Erectile Dysfunction One of Many Good Reasons to Quit Smoking

By Giovanni M. Smith M.D.

Despite society’s knowledge of the health effects of cigarette smoking,and laws restricting its use, smoking prevalence remains high, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Although there had been an overall decline in the number of cigarette smokers from 1997 to 2004, the prevalence has not changed since then. The latest figures show that an estimated 21% (45 million) of U.S. adults are current cigarette smokers.

It has been suggested that the lack of further decline was due to several factors, including a cut in funding for comprehensive state programs for tobacco control and prevention,and tobacco industry marketing expenditures nearly doubling.

Smoking prevalence is higher among persons with smoking related cancers, coronary heart disease,emphysema ,and stroke, than among persons without chronic diseases. The addictive effects of nicotine which is a primary component in cigarettes, probably is the major factor that explains why smokers with chronic smoke- related disease continue to smoke. Health concerns usually top the list of reasons people give for quitting smoking.

The reason this is a concern is that about half of all smokers who keep smoking will end up dying from a smoking-related illness. One of diseases that most people know that smoking causes is lung cancer, but cigarette smoking is a risk factor for a number of other cancers: mouth , voice box, throat, esophagus, bladder,kidney, stomach, and pancreatic. Among other diseases,pneumonia has been list as a cause since 2004.

Other non-lung health problems related to cigarette smoking include heart attacks, strokes, erectile dysfunction, and blindness due to macular degeneration. No matter how old you are or how long you have smoked, quitting can help you live longer and be healthier. People who stop smoking before age 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who keep smoking. Some of the more immediate health benefits to stopping smoking include a drop in your heart rate ,blood pressure ,and carbon dioxide levels.

The major non health benefits include cost savings, and social acceptance.
The prevention of secondhand smoking related disease also should not be overlooked as a benefit. Because of the high cost of health services ,and in many instances lack of access to health care, stopping smoking should remain a high priority for both smokers,and health providers in the year 2009.

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BREATHE LA 4-U-N-I Teens Helping Teens Quit Smoking is a student-led, BREATHE LA supported program that works to ensure teens are aware of, and avoid, the dangers of smoking. Each year, 4-U-N-I Teens Helping Teens Quit Smoking create a WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY event.

Join us for 2009 World No Tobacco Day Text-to-Quit project at Santa Monica Third Street Promenade on May 30, 2009.