how smoking spoil your health

March 10th, 2010

â??Smoking is very hazardous to the health.â? Everyone knows this but still many people are addicted to this unhealthy habit of smoking. Smoking puts the adverse impacts on the health of the person by destroying the internal mechanisms in the body. The smoker remains unaware and one day he/she gets prone to the fatal outcomes of smoking i.e. cancer. Every year, 10% of people die only due to the habit of smoking. The main constituent of all the modes of smoking is tobacco, which enters the body and destroys all the body functions one by one. The act of smoking is just similar to doing a suicide. A survey was conducted to know about the reasons for the smoking. Many people gave the useless reasons, but I would say no reason is accurate for smoking. It is simply a bad habit and everyone must quit it. The top 10 reasons to quit smoking are as follows:

1. The first reason to quit smoking is to stay away from the fatal hazards of the smoking i.e. cancer. Around 60% of the smokers are noted to be suffering with one or another type of the cancer. The cancer is caused due to the carcinogenic substances present in the smoke of tobacco. Lung cancer is being noted in large numbers among the smokers. The other types of cancer noted are cancer of esophagus, kidney, liver, mouth, bladder, and pancreatic. Remember that there is still no medicine of cancer, so death is confirmed and that too in next 2 to 3 years. So, please quit smoking as early as possible because you may not know how the things went bad.

2. Avoid smoking to stay young. One of the most prominent outcomes of the smoking is getting older earlier than of your age. The formation of the wrinkles is being boosted due to the smoking. Even the growth of the hairs is being retarded due to the smoking. Baldness in men and women is being linked to the smoking habit.

3. Smoking makes your heart weak. The chances of having a heart attack or stroke is being doubled due to the smoking. This happens due to the smoke of the tobacco that disturbs the blood supply to the heart. Even the cardiovascular problems like atherosclerosis are being found to be caused by the smoking.

4. Quit smoking to avoid damage to the immune system. It has been noted that smokers are more prone to the infections than the non-smokers, as their immune system is weak. Smokers also suffer with coughs, colds, and flues very commonly. So, if you want to stay well and healthy then quit smoking today.

5. Your habit of smoking may make you prone to the diabetes. As per the research published by the American Medical Association that smokers are double the times prone to the diabetes. Chain smokers are noted to be suffering with the diabetes in majority of the cases.

6. Impairment in fertility is being noted to be caused by the smoking. The sperm count of the smokers is being noted to be very less in comparison to that of the normal person. Even the diseases like impotence and erection problems are noted very commonly among the smokers. So, to stay potent quit smoking today.

7. In women smokes disturbs the menstrual cycle. The infertility rate in smoking women is more than in non-smoking women. The ovulation fails in the women due to the smoking. Even the chances of miscarriage are being increased due to the smoking.

8. Ocular abnormalities are noted to be occurring due to the smoking. The first symptom you will notice is blurred vision and then it may proceed to complete blindness if proper care is not taken in time. This is one of the important reasons to quit smoking.

9. Sleep Apnea is noticed to be caused by the smoking. The ingredients in the smoking are famous for its nocturnal effect. You will not feel like sleeping after smoking. The less amount of sleep will put adverse impact on the other body systems that will later on lead to the various health complications.

10. Many people smoke even in front of their family. Just think what your children must be thinking while you smoke and what example you are creating for them. Donâ??t forget that your smoking habit might be the reason why your young son has started to smoke. So, just think of this. So, quit smoking to keep your next generation away from this unhealthy habit.

These are the top 10 reasons to quit smoking. Along with these reasons there are many other reasons to quit smoking. So, donâ??t waste time and do the smoking cessation today.

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Health Hazards of Cigar Smoking

March 10th, 2010

We have all heard of the hazards associated with smoking cigarettes, but what are the risks of cigar smoking?  Are the risks of smoking cigars just as dangerous, or more so?  According to the National Cancer Instituted, regular cigar smoking can result in a major health threat.  Scientific research has linked cigar smoking with cancers of the larynx, lungs, esophagus, and oral cavity.  Newer research also indicates that cigar smoking may be strongly linked to the development of cancer in the pancreas.  Doctors also caution that individuals who regularly inhale while enjoying a cigar are also at greater risk of developing lung disease and heart problems.

