Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Smoking and Lung Cancer - What You Need to Know

Okay, we all know that smoking is a difficult addiction to break. It doesn't matter that it's an unpleasant habit, or that a pack of cigarettes today will cost you the price of a fast food meal. It doesn't matter that smoking has you coughing all day long, or that lung cancer is the likely result. Why? Because an addiction to cigarettes is like any other addiction ... very hard to break.

For those who arrive at the decision to finally quit, the primary factor in their decision is usually their health. With that in mind, we're going to give you some of the stark facts surrounding smoking and lung cancer, and some of the good news that comes when you finally quit cigarettes.

1. Smoking is the number one contributor to lung cancer. It accounts for 90% of the cases of lung cancer. Besides contributing to lung cancer, it can contribute to other health-related problems such as emphysema, bronchitis, and heart disease. Combine cigarette smoking with excess weight, stress, and a sedentary lifestyle, and a smoker risks a life plagued with health problems.

2. How long you've been smoking and how many cigarettes you regularly smoke determine your level of risk for lung cancer. The longer you smoke, the more you smoke, the more likely you are to develop lung cancer.

3. While giving up cigarettes is no guarantee that you'll never develop cancer, doing so will immediately lower your risk. Your body will begin to repair itself from the moment you complete your last cigarette. After just one day, the carbon monoxide in your body will be gone and your lungs will begin to rid themselves of the bits and the mucus that smoking leaves behind.

4. While more men develop lung cancer as a result of smoking, women are also in danger. In fact, more women die each year from smoking-related lung cancer than from breast cancer. Cigarettes do not discriminate. Don't be misled into believing you're going to be safe because you're a woman.

5. It's believed that passive smoking can also lead to lung cancer, even in those who don't smoke. If you're regularly around a smoker and exposed to the smoke, you're potentially at risk. It can be particularly intrusive in enclosed environments such as a home or a car. This is why recent movements have discouraged environments where smokers and non-smokers mix.

6. You'll have a greater struggle quitting, if you begin smoking at thirteen or younger. You'll also experience more health-related problems and probably die younger than someone who begins to smoke at 21. Just as important to note ... 75% of those who start smoking in high school are still smoking seven to nine years later.

If you don't smoke ... don't start. If you do smoke ... stop. Smoking and lung cancer go hand-in-hand, but the earlier you quit, the better your odds of avoiding major health issues down the road.

Ready to quit smoking? Download your FREE copy of The Top 10 Ways To Quit Smoking. And find out more about how you can quit smoking immediately at: Quit Smoking Insights

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