Smoking

The leading cause of illness and death in the US is
tobacco. Thirty percent of preventable deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease. Tobacco smoke contains numerous toxins, e.g. nicotine and carbon monoxide. The main risk from smoking is the increased risk of developing atherosclerosis. Smoking reduces HDL (the good cholesterol) and increases the stickiness of platelets, cells that form blood clots. Cigarettes also produce carbon monoxide (CO). When inhaled, CO reduces the ability of your blood stream to carry oxygen.

If you smoke, you should STOP NOW!!

Even if you have been a life long smoker, your risk of developing cancer and heart disease drops soon after quitting.

You can only quit if you decide you WANT to quit.
No amount of pressure from family, friends, or your physician and no amount of help from smoke cessation aids will do the trick unless you truly want to stop smoking.

Not only will you be healthier and live longer, but you will save lots of money from the cigarettes you aren’t buying and the health problems you are avoiding. Additionally, your clothes and breath will smell a lot nicer.