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Smoking is a Health Risk

It is time to open your eyes and take a closer look at smoking and its negative impact on people with diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, there is a definite link between cigarette smoking and health risks. Smoking is a health threat to the population at large because it increases the risk of lung disease, heart disease, circulatory problems, and cancer as well. People with diabetes are even more at risk because smoking only worsens the symptoms of the disease.

Statistics on Smoking

Cigarette smoking is the leading avoidable cause of mortality in the United States, accounting for over 434,000 deaths each year.

Complications from smoking kill more people per year than AIDS, heroin and morphine, cocaine and crack, alcohol, fires, auto accidents, and homicides combined.

Smoking causes 30% of all deaths in the United States, 90% of lung cancer deaths, 35% of cancer deaths, and 21% of deaths due to heart disease.

Despite extensive public health efforts to expose the hazards of active and passive smoking, over 30% of American adults continue to smoke cigarettes. Of current adult smokers, 70% were regular smokers before age 18.

It takes only 7 seconds for nicotine to reach the brain after it has been inhaled. Nicotine then triggers mood-altering effects (euphoric as well as sedative) which make it biologically difficult to break the addiction.

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