Smoking Cuts Life By Over a Decade

Still smoking? Research conducted by the American Lung Association in its 2011 report “Trends in Tobacco Use” might change that. According to their findings, cigarette smoking takes 13.2 years off a man’s life and 14.5 off a woman’s life. Unless you have death wish, that’s reason enough to kick the habit.

According to dozens of other studies, in most cases, smokers don’t just die early, they die painful deaths linked to respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and many forms of cancer.

Regarding cancer, consider that The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that cigarettes contain approximately 43 cancer-causing agents, ranging from proven carcinogens to possible carcinogens.

If you’re smoking, it’s worth the effort to quit. If you’re smoking around others (even outdoors and especially around children!), it’s essential to stop. If you’re a non-smoker, avoid secondhand smoke since it is as harmful as smoking.

The carcinogenic and potentially carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents found in tobacco smoke are as follows:

Group 1A – Carcinogenic to Humans

4-Aminobuphenyl

Benzene

Cadmium

Chromium

2-Naphthylamine

Nickel

Polonium

Polonium-210 (Radon)

Vinyl Chloride

Group 2A – Probably Carcinogenic to Humans

Acrylonitrile

Benzo[a]anthracene

Benzo[a]pyrene

1, 3-Butadine

Dibenz[a,h]anthracene

Formaldehyde

N-Nitrosodiethylamine

N-Nitrosodimethlamine

Group 2B – Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans

Acetaldehyde

Benzo[b]fluoranthene

Benzo[j]fluoranthene

Benzo[k]fluoranthene

Dibenz[a,h]-acridine

7H-Dibenz[c,g]carbazole

Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene

1, 1-Dimethylhydrazine

Hydrazine

Indeno-2,3-cd]pyrene

Lead

5-Methylchrysene

4-(Methylnitrosamine)-2-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanene (NNK)

2-Nitropropane

N-Nitrosodiethanolamine

N-Nitrosomethylethylamine

N-Nitrosomorpholine

N-Nitrosopyrrolidine

Quinoline

Ortho-Toluidine

Urethane (Ethyl Carbamate)

Group 3 – Unclassified

Chrysene

Crotonaldehyde

N-Nitrosoanabasine (NAB)

N-Nitrosoanatabine (NAT)

Source: Rosenthal, PhD, M. Sara. Stopping Cancer at the Source. Your Health Press.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Debbie C.

3:15AM PDT on Mar 20, 2012

I want to know what the secret is in quitting!! I've tried Chantix, Nicotine Gum, the Nicotine Patches, the Electtonic Cigerette, and even cold turkey. NOTHING works.

I had back surgery and was in the hospital for 5 days. The first thing I wanted when I got out, was a cigerette. I'd heard that the cravings go away after 3 days - obviously not.

Although - while I was on the Morphine, I didn't have any cravings at all. Hmmm....

send a green star

Carol Ann O.

8:25AM PST on Feb 24, 2012

Trying to quit for the 125th time ...AGAIN !

Cynthia N.

6:15AM PST on Feb 24, 2012

thanks for sharing.

New G.

2:34AM PST on Feb 23, 2012

Thank you.

Kathy P.

12:12AM PST on Feb 23, 2012

There is not one good reason to smoke.

Justyna D.

10:21AM PST on Feb 21, 2012

My grandpa died a HORRIBLE death because of a lung tumor. It's kept me from smoking.

Laura M.

8:51AM PST on Feb 21, 2012

Thank god i stopped a year ago

Lindsey W.

7:21AM PST on Feb 21, 2012

With this information which is obviously true, it truly shocks me how many people continue to smoke cigarettes.

Vanessa A.

10:42PM PST on Feb 20, 2012

Great article. Thanks! I'm trying to help my dad and brother to stop smoking, so this is a really helpful piece of info to come by.

Rosa m.

5:34PM PST on Feb 20, 2012

Smoking is one of the nastiest habits someone can have. It's extremely unhealthy and unapealing It also kills you most of the time. I quit a longtime ago and i thank god i did