The health threats of cigar smoking appear to increase dramatically in those individuals who smoke regularly and inhale while smoking.  Someone who smokes three to four cigars each day will him or herself at eight times the risk of developing some kind of oral cancer than a nonsmoker.  Unfortunately, we do not yet know the health risks of smoking the occasional cigar.  It seems clear however that smoking cigars on a daily basis can pose serious health risks.  

Many individuals wonder if cigars are as addictive as cigarettes. Many wonder why, for instance, so many people become addicted to cigarettes, and not cigars?  The truth is that any tobacco product can become addictive because it contains nicotine.  Witness the effects of smokeless tobacco products on individuals.  These products, such as chewing tobacco, can become very addictive, simply because they contain tobacco, which in turn contains nicotine.  Many cigar smokers do not inhale deeply, thus causing the nicotine to be inhaled superficially.  Cigarette smokers tend to inhale, causing the nicotine to be absorbed faster and more readily by the lungs.  Even though most cigar smokers inhale the nicotine more superficially, it is still possible to become addicted if the user smokes cigars on a regular basis.  

If nicotine is so addictive, why don’t more cigar smokers smoke more often?  It appears that more people avoid becoming ‘hooked’ on cigars for several reasons.  The most obvious reason is that the nicotine is inhaled much more superficially than in regular cigarette smoking, causing less nicotine to be absorbed by the body.  Also, cigars are not as readily accessible as cigarettes.  They are viewed by most as a luxury item, saved for special occasions and used infrequently.  However, when cigars are smoked on a regular basis, they can become addictive.  The health risks of any kind of smoking increase dramatically as frequency of use increases.

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The Effects of Cigar Smoking on Your Health

March 10th, 2010

We have all heard of the risks associated with smoking cigarettes, but what are the risks of cigar smoking?  Are the risks of smoking cigars just as dangerous, or more so?  According to the National Cancer Instituted, regular cigar smoking can result in a major health threat.  Scientific research has linked cigar smoking with cancers of the larynx, lungs, esophagus, and oral cavity.  Newer research also indicates that cigar smoking may be strongly linked to the development of cancer in the pancreas.  Doctors also caution that individuals who regularly inhale while enjoying a cigar are also at greater risk of developing lung disease and heart problems.

The health threats of cigar smoking appear to increase dramatically in those individuals who smoke regularly and inhale while smoking.  Someone who smokes three to four cigars each day will him or herself at eight times the risk of developing some kind of oral cancer than a nonsmoker.  Unfortunately, we do not yet know the health risks of smoking the occasional cigar.  It seems clear however that smoking cigars on a daily basis can pose serious health risks.  

Many individuals wonder if cigars are as addictive as cigarettes. Many wonder why, for instance, so many people become addicted to cigarettes, and not cigars?  The truth is that any tobacco product can become addictive because it contains nicotine.  Witness the effects of smokeless tobacco products on individuals.  These products, such as chewing tobacco, can become very addictive, simply because they contain tobacco, which in turn contains nicotine.  Many cigar smokers do not inhale deeply, thus causing the nicotine to be inhaled superficially.  Cigarette smokers tend to inhale, causing the nicotine to be absorbed faster and more readily by the lungs.  Even though most cigar smokers inhale the nicotine more superficially, it is still possible to become addicted if the user smokes cigars on a regular basis.  

If nicotine is so addictive, why don’t more cigar smokers smoke more often?  It appears that more people avoid becoming ‘hooked’ on cigars for several reasons.  The most obvious reason is that the nicotine is inhaled much more superficially than in regular cigarette smoking, causing less nicotine to be absorbed by the body.  Also, cigars are not as readily accessible as cigarettes.  They are viewed by most as a luxury item, saved for special occasions and used infrequently.  However, when cigars are smoked on a regular basis, they can become addictive.  The health risks of any kind of smoking increase dramatically as frequency of use increases.

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The Health Risks Of Smoking

March 9th, 2010

We have all heard of the risks associated with smoking cigarettes, but what are the risks of cigar smoking?  Are the risks of smoking cigars just as dangerous, or more so?  According to the National Cancer Instituted, regular cigar smoking can result in a major health threat.  Scientific research has linked cigar smoking with cancers of the larynx, lungs, esophagus, and oral cavity.  Newer research also indicates that cigar smoking may be strongly linked to the development of cancer in the pancreas.  Doctors also caution that individuals who regularly inhale while enjoying a cigar are also at greater risk of developing lung disease and heart problems.

