National Smoke Out Day
In the United States, tobacco causes nearly 1 in 5 deaths. To address this, the American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smokeout, encouraging thousands of smokers To give up cigarettes for jsut one day with the hope of inspiring a longer-term commitment to a healthier, smoke free life?
Knowledge can save lives.
The costs of smoking are staggering. Here are some impactful facts from the American Cancer Society about smoking and its health risks:
- Leading cause of preventable death: Tobacco remains the top preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United Staes.
- Deaths due to smoking: Each year, smoking results in an estimated 443,000 premature deaths, including about 49,400 among non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke.
- Million of smokers: Nearly 47 million Americans still smoke.
- Economic cost: Smoking-related healthcare and productivity losses costs the United States $193 billion.
- Cancer connection: Tobacco use accounts for at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths.
- Chronic illnesses: More than 8.5 million Americans suffer from chronic illnesses related to smoking.
- Increased cancer risk: Tobacco raises the risk of cancers of the lungs, mouth, nasal cavities, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colorectum, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterine, cervix, and more.
- Decline in smoking rates: Although smoking rates have fallen since the 1964 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, about 24 percent of men and 18 percent of women still smoked in 2009, with almost 80 percent of them smoking daily.
- Shortened lifespan: Smokers die, on average, 14 years earlier than nonsmokers.
- Youth tobacco use: 1 in 4 high school students report currently using tobacco.
- Youth smokers: About 3,500 kids start smoking every day, with 850 kids becoming regular smokers.
Join the SmokeOut and help spread awareness of the risks of lung cancer, COPD and other related lung disease by sharing this with friends and family – Stay healthy!
