For over fifty years now the government and healthcare agencies have been warning us of the dangers of smoking.
Despite this call to action, smoking remains prevalent in over 20% of our population.
Everyone from high school dropouts to sophisticated corporate movers and shakers with MBAs from Harvard School of Business smoke.
Even professional athletes and doctors have been known to smoke.
So what will it take to convince people that smoking is something so bad that they should finally just lay them down and quit? Please consider the following list as an outline for an argument against those who think the ill-effects of smoking are just made-up diatribe used to take a person's right away from them.
1.
Lung Cancer An estimated 90% of all lung cancer is related to smoking.
One would think, that should be enough to convince someone to stop smoking.
But many may hear this message for the first time after they've already smoked for 40 years.
They may think they are past the point of stopping smoking.
However, studies have shown a reduced risk for lung cancer when people stop smoking.
For those who quit smoking for 10 years, the risk is 30-50% less than current smokers.
Also, if you have quit for 15 years, the risk may be 80-90% less than current smokers.
2.
Cardiovascular A literature review found a reduction of coronary heart disease risk by 36% in people who had stopped smoking.
This is a slightly better risk reduction for the heart than is seen with other heart disease interventions such as taking cholesterol lowering medications or aspirin.
So, for those who smoke and take a statin drug, why not lower your risk another 30% or so and stop smoking? 3.
Lung Disease Studies also show the progression of lung disease (COPD/emphysema) is slowed after someone stops smoking.
The earlier the smoker quits, the less damage they'll have.
This translates to a better quality of life with less dependence on medications and therapy.
This would include using inhalers, nebulizers, oxygen and perhaps even non-invasive ventilation (CPAP).
The key here is the debilitating lifestyle seen in people who suffer from COPD.
Often they do not leave their house, rely on others for activities of daily living like bathing, cooking, etc.
Interestingly, for those who smoke and cough a lot, former smokers also report less coughing and phlegm (mucous) after one year.
4.
Pregnancy Nicotine has extremely negative affects on the baby as it is easily transmitted through the mother's bloodstream.
It is also carried in the breast milk of a nursing mom.
Their unborn child gets the best stop smoking benefit.
Women who smoke typically have lower birth-weight babies (less than 5.
5 lbs), and those babies are 2-3 times more likely to die from SIDS than babies born to non-smokers.
When babies are born too early, they may be developmentally and physically challenged.
Finally, smoking can double your risk for bleeding too much during delivery.
This puts both you and your baby at risk.
5.
Oral Hygiene Everybody wants that Hollywood smile; perfectly white teeth, healthy gums and a winning set of chompers.
Isn't life great when you don't have to worry about your teeth.
Who dreads going to the dentist when they know a lot of work has to be done? I know I do.
Well, smoking can have tremendous affects on periodontal health.
Oral lesions can quickly turn cancerous if not detected early.
Oral cancer is a growing concern for many dental professionals and has become a priority for the American Academy of Periodontology.
Smoking also worsens tooth decay and periodontal disease, as well as, causes stains and offensive breath.
Treatment plans that involve periodontal surgery are exacerbated by the slow healing times found in smokers.
Luckily, smoking and other tobacco cessation results in immediate oral health benefits, such as reduction in oral cancer rates and periodontal disease.