The health threats of cigar smoking appear to increase dramatically in those individuals who smoke regularly and inhale while smoking.  Someone who smokes three to four cigars each day will him or herself at eight times the risk of developing some kind of oral cancer than a nonsmoker.  Unfortunately, we do not yet know the health risks of smoking the occasional cigar.  It seems clear however that smoking cigars on a daily basis can pose serious health risks.  

Many individuals wonder if cigars are as addictive as cigarettes. Many wonder why, for instance, so many people become addicted to cigarettes, and not cigars?  The truth is that any tobacco product can become addictive because it contains nicotine.  Witness the effects of smokeless tobacco products on individuals.  These products, such as chewing tobacco, can become very addictive, simply because they contain tobacco, which in turn contains nicotine.  Many cigar smokers do not inhale deeply, thus causing the nicotine to be inhaled superficially.  Cigarette smokers tend to inhale, causing the nicotine to be absorbed faster and more readily by the lungs.  Even though most cigar smokers inhale the nicotine more superficially, it is still possible to become addicted if the user smokes cigars on a regular basis.  

If nicotine is so addictive, why don’t more cigar smokers smoke more often?  It appears that more people avoid becoming ‘hooked’ on cigars for several reasons.  The most obvious reason is that the nicotine is inhaled much more superficially than in regular cigarette smoking, causing less nicotine to be absorbed by the body.  Also, cigars are not as readily accessible as cigarettes.  They are viewed by most as a luxury item, saved for special occasions and used infrequently.  However, when cigars are smoked on a regular basis, they can become addictive.  The health risks of any kind of smoking increase dramatically as frequency of use increases.

More info at http://www.healthforall.info/

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Health Institutions Are Banning Smoking Cigarettes On Their Proprieties

March 6th, 2010

Clark Countyâ??s is an advocate who fights against tobacco usage and against the diseases that are being caused by cigarette smoking.  Dr. Alan Melnick is the â? county Public Health Officer and in January he affirmed in a public hearing that even if you tell people how bad is smoking cigarettes for their health or not to smoke so much because in the future they might have breathing problems they still donâ??t quit. Or maybe these arguments might influence a small number of smokers.

That is why a few institutions that have a big role in preventing tobacco smoking have embraced the latest trend: to ban the usage of tobacco anywhere on their property. Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center has banned in January all tobacco. And the same thing is doing now Columbia River Mental Health development and communications.

It represents a very big effort to make the secondhand smoke be further from nonsmokers and make mentally ill patients give up smoking. Stryker affirmed Friday that it will be a very big challenge but they are prepared for it. But people who are mentally ill have a life time period shorter than the rest of the people, sometimes because of the diseases caused by tobacco smoking.

In the metal health clinics were introduced new rules for its patients, they have walk to the 50 yards of the property to smoke. And patients that have used tobacco from the residential clinic are going to have to walk off-site, too.

Here are some answers from a patient who will smoke and nothing will make her stop. For example Sandra Gadberry is 38 and she said that quitting smoking is an insane thing to do. And that people will still smoke cigarettes, because when you are trying to ban it more it makes you want more not to quit.

But the statistics do not agree with the affirmation of Sandra Gadberry, they say that 15 percent of Washington adults are smoking at the moment in comparison to 21 percent from 2000 and 18% in 2007. These results were brought by the state Department of Health. When the taxes for a cigarette pack are growing the smokers already think about how much money they might spend on smoking tobacco and it makes them think maybe its time to quit smoking.

Sandra Gadberry said that Friday is her last day when she will smoke a cigarette and this is because of the big taxes not because there is a ban on tobacco. She also said that in the past she had tried a few times to quit smoking but she didnâ??t have any success. But now maybe she is worried about her health.

There was conducted a study and it has discovered that in 1991 and 1992 people who had mental problems were more exposed to the risk to start smoking than those who are healthy. And all of that was happening because tobacco is like a relaxing medicine to ill people.

Columbia River Mental Health has now other plans to forbid tobacco use and this is referring to those institutions that will allow smoking on their properties.

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Warning – Stop Smoking Drugs May Be Hazerdous to Your Health

March 5th, 2010

Smoking is its own punishment.

