Smoking cigarettes is a form of recreational drug use and the leading cause of preventable early death in the US.

When you smoke tobacco, you inhale harmful chemicals and smoke into your lungs; these quickly absorb into the bloodstream, leading to multiple health conditions. In addition, the nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive; your body becomes accustomed to the drug, making it challenging to quit ingesting it without withdrawal symptoms. 

Smoking also puts the people around you at risk. People who are frequently exposed to second-hand smoke have the same health concerns as those who smoke themselves.

Any form of tobacco is unsafe, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, chewing tobacco, snuff, and vaping.

Quitting smoking is one of the best ways to improve your health and the health of those around you.

Second-Hand Smoke puts your loved ones at risk.

When smokers exhale from a lit cigarette, cigar, or other tobacco product, those around them inhale the smoke and chemicals, causing the same damage to their systems as those who smoke.

 Approximately 34,000 non-smokers die from heart disease each year from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.

The health hazards of second-hand smoke are even more detrimental to infants, children, and pregnant women. It increases the chances of ear infections and asthma in children and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in infants.

People exposed to second hand-smoke may experience:

• Coughing
• Irritated eyes, nose, or throat
• Excessive mucous
• Chest discomfort or pain
• Bronchitis

Symptoms of second-hand smoke inhalation can mimic those of other health conditions. Call your doctor if you or a loved one has these symptoms, as they could also be symptoms of a more severe illness.

Smoking increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and other medical problems, but quitting lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke. In many studies quitting smoking has cut the risk by half or even more. Studies have revealed the number of heart attacks drop in areas where smoking is banned.

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Sources:

America Heart Association. (2018). 5 Steps to Quit Smoking and Vaping | American Heart Association

CDC. (2022). Tips For Quitting | Quit Smoking | Tips From Former Smokers | CDC

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease | Johns Hopkins Medicine

National Institute on Aging. (2019). Quitting Smoking for Older Adults | National Institute on Aging (nih.gov)

NCCIH. (2021). Quitting Smoking | NCCIH (nih.gov)

NIH. (2022). Smoking and Your Heart - Strategies To Quit Smoking | NHLBI, NIH