According to the WHO (World Health Organization), we’ll reach the death toll of one billion by the end of the century from tobacco-related causes if we keep the current pace of consumption. Smoking killed 100 million people in the 20th century. That’s more than the death toll for the first and second World War combined. Recent WHO reports are even grimmer stating over 5 million people die each year from illnesses or diseases attributed to tobacco use.

Cigarette smokes contain over 4000 chemical compounds. Out of the 4000, 200 are known to be toxic. Not a single one of them is beneficial to your body.

Over 60 known carcinogens are present in cigarette smoke. Carcinogens are cancer causing agents that mutate genes that control growth of cells. It is statistically irrefutable the fact that smoking causes cancer. With that said, it’s also important to point out that not all smokers develop smoking related cancer.

Over 90 percent of lung cancers are caused by smoking. Smoking also causes cancer of the larynx, the mouth, and the pancreas. Nearly 40000 Americans are diagnosed each year with Pancreatic Cancer. Nearly 40000 die each year from it. In Europe, it’s 60000+ people. Survival rate for Pancreatic Cancer is low due to the lack of apparent symptoms early on. By the time of diagnosis it would have been too late for most. After the diagnosis patients can expect 3 to 6 months to prepare themselves for their inevitable fate. Only 5 percent of Pancreatic Cancer patients show 5 year survival rate.

Smoking can also cause Heart Disease. It is estimated that about 20 percent of heart disease are smoking-related. Smoking increases blood clotting resulting in increased blood pressure and heart rate leading to decreased amount of oxygen delivered to the heart

Nearly 40 percent of smoking-related deaths affect women. It should be enough to encourage women to stop smoking, but if you need more encouragement. Smoking is attributed to premature aging and wrinkles rendering any anti-aging cream useless.

Men don’t fare any better. The gentlemen have decreased sexual activity to look forward to. There’s nothing sexier than an impotent man with a nicely stained set of teeth.

Nervousness is commonly displayed among smokers. Going extended hours without smoking tends to make smokers jittery, but unless you are your own boss, you can’t step out of the office every time you need a fix. Smokers get tense as they slowly run out of cigarettes. Smokers will gladly make a trip to a local shop on a cold night to buy an extra pack of cigarette than be caught without a smoke before sleeping or after waking up. It is a true waste of one’s time and energy.

Smokers often show signs of depression. Smoking in the early stage is enjoyable, you smoke because it relaxes you and make you feel good. As dependency sets in you no longer smoke for pleasure, you smoke to prevent feeling the uneasiness that comes when you don’t have your fix.

The devastating effects of smoking are irrefutable.  The smoking facts are out there.  The verdict has been in.  It is not a matter of if, but a matter of how you will use these facts to steer yourself in the right direction. Continue with “How To Quit Smoking”.

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