But many smokers are being doubly punished these days with 1) a smoking cessation drug that might actually be worse for you than smoking, and 2) a new vaccine recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It’s enough to inspire you to stop smoking just to get these relentless drug merchants off your back! The Associated Press reports that the pneumococcal vaccine protects against a number of pneumococcal bacteria strains, but in the 25 years since it was first licensed it hasn’t been very effective in preventing pneumonia or in warding off pneumococcal illnesses in those with weakened immune systems.

Okay, I get it – it’s an ineffective vaccine that’s sort of effective if you have a strong immune system. Which sort of makes you wonder if strong immune function is doing all the heavy lifting in that equation.

A panel from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently recommended that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should encourage all smokers to get the pneumococcal vaccine. The CDC is expected to sign on for the recommendation. Then stand aside and let the vaccine trucks come rolling through.

And as usual, some giant drug company is going to make a tidy little bundle on this dubious recommendation. And that lucky winner is…Merck & Co. – makers of Pneumovax, which costs about $30 per dose.

Meanwhile, over at Pfizer, things aren’t so rosy.

A couple of weeks ago, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) announced a grim milestone: The number of serious drug reactions and deaths reported to the FDA set a new record in the first quarter of 2008 – almost 21,000 serious reactions were reported, and more than 4,800 deaths.

Two factors accounted for these high numbers: 1) Tainted batches of the blood thinner heparin imported from China, and 2) Chantix, Pfizer’s smoking cessation drug.

In previous e-Alerts I’ve told you about the woes linked to Chantix. Just a few of the side effects noted on the Chantix website include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness (and who wouldn’t be dizzy after those first four side effects?), chest pain, depression, and hypertension.

Earlier this year, the FDA issued a warning about “reports of suicidal thoughts and aggressive and erratic behavior in patients who have taken Chantix.”

Apparently that warning was right on the money.

The ISMP notes that not only did Chantix account for 1,001 of the serious reaction reports (the highest number of any prescription drug), but the number of serious reactions linked to Chantix use was higher than all of the 10 best selling brand name drugs combined.

An Associated Press report included this interesting note: “Officials are not sure whether reports are up because problems are getting worse, or simply due to greater awareness about drug safety issues.”

Riiiight. It’s not the drug that’s the problem, it’s the GROWING AWARENESS that the drug is a problem – THAT’S the problem. Got it.

The ISMP announcement urged the FDA to forcefully warn Chantix users that they might experience blackouts – a pretty serious side effect when you’re driving or flying. That’s why the FAA has already banned pilots from using Chantix.

A Pfizer spokesperson told the AP that clinical trial results show the drug’s benefits “clearly outweigh its risks.” Or – put another way – our drug isn’t as dangerous as tobacco use, which accounts for more than 400,000 U.S. deaths each year.

So, the moral of the story is if you smoke, chew or dip…STOP. Give yourself 3 days and you will kick the habit. Stay away from junk like Chantix, it’s just another drug to replace a drug with side effects to replace side effects.

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Smoking With High Blood Pressure Is Even More Injurious To Your Health!

March 5th, 2010

If smoking, blood pressure, stress and headache were the candidates for Presidential Elections in the US who will win? Make a guess.

Jokes apart…All will lose deposits. No one likes them, for the simple reason that millions are affected by them and suffer on the account of them. They are all most unwanted. You wish to get rid of them but may not actually know it.

High blood pressure which is also known as hypertension in medical terms has affected millions in the US. The estimated figure is 80 million! Many of these, and their number also runs into millions, do not know that they have blood pressure.

The identifiable symptoms of blood pressure are constant headache, difficulty in breathing and feeling dizziness. Smoking is definitely harmful in the state of high or low blood pressure. It is an accepted fact that smoking increases the possibilities of heart attack. The reason is simple enough to understand. Nicotine in cigarette and other tobacco products constrict one’s blood vessels and the heart thus beats faster which is not good for the high blood pressure patients. Further, smoking creates complications in the lungs and in the vascular system.

In fact the thread bare analysis- whether smoking, alcohol, coffee, tea, are good or bad in the condition of blood pressure is meaningless. They are all equally bad. The loyal agents of the dreaded nicotine therefore deserve nothing but condemnation. Any soft attitude towards the products of such classification is not going to help the cause of your health.

And if you are the jack of all trades and are indulged in activities such as drinking coffee, drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes, you are a certain candidate for blood pressure. You also become a possible candidate for future heart attacks and other lung problems!

