Live Tobacco Free

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Tobacco is a dangerous and deadly substance. Each year, there are over 4 million tobacco-related deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) it is estimated that annual tobacco-related deaths will rise from over 4 million in 1998 to 8.4 million in 2020. If current trends continue, tobacco will have killed more than 100 million people in the first two decades of the 21st century. While there is not as much research available regarding the health effects of pipe, cigar and smokeless tobacco use, there is no question that all forms of tobacco are dangerous to your health.

Smoking is the No. 1 preventable risk factor for life-threatening diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic lung disease. It’s also the leading preventable cause of esophagus, pancreas, and oral cavity cancer, and has been associated with tumors of the stomach, uterine cervix, liver and kidneys. 

Despite recent declines in the number of adult smokers, more than 1 in 5 adults still smokes regularly. Their tobacco smoke is also harmful to the non-smokers with whom they live and work. In the United States, for example, up to 40,000 people die from heart and blood vessel disease caused by other people's smoke each year.

No form of tobacco is safe. If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco, quitting can dramatically decrease your health risks and contribute to improved health and well-being.

Smoking: 

  • increases risk of developing cancer and lung disease
  • is a major cause of coronary heart disease
  • increases LDL (bad) cholesterol
  • decreases HDL (good) cholesterol
  • contributes to fatty buildup in arteries known to cause heart attacks
  • increases blood pressure
  • decreases exercise tolerance
  • increases the tendency for blood to clot
  • is an important risk factor for stroke (brain attack)

International Resources for Smoking Cessation:

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