Kick Butts Day is March 19, and that means it’s time for a crash course on Smoking.
By smoking, we mean “what’s wrong with smoking,” of course. You want to know some Smoking Facts and the top five worst things about tobacco? You’ve come to the right place.
And then – because that’s only half the story – we’ll give you our top five tips to help you Quit Smoking.
So, what’s wrong with tobacco – smoking it, chewing it, breathing it? Plenty. Please read on:
Smoking Facts #1: Tobacco causes 1 in every 5 deaths in the U.S. That’s about 443,000 early deaths every year.
Smoking Facts #2: Every year, about 3,400 adults die of lung cancer, and 46,000 die of heart disease caused by second-hand smoke.
Smoking Facts #3: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for both men and women.
Smoking Facts #4: Smokeless tobacco (snuff, chewing tobacco, etc.) is not safer than the smokeless variety. It contains cancer-causing nitrosamines and increases the risk of mouth, throat, esophagus and pancreatic cancer.
Smoking Facts #5: Here’s just a partial list of smoking-related cancers:
- Lung cancer
- Mouth and throat cancer
- Nasal cavity and sinus cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Acute myeloid leukemia
Smoking is deadly – and that’s final. No if’s, and’s or butt’s about it.
The good news is, lung cancer death is the single most preventable form of cancer death. And, the sooner you Quit smoking or using tobacco products, the healthier and safer you’ll be.
To help you kick some butts for Kick Butts Day, here are our top five tips to quit smoking:
Quit Smoking Tips #1: Ask your doctor about nicotine replacement therapy. Some versions, like the nasal spray, nicotine inhaler, and medications Zyban and Chantix, require a prescription. Others – usually patches, gum and lozenges – can be purchased over-the-counter at your local drugstore. The good news is, it’s safe to use more than one type of over-the-counter nicotine replacement product at once. So, a patch + gum, or a lozenge + patch is OK.
Quit Smoking Tips #2: Get some exercise. As little as 30 minutes of moderate physical activity can help beat the urge and distract you from tobacco cravings.
Quit Smoking Tips #3: Eat some munchies. Chewable snacks like sunflower seeds, nuts or dried fruit can give your jaws something else to do during the moments you’re tempted to light up a cigarette.
Quit Smoking Tips #4: Stay relaxed. Yoga, massages and deep-breathing techniques can help you stay calm and focused without a nicotine fix.
Quit Smoking Tips #5: Get support online. Joining a support group for recovering smokers is one of the best ways to find a community and connect with others who are trying to quit. The sites QuitNet.com and StopSmokingCenter.net are two online resources to consider.
After all, smoking is deadly. But it’s a habit and addiction that we can kick.
To learn more about the facts and risks of smoking, click here.
Talk to us in the comments! What are you doing to quit smoking and kick some butts for Kick Butts Day?
(Image from iVillage.)
