Smoking is a dangerous habit that kills approximately 443,000 people each year, more than HIV, alcohol, drug use, motor vehicle accidents, murders, and suicides combined, states the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. There are several sources you can consult in order to learn more about smoking if you currently smoke and are curious about the effects, or have a loved one who smokes and want more information.
Step 1
Read the warning label on the back of the cigarette box. By law every cigarette box must carry the Surgeon General's warning that cigarettes are harmful to your health and may cause lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and may also complicate pregnancies. As more information has been revealed since 1966, when the first warning was placed on the box, the warning continues to get longer and more detailed.
Step 2
Use online government resources such as Smokefree.gov or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. These sources provide reliable information on the effects of smoking as well as how to quit. This information is provided by doctors and experts working with the government to increase public awareness of the dangers of smoking.
Step 3
Visit your local hospital to see if they have a smoking cessation program. Many hospitals have trained staff and volunteers that specifically work with those who want to quit smoking or other tobacco products. These programs are good sources for gaining more information on the effects of cigarettes, as well as providing the necessary tools if you are looking to quit.
Step 4
Talk to your doctor about the effects of smoking on your body. Your doctor can be a sobering source for unfiltered information on what cigarettes actually do to you. With as many as 4,000 chemicals being introduced into your body, at least 250 of which are harmful, according to the National Cancer Institute, the overall health effects are staggering. A doctor can better help you understand exactly how cigarettes affect you.
