco use. Tobacco causes approximately 90% of all deaths from lung cancer and smoking also causes cancer in many other parts of the body like pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, uterus, cervix, kidney, bladder, colon and rectum. To reduce the risk of tobacco-related diseases, the health educators may find information on the Web site “http://www.nobutts.org” to give their audiences necessary information to help them quit smoking.

Smoking is the single highest cause of preventable death in America and puts users at significantly greater risk for disease compared to the rest of the population. Tobacco use costs the U.S. more than 289 billion dollars annually in medical expenses and lost productivity (Surgeon General, 2014). The problems associated with smoking are due in part to its addictiveness. Nicotine is the addictive substance found in tobacco and its chemical dependence is as strong as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol (CDC, 2014). Getting all smokers to quit entirely is not realistic due to nicotine’s addictive characteristics.

With many decades worth of health data now available, it has never been clearer that smoking is one of the most dangerous habits a person can engage in. It is no wonder, then, that so many smokers are committed to quitting and improving their health.

Smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States, which are nearly one in five deaths. The problem about smoking is that not only the smokers are affected by the smoke, but non-smokers and children who are exposed to the secondhand smoke; secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is smoke from burning tobacco products that can be inhaled from the exhaled smoke by the smoker, mainstream smoke, or sidestream smoke, which is the smoke that comes from a lighted cigar, cigarette, or pipe and is more toxic and dangerous than the smoke that comes from the

One of America’s leading cause of death is smoking. Smoking has been around for years and doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon. The effects of smoking harms about every organ in the body, for example: the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, mouth, reproductive organs, bones, bladder, and digestive organs. Smokers use that “it’s my body, I do what I want,” The problem with that is smoking doesn’t just affect the person doing it. It harms other people in the ways; it’s called 2nd hand smoking. People who receive second hand smoking are possible to get a disease as a person who smokes regularly. It might not be as serve but will still be not good. Most people are trying to quit but aren’t trying hard enough without motivation. Smoking is one of the most common causes of death however quitting now will decrease your chances of disease and death.

To understand the current culture of smoking at Wilkes University, research about smoking among college students was analyzed, a survey was given to the University body, and a national smoke-free day was held to promote a wave of change towards a smoke-free campus culture. During the Fall 2015 semester, the well-being of Wilkes University was improved with the establishment of a smoking policy. The health problems associated with smoking are reasons why establishing policies on college campuses are necessary.It is no secret that smoking tobacco can harm nearly every organ in the body. Specifically, smoking tobacco can cause autoimmune diseases, affect bone density, harm blood cells and damage the function of the heart. It can also negatively

According to statistics in the 20th century the world over 100 million people died of tobacco-related diseases. However, the proportion of smokers has not decreased, or even increased due to the limited understanding of the harmful effects of tobacco smoke, knowledge is limited.

According to the Healthy People 2020, each year, approximately 480,000 Americans die from tobacco-related illnesses. Further, more than 16 million Americans suffer from at least one disease caused by smoking. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). The effect of cigarette smoking is alarming. Use of tobacco in the form of smoking is not only dangerous to the one who is smoking but also to a non-smoker. Tobacco harms a human physically and mentally. Major cause of lung cancer is smoking. It is important to prevent the use of tobacco because it is the largest preventable cause of diseases and death in the United States. According to Chin, Hong, Gillen, Bates and Okechukwu (2012) Blue-collar workers smoke at higher rates than white-collar workers and

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the world. Although this lifestyle practice usually warrants a person’s conscious choice to inhale toxic fumes, more than the sole individual are affected by this habit. Passive or involuntary smoking results when bystanders are collaterally forced to also breathe in a product containing at least 70 carcinogens and 7000 chemicals, as a consequence of another person’s smoking (American Cancer Society, 2015). Evidence suggests secondhand smoking (SHS) can lead to “lung, larynx, pharynx, nasal sinuses, brain, bladder, rectum, stomach, and breast cancers” in adults, even though they never smoked firsthand. Although the severity of health abnormalities and illnesses vary due to exposure, the gravity of the repercussions of SHS cannot remain disregarded. The American Cancer Society proposes that due to a child’s pivotal physical, mental, and emotional development, they are “most affected by SHS and least able to avoid it” (2015). In addition to the impediment of a child’s development, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is potentially linked to the development of “lymphoma, leukemia, liver cancer, brain tumors, asthma, infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)” (American Cancer Society, 2015). ETS is literally a grave dilemma plaguing nations.

Smoking has been a preventable leading cause of death in many countries including the United stated for decades. Every year there are billions of dollars spent on treating diseases related to smoking. Many people desire to quit smoking every year but they do not resist a month without it without any form of treatment. Currents treatments such as nicotine transdermal patches, lozenge, gums or inhalations devices are affected but not for a long period of time. These acts as partial agonist to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the body therefore they increase the 1 month quit smoking period to about 6 to 7 months. But these medication have many side effects such depression and hallucination which affect the therapy. Scientists at the ACS’

Smoking is the one drug that has become one of the most influential drug known in the United States today. Many have smoked at least once in their lives, from the time of experiencing smoking as a teenager too experiencing smoking well into adulthood. What many are not aware of is that by smoking, it not only endangers the smoker’s life but the lives of others around. It puts the risk for others to become exposed to second hand smoke and other forms of health problems. These health issues explain why many are facing heart disease today. There are three types of heart disease that a person can contract because of smoking and they are cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and atherosclerosis. These three main types of heart diseases

Cohen, E. L., Shumate, M. D., & Gold, A. (2007). Original: anti-smoking media campaign messages: theory and practice. Health Communication, 22(2), 91-102.

According to the Center of Disease Control national survey, smoking habits have significantly decreased in the United States (CDC). With medical evidence and stricter regulations, smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes are perceived as a concerning habit. As traditional cigarette usage declines, the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been a popular alternative, especially prominent among young adults ages 18-24 years old (CDC). E-cigarettes are inhaled in a liquid vapor form however, like traditional cigarettes, have highly addictive toxins and carcinogens (Stop Cancer Fund).

Tobacco has been in use even before America existed. Tobacco was first discovered by the native people of Mesoamerica and South America and later introduced to Europe and the rest of the world. It has had several forms of use and has had an enormous range of social viewpoints throughout its existence. Even “doctors” suggested smoking cigarettes during the 1930s through 1950s. It was only after a long stretch of health concerns, bad habit forming, and proper public understanding did markets finally change to keep the problem only slightly more under control. Around 80% of quitters try cold turkey, suddenly stopping to use tobacco, without any help what so ever. Only a small 3-4% of them manage to pull off this feat. “Smoking stands as the number one cause of preventable death in the United States. Killing more people than substance abuse, obesity, infectious disease, traffic accidents, and firearms” according the Center of Disease Control. So why is this such a problem today with all the effort pulled into stopping tobacco?