In a community, one will always encounter a smoker.  Smoking, since its introduction to societies, is an activity that is inevitably passed from one generation to another.  It is viewed as essential to have a suave and strong personality.  It is once thought to be an indication of sophistication.  But today, it is closely linked to diseases.  Here are some smoking facts related to diseases in the American society.

•    Every year, there is an approximately 438,000 lives wasted due to smoking-related diseases.  This number includes premature babies of mothers who are smokers, and non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke.
•    The United States have recorded around 92 billion dollars of loses in productivity due to deaths caused by smoking.  There is also an estimated 75.5 billion dollars excess in medical expenditures for smoking-related diseases.
•    An estimated 8.6 million Americans suffer from one serious smoking-related illness.  Comparing this to the number of people dying due to smoking-related diseases, there are about 20 people suffering with a smoking-related illness for every person who dies because of smoking.
•    About 73% of the smoking-related illnesses are diagnosed as chronic lung disease.  Then, 90% of lung cancer deaths and 80-90% of COPD (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) deaths are due to smoking.  Aside from this, the Surgeon General now considers pneumonia as a disease that can be caused by smoking.
•    Smoking is also the perceived cause of about 30% of low-birth weight babies and 10% of deaths among infants.  This is because a cigarette smoke is estimated to have more than 4,800 chemicals, of which 69 chemicals were proven to cause cancer.

With the horrifying smoking facts above, there is no corner left to defend the habit of smoking.  There is now an increased awareness of the health risks brought by smoking.  Many workplaces have been declared to be smoke free.

In fact, in 1999, about 70% of the American workers stay in a smoke-free environment.  Even employers impose a no-smoking policy.  This is because essentially, a person will have to choose between his health and his smoking habits.  And for most people, the correct choice is obvious.  The person must quit smoking.  In a 2003 survey, around 32 million out of 44.5 million smokers have declared their intention to quit smoking.

However, quitting is not a walk in the park.  A smoker, deciding to quit, will suffer from withdrawal symptoms.  Thus, to quit smoking, a person must have a dual approach.  First, he must use tools such as nicotine patches, nicotine gums, nicotine lozenges, and nicotine pills to help his body adjust to the absence of smoking.  And second, he must join a “behavior change program” that will psychologically aid him in controlling the urge to smoke.