As of 2010, the percentage of American adults who smoke has dropped from about 40 to 25 percent since the 1964 U.S. Surgeon General's report as more people have become aware of smoking's effect on lung cancer, heart disease and numerous other diseases, according to the American Cancer Society. Smoking kills about 400,000 Americans annually, but deaths could decline if more people quit after learning about how well ex-smokers do, secondhand smoke's damage, the best way to quit, the impact of cigarette prices and the truth about stress.
Significance
"The sooner smokers quit, the more they can reduce their chances of getting cancer and other diseases," according to "Essentials for Health and Wellness." An ex-smoker's risk of dying of a heart attack is 50 percent lower one year after quitting smoking, according to "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease." An ex-smoker's risk of dying of lung cancer is almost 50 percent lower five years after quitting and "only slightly higher" than a nonsmoker's risk 15 years after quitting, according to "Essentials."
Type of Smoking
"Even a little secondhand smoke is dangerous," according to "An Invitation to Health." Secondhand smoke causes 3,000 Americans to die annually from lung cancer, nonsmokers who are regularly exposed to other people's smoke at home or work have almost twice the risk of heart disease than nonsmokers, and "up to 50,000 Americans may die of heart attacks because of secondhand smoke," writes "Invitation" author Dianne Hales. In addition, children have more respiratory problems when they live with adult smokers.
Solution
Quitting smoking cold turkey is "the most successful" method of quitting, according to an American Cancer Society "Quitting Smoking" brochure that was reprinted in "Essentials." However, the most successful cold-turkey quitters prepare to quit by setting a quitting date, throwing away their cigarettes and matches, having a dentist clean their teeth and trying to get other smokers to quit on the same day, reports "Essentials" and Harvard HEALTHbeat's "Four Ways to Quit Smoking" report.
Expert Insight
Americans can reduce the percentage of smokers by pressuring their legislators. In 2009, the federal tax on a pack of cigarettes increased from 39 cents to $1.01. Price hikes work, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They are particularly effective in preventing adolescents and young adults from taking up smoking and causing economically poorer people to quit smoking. A 10 percent price hike has historically reduced smoking by about 4 percent, reports the CDC.
Misconception
Smoking might increase the more harmful type of stress, although smokers report that reducing stress is one of the primary reasons they smoke, reports the journal Addiction. Nicotine, the ingredient in tobacco that causes people to become addicted to cigarettes, does reduce acute short-term stress, but chronic long-term stress is, by far, more harmful, writes Ornish. The survey reported by Addiction revealed that 85 percent of 469 smokers said smoking helped them with stress, but one year later the smokers who quit had 20 percent less chronic stress.
References
- Harvard HEALTHbeat: 4 ways to quit smoking
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Steady Increases in Tobacco Taxes Promote Quitting
- MSNBC.com: Quitting smoking may stub out stress
- Addiction: The effect of stopping smoking on perceived stress levels
- American Cancer Society: Guide to Quitting Smoking
