| Notice that the title of this article says that smoking is | | | | smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths, raises the |
| voluntary, if you are a smoker and have tried any | | | | risk of heart disease, contributes to high blood |
| number of times to quit, you probably think that | | | | pressure, and vascular disease, and increases those |
| smoking is anything but voluntary. But let's admit to the | | | | risks for other people by exposing them to second |
| truth, you do choose each and every time you light up, | | | | hand smoke.Cigar smokingMany ex cigarette smokers |
| you could just as well choose not to.I have a good | | | | are cigar smokers and try to convince themselves |
| friend who is and has been a heavy smoker for the | | | | that this is a safe way to smoke, because they don't |
| 20 years I have known him. About 10 years ago he | | | | inhale. In fact almost all cigar smokers who were |
| had a heart attack at age 45, which resulted in a | | | | cigarette smokers do inhale. Cigar smokers who never |
| quadruple bypass. When I visited my friend at the | | | | were cigarette smokers tend not to inhale. Cigar |
| hospital, he was scared half to death, he said that his | | | | smoking whether you inhale or not is still as damaging |
| doctors told him he would need to make some lifestyle | | | | to your heath as any other form of tobacco use, there |
| changes, one of which was to quit smoking. He swore | | | | may be somewhat less risk of lung cancer, however |
| that he was at that point, done with tobacco | | | | there is no decreased risk of many other types of |
| forever...well that lasted 2 weeks, he had made a | | | | cancer, if you inhale a few other cancer types are |
| choice. This is a guy who was and still is in fairly good | | | | added to the list.We are exposed to a great numbers |
| physical condition, his job is physically demanding, he is | | | | of advertising messages each day that try to |
| active in some sports, not overweight. So his major | | | | glamorize tobacco use. To balance the message read |
| risk factor is most likely smoking, and he has chosen to | | | | the 1964 Surgeon General Report on smoking this was |
| still smoke. He is about 5 years younger than me and, | | | | the first real indication to the public that there were dire |
| sadly I fully expect that I will attend his funeral. So you | | | | risks associated with tobacco use. At the time this |
| see it really is a choice, not always a wise one, but still | | | | report was published about 70% of the U.S. adult |
| a choice,Well let's get real...I know, I was a heavy | | | | population were smokers, smoking was depicted in |
| smoker for over 25 years before I convinced myself | | | | movies and on television, in ads, on billboards, and |
| that I had a choice. Quitting by whatever method you | | | | glamorized in any way possible.What changes have |
| choose is not a walk in the park! That's what this | | | | we seen?There are fewer movies and television |
| newsletter and in fact what this entire site is all about, | | | | shows that promote smoking as blatantly as |
| helping you with tips, motivation and resources to | | | | before.There are fewer ads that promote |
| overcome your health challenges.Because they are all | | | | smoking.There are health warnings on cigarette packs, |
| equally as damaging to your health and the health of | | | | smokeless tobacco containers, pipe tobacco |
| those around us we should include all of the methods | | | | containers, however not on cigars.The places that you |
| that we abuse our health with tobacco in this article. | | | | can smoke are far fewer. most workplaces, many |
| We will deal with each of them one at a | | | | bars and restaurants, theatres, airplanes, buses.Are |
| time.Smokeless tobacco - snuff, dip, chew, etc.Using | | | | these and many other changes and restrictions |
| smokeless tobacco causes bad breath, stains and | | | | working?About 23% of the US adult population now |
| wears down your teeth, can cause painful mouth | | | | smokes, this is down from about 70% in 1965.However |
| sores, can raise your blood pressure and your | | | | there is still much that needs to be done, many high |
| cholesterol. Over time you will be at higher risk for | | | | school and college students still smoke and many are |
| heart attack and cancer.Pipe smokingPipe smoking | | | | starting everyday, with the information that is available |
| increases the risk of periodontal disease (loss of gum | | | | today it simply amazes me that these otherwise |
| tissue, bone loss, and loss of teeth), mouth and lip | | | | intelligent persons are still smoking.To Your Health,Jim |
| sores and lesions, several oral cancers, heart attack | | | | NewellNeed HELP with smoking cessation? |
| and vascular disorders.Cigarette smokingCigarette | | | | |