Give Quitting a Chance: Tobacco Use and Cessation Facts

The last several weeks I have been talking about the ravages of oral cancer.  Just before that I had an article that related the increased amount of tooth loss in people who smoke versus those who don’t.  I won’t continue to harp on the subject of tobacco products and the problems they cause, but I want to relate some facts to all of you.  It has been found that smokers are likely to quit if advised to do so by a health professional so I am making one more attempt to encourage those people who utilize them to consider quitting.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 46 million Americans smoke cigarettes while nearly 9 million develop at least one serious illness in their lifetime due to smoking.  CDC also reports that tobacco use causes more than 440,000 deaths each year in the United States.  Smoking is the major cause of death in America, killing more people than alcohol, illegal drugs, car accidents, suicide, homicide and AIDS combined.  Here are some key tobacco use statistics:

• Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in America
• Of the 46 million Americans who smoke, 70% say they want to quit
• One in every five deaths is attributed to tobacco use
• The chance of heart attack decreases 24 hours after ending tobacco use
• Nerve endings regenerate, enhancing the ability to smell and taste within 48 hours after stopping tobacco use
• Two weeks to three months after quitting tobacco use, circulation improves, walking becomes easier and lung function improves
• One year after ending tobacco use, risk of coronary disease decreases to half that of a smoker
• Five years after quitting, the risk of stroke is reduced to that of a non-smoker
• Former pack-a-day smokers can save $120 to $190 month
• Spit tobacco is not a safe substitute for cigarettes
• Spit tobacco contains nicotine, the same addictive drug in cigarettes
• Spit tobacco can cause chronic bad breath, discoloration of teeth, gum disease and recession, tooth decay and tooth loss, high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease

I know it can be hard to quit smoking.  I have seen a lot of people try.  Studies show only 2.5% of patients are able to quit on their own.  If you need some help, consult your physician, dentist or even the world-wide web.  A couple of web sites you might try are www.adha.org (under their patient education section) or www.quitnet.com.  Both of these sites have plans to help smokers quit.  My prayers are with you and I wish you the best of success.