Stress and headaches are the natural outcome of blood pressure. These three are so closely interrelated that it is difficult to pinpoint which is the direct cause of which disease or imbalance.

Now the question arises how to treat this smoking habit, blood pressure, stress and headache all together? Seemingly they look different, but all of them belong to the same root. So, “positive lifestyle changes” is the only answer!

Your one negative trait may be the cause of several diseases. Similarly one positive trait may be the cure for several diseases. Believe me just one positive lifestyle change may initiate a series of changes in your health. That too all naturally, and for the better!

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Your Health is Too Important for you to be Smoking

March 4th, 2010

What is with all the smoking these days? I feel like everywhere I go lately, the chemical-laden scent of cigarette vapors seek out my nostrils. Why is that? I’m just minding my business, drinking my water, and next thing I know, I’m breathing in someone else’s second-hand smoke, which is actually worse than inhaling it first-hand.

I understand smoking is a right people have, but I have a right to not inhale the leftover vapors. It’s not like caffeine, where someone else can ingest it and makes no difference to me. I feel like I have to walk on eggshells when around smokers, asking them to smoke away from me. They always get their feelings hurt and act like I have no right to say anything.

I do not condone drugs, legal or illegal, in any way shape or form. But when someone says they want to smoke some cannabis, I understand why. They want to get high. They obviously do not care that marijuana smoke can actually be worse than cigarette smoke. The point is, they have a goal, despite how misguided it might be. What’s the point with cigarettes? Why do people start out smoking? What are they trying to accomplish? I do not know.

What I do know is that cigarettes contain a lot more than tobacco. Take a look at these wonderful ingredients: formaldehyde, ammonia, tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide. These are substances that will kill you if you ingest them. Obviously the memo has not gotten out to smokers that this stuff will also kill you if you inhale it. Maybe slower, but it will kill you eventually.

The possibility of pulmonary diseases like emphysema, strokes, heart attacks, Beurger’s disease (this is where your fingers and toes eventually need to be amputated because blood stops circulating in those areas) are very high. Actually if someone smokes over a long period of time, these conditions are absolutes, not possibilities.

It’s just better to not smoke and just exercise and eat healthy.

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Don’t Let Health and Joy of Living to be Taken Away by Smoke in 2009 Too!

March 4th, 2010

In a crowded place a smart looking person, seated close to you, may ask you in a very polite manner “Do you mind if I smoke?”  A seemingly innocent request to which your response will be to nod agreeably as if to say okay.  We do not realize that such a mannerly question spells evil?  Would you have nodded and said ‘okay’ if he had asked you the same question this way… “Do you mind if I poison you?”  If he had asked you “May I have your permission to give you Cancer?” then your spot reaction would have been a strong objection.

After your okay to his initial polite question, the stranger will make his nest move. He will securely pull out a cigarette from his pocket. You won’t believe me if I state that it is an act very similar to pulling out a small gun, because a cigarette too, like a gun, can kill. But unlike a gun, a cigarette kills without drawing blood.

A gun releases one deadly bullet at one target at a time, but a cigarette releases a stream of deadly bullets, tiny in size, targeting every one at close range.  These tiny bullets are smoke-particles that are harmful to both the smoker and the ones inhaling the smoke unintentionally as well, the second-hand smokers that include children as well.

The smoke coming out of a cigarette is so deadly that each cigarette can reduce the smoker’s life-span by around seven to eleven minutes.  Also, it has been estimated that nine out of ten people who require heart-by-pass operations are smokers or ex-smokers. Therefore, smoking is the most preventable cause of death in Society. 

We all have a vision in life as to where we want to end up. It is what we devotedly do with regular focus that takes us towards our vision.  Similarly, the vision of a smoker is identified as ‘the Coffin’ and by his regular actions soon he will end up in it.

It is said that on average a smoker dies eight years earlier than a non smoker. Further more, eighty five percent of the causes of Lung Cancer is related to smoking. And it is a fact that a smoker is twelve times more likely to develop Lung Cancer.

The risks faced by the regular smokers are as follows;

1) Blood clots, which may lead to strokes etc,

2) Cancer,

3) Coronary artery disease, heart attacks,

4) Decreased ability to taste and smell,

5) Delay in wound healing,

6) High blood pressure,

7) Lung problems such as chronic bronchitis,

8) Pregnancy-related problems, including    miscarriage,   premature labor, low birth weight,    risk of sudden infant death,

9) Tooth and gum diseases etc.

