It’s no longer a mystery – everyone knows that smoking has
all sorts of negative impacts on health. Nevertheless, the number of people in
Quebec who still smoke is alarming. Find out about the risks associated with
tobacco use and take charge of your health by quitting smoking!
Cigarettes and death
Everyone
knows that tobacco use can have disastrous consequences on your health.
Nevertheless, many people decide to ignore the risk and go on smoking. According
to the most recent statistics, nearly one out of every five people in Quebec is
a smoker.
More than
4,000 chemical substances are present in cigarette smoke, including at least 50
that can cause cancer. These substances include arsenic, tar, and carbon
monoxide. In addition to these toxic products, cigarettes also contain
nicotine, which causes physical and psychological addiction to tobacco.
Smoking is
among the leading causes of death around the world. Every year, nearly 13,000
people in Quebec die due to the consequences of smoking. It is estimated that a
smoker is three times as likely to die between the ages of 35 and 70 as a
non-smoker. In addition, half the people who smoke at age 20 and don’t quit die
of a tobacco-related disease.
Health consequences
Clearly,
cigarettes have a major impact on the lungs. An estimated 85% of cases of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and of lung cancer are caused by
smoking. About a third of all cancer cases are due to smoking,
including:
- Cancer of the esophagus
- Cancer of the mouth
- Cancer of the uterus
- Bladder cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Tobacco
use is also a significant cause of heart disease. In fact, smoking considerably
increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Smoking
can also affect fertility. In addition, smoking during pregnancy can adversely
affect fetal development, for example, increase the likelihood of premature
birth and low birth weight.
Impact on well-being
Apart from
the serious health consequences mentioned above, smoking can also impact your
everyday life. It can affect your breathing, causing coughing and shortness of
breath. It increases the risk of respiratory tract infection, including
bronchitis. All of these occurrences can significantly reduce your quality of
life.
Smoking
can also affect you in many other ways, for example:
- It can alter your senses of
smell and taste
- It reduces your ability to
perform physical exercise and your energy level
- It has an adverse impact on
your physical appearance (yellow teeth, prematurely aged skin, unpleasant
odour, and so on)
- It condemns you to a life of
repeatedly trying to suppress feelings of withdrawal
- It exposes you to a greater
risk of depression and anxiety
- It affects your relationships
with family, friends, and colleagues
Smoking
also entails considerable financial costs, both at the personal level and for
the health system.
If you are
a slave to cigarettes, please know that it is never too late to stop smoking.
With help and a good action plan, everyone can quit smoking for good. If you
achieve this objective, you’ll notice its benefits in the first few days. Over
time, your risk as an ex-smoker for developing tobacco-related diseases falls
to the level associated with lifetime non-smokers. Make the right choice for
your health and quit smoking now!
Smoking
can also affect you in many other ways, for example:
- It can alter your senses of
smell and taste
- It reduces your ability to
perform physical exercise and your energy level
- It has an adverse impact on your
physical appearance (yellow teeth, prematurely aged skin, unpleasant
odour, and so on)
- It condemns you to a life of
repeatedly trying to suppress feelings of withdrawal
- It exposes you to a greater
risk of depression and anxiety
- It affects your relationships
with family, friends, and colleagues
Smoking
also entails considerable financial costs, both at the personal level and for
the health system.
If you are
a slave to cigarettes, please know that it is never too late to stop smoking.
With help and a good action plan, everyone can quit smoking for good. If you
achieve this objective, you’ll notice its benefits in the first few days. Over
time, your risk as an ex-smoker for developing tobacco-related diseases falls
to the level associated with lifetime non-smokers. Make the right choice for
your health and quit smoking now!
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