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107 Northern Blvd Suite 206 Great Neck , NY 11021 516-829-2016 |
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Cigarette smoking accounts for at least 30% of ALL cancer deaths. It is a major cause of cancers of the, larynx (voice box), oral cavity, pharynx (throat), and esophagus, and is a contributing cause in the development of cancers of the bladder, pancreas, liver, uterine cervix, kidney, stomach, colon and rectum, and some leukemias. Nearly 90% of all lung cancers are a direct result of smoking. Lung cancer has been the number one cancer killer in men, and in recent years has surpassed breast cancer as the number one cancer killer in women as well. Cancer isn't the only disease caused by smoking.
Smoking is the main cause of most cases of emphysema. It is also a
major cause of heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis, and
peripheral vascular disease ( bad circulation). For women of
reproductive age it is a contributing cause of infertility, low
birth weight infants, miscarriage, and sudden The stark reality is that if you're a smoker you really don't need to worry about SARS, West Nile Virus, Natural disasters, HIV, or any of the other frightening things you hear about on the news, because none of them is as likely to kill you as smoking. So why does anyone smoke??? Unfortunately most people begin smoking as young adults when peer pressure overwhelms common sense. The tobacco companies target this group because they are the most susceptible, and because they need to replace tobacco consumers that are lost as some adult smokers quit and others die. Once an individual starts smoking it is extremely difficult to quit. Although 70% of smokers want to quit and 35% attempt to quit each year, less than 5% succeed. The low success rate and the high rate of relapse are related to the effect of nicotine addiction. Some experts believe that nicotine in many ways is more addictive than heroin or cocaine. Now that you've decided to quit, how do you succeed? There are as many ways to quit as there are individuals, but the most important factor that will determine whether you will succeed is your level of motivation. People who quit because someone else wants them to are not as likely to succeed as those who do it because they have decided on their own that it is time to give up this awful habit. Every cessation method has its advantages and disadvantages, and each method has been successful for someone and not for someone else. You have to choose the one that appeals to you the most and just give it a try.
These are not the only ways to quit. Some people can quit cold turkey without any help. Others have had success with hypnosis or accupuncture, and still others have found success quitting with a group of people. Which ever method you choose, give yourself time to prepare. Smokers seem to have better success quitting if they have time to mentally prepare themselves and enlist the help of loved ones and friends. give it your best shot. Discuss your options with your physician, pick a date, talk to your family about your plans and get started. Quitting is the smartest move you could ever make. Resources North Shore Tobacco Control Center
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Smoking
kills more people every year in this country than alcohol, car
accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined. In
the year 2000, about 8.6 million people were suffering from at least
one chronic disease due to current or former smoking, according to
the CDC. A pretty staggering figure considering the fact its
completely avoidable. 
infant death syndrome.