And those who are regularly around the smoke of others (secondhand smokers) have a higher risk of;

1) Coronary artery disease,

2) Lung Cancer,

3) Sudden and severe reactions involving the eye,    nose, throat, and lower respiratory tract.

Meanwhile, the Infants and children that are exposed regularly to secondhand smoke are at risk of;

1) Asthma,

2) Infections,

3) Pneumonia,

4) Poor lung function,

5) Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) etc.

It is sad that in spite of imminent danger the smokers continue to enjoy smoking. And the tobacco industry too is thriving and playing a supportive role to the economy as a provider of more and more jobs.  The smokers too generate jobs and income for doctors, grave- diggers etc.

If you are a smoker this is the time to make a New Year Resolution to stop this evil habit. Think of your children, family and loved ones and their future with you as the provider and guardian of the family. It is your obligation to your loved ones to live a long healthily life.

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Some Of The Health Risks From Smoking

March 3rd, 2010

Scientific evidence of the health risks posed by smoking go back to the 1950s. Figures from the US government show that 28% of males 18 years old and above and 23% of females in the same age bracket were into the habit in the mid-1990s. The percentages were even higher in 1964, when the US surgeon general first issued an official warning that smoking was hazardous to one’s health.

Following that formal warning, many reports were released on the link between cigarettes and tobacco to heart diseases, lung diseases, and cancers of the mouth and other tissues. However, the habit persisted, with young smokers doing so as an expression of rebellion and strong drive to be independent.

For adults, smoking marked an addiction to nicotine – the key factor that made smoking a pleasurable and addictive experience. This led to another warning from the surgeon general in 1988, which put addiction to nicotine on the same level as cocaine and heroin.

The danger in smoking comes from the chemical substances released either as a gas or as a particulate. Nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide and most especially carbon monoxide are gaseous emissions from cigarette smoke that threaten to poison the body.

Nicotine is one of several hazardous particulates emitted from smoking. These particulates damage the cilia – the little hairs lining the lungs that help transport mucus out of the lungs, and all pollutants accumulated. When the cilia malfunction, pollutants remain in the lungs and the likelihood of influenza and bronchitis, emphysema and other diseases increases.

The possibility that smokers die from cancer and heart disease is twice that of their non-smoking counterparts. Individuals who smoke also have lungs that become less efficient with age much faster than those who don’t. Smoking has been cited as the cause of over 400,000 deaths in the US every year.

Government agencies, scientists and health officials have also established that passive smoking, or second-hand smoke, also has ill effects. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has reported that over 4,000 chemicals are generated by second-hand smoke, with more than 50 of those believed to be cancer-causing agents.

In 1975, the Centers for Disease Control released a report citing such a danger, noting that toxic chemicals stay in the air and are inhaled by unsuspecting victims. Thus, the concern over smoking as a private choice by individuals expanded into a public-health issue.

Passive smoking was cited as a cancer-causing agent by the US Environmental Protection agency in 1993. For pregnant women, smoking raises the chances that their baby will be underweight or that they end up with a miscarriage. Children less than a year old are twice as likely to have lung infections if their mothers smoke compared to counterparts whose mothers do not practice the habit. Individuals with asthma, allergies or other respiratory ailments were also warned, as exposure can worsen their conditions.

Some smokers gradually quit or smoked less, while nonsmokers became the focus of more protection, as government worked on policies and legislation to curb the habit. As early as 1964, the US signed into law a requirement that health warnings must be integrated into all cigarette advertising and packaging. Policies were also implemented to designate schools, offices and other public places as smoke-free buildings.

In the 1990s, class action suits started to bombard state and federal courts, claiming that cigarette makers employed deceptive marketing tactics to keep consumers from knowing that nicotine was addictive and worked on levels of the particulate in cigarettes to keep smokers hooked on their product.

More recent suits against the industry charge manufacturers of also misleading consumers into thinking that “lights” and similar products were healthier alternatives to regular cigarettes. These more recent cases later led to the multi-billion dollar settlement between the US government and industry in the late 1990s.

These lawsuits and the consistency of health lobbyists and persuasive government programs have helped pull down US smoking rates on a consistent basis over the last four decades, with government figures showing per capita rates at 22.5% and experts forecasting the rates to continue declining in the future.

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