| While the number of people who smoke in the United | | | | more likely to suffer a stroke than nonsmokers. |
| States has dropped considerably in the past four | | | | - Low birth weight – In women who smoke, low |
| decades, some fifty million people still smoke, with | | | | birth weight and stillbirth are significantly more common |
| thousands more taking up the habit each week. Most | | | | among smokers than nonssmokers. |
| of the people who start smoking are teenagers, who | | | | The best way to avoid these diseases is to quit |
| are too young to fully grasp the long-term problems | | | | smoking completely. For many people, this is quite |
| that can result from a lifetime of smoking. While there | | | | difficult, due to the body's addiction to nicotine. The |
| are no "smoking diseases" per se, there are a number | | | | next best solution is to continue using nicotine through |
| of illnesses that are more likely to occur in people who | | | | non-smoking means. Nicotine gum and patches have |
| smoke. Obviously, the best way to avoid these | | | | been available on the market for a number of years |
| diseases is to stop smoking as soon as possible. | | | | and many people have success with them. |
| Enjoy smoking but want to avoid smoking diseases? | | | | A recently developed device, the electronic cigarette, is |
| Click here. | | | | also gaining in popularity. These devices, while not sold |
| There are many diseases that are directly related to | | | | as stop smoking aids, resemble cigarettes and allow |
| smoking. A partial listing is as follows: | | | | the "smoker" to inhale a tobacco-flavored mist that is |
| - Lung cancer – The Surgeon General's report of | | | | infused with nicotine. The individual no longer inhales the |
| 1964 was the government's first indication that smoking | | | | deadly carbon monoxide and tar, but instead inhales a |
| and lung cancer are directly linked. While lung cancer is | | | | mixture of water, flavoring, and nicotine. Many smokers |
| the disease that is most commonly associated with | | | | like electronic cigarettes because it gives them |
| cigarette smoking, other cancers that are related to | | | | something to hold and put in their mouth, just as a |
| the habit are cancer of the bladder, larynx, kidney, | | | | regular cigarette. |
| pancreas, pharynx, esophagus, cervix and uterus. | | | | Click here to learn about electronic cigarettes and |
| - Heart disease – Smokers are two to four times | | | | smoking diseases |
| more likely to suffer from heart disease, as smoking | | | | If you smoke long enough, you will likely come down |
| constricts blood vessels, making it more difficult for the | | | | with one of these "smoking diseases" in time. In order |
| heart to pump blood. Coronary heart disease is the | | | | to avoid them, you should see your doctor about either |
| number one overall killer in the United States. | | | | quitting or about finding a nicotine substitute. The |
| - Stroke – Smokers are also two to four times | | | | sooner you take action, the healthier you will be. |