Most
of us know that smoking is indeed a habit that can have
many serious implications on our health but there is a
tendency to view the problem lightly. Its important that
every smoker be aware of the facts concerning smoking and
so I have included certain facts and figures that I hope
will serve as eye openers.
Rick
Beneteau's Quit Smoking Right Now!
Rick
Beneteau is one of the most respected entrepreneurs on
the internet. Whether you know him or not doesn't matter.
What
IS important is this: Last year, he quit smoking. Finally.
For good. Forever. As easily and painlessly as the above
headline states. And most important, he is prepared to
help you (or a loved one) QUIT SMOKING, once and for all,
the stress free way too!
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Here To Find Out More About Rick's Program
The
World Health Organization has been studying smoking trends
and statistical patterns across the globe and has come
up with the following statistics:
A good deal of variation exists from one part of the world
to another. Many more women smoke in Eastern Europe than
in East Asia and the Pacific Region. Eastern Europe itself
has a particularly high rate of smoking, with up to 59
percent of adult males smoking.
As with other substances of abuse, such as alcohol and
cocaine, the global frequency of tobacco use varies by
social class, historical era, and culture. Historically,
smoking had been a pastime of the rich. This trend has
changed dramatically in recent decades. It appears that
economically advantaged men in wealthier countries have
been smoking less. The more years of education you've had,
the less likely you are to be a smoker.
Most smokers begin early in life, before they are 25 years
old. According to World Health Organization studies, the
majority of smokers in affluent countries begin in their
teens. A decline in the age of starting smoking has been
observed worldwide.
As a wannabe quitter, you're in excellent company. People
all over the world are trying to quit and stay away from
cigarettes. There appears to be a correlation between a
country's standard of living, level of education, and income
and the number of people who have quit smoking. The more
and better-informed people are, the more likely they are
to quit smoking.
Current
estimates are that over 1 billion people in the world smoke.
(In other words, approximately one in three adults on the
planet smokes.) The majority of these smokers reside in
countries on the low end to the middle of the socioeconomic
spectrum. Of this majority, about 80 percent live in low-
and middle-income countries. The total number of smokers
worldwide is expected to keep increasing.
But
are things in the USA any better? Not really, as you can
see for yourself in the figures of National Health Interview
Survey (NHIS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Center for Health Statistics
In
the United States, an estimated 25.6 million men (25.2
percent) and 22.6 million women (20.7 percent) are smokers.
These people are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
The latest estimates for persons age 18 and older show...
Among whites, 25.1 percent of men and 21.7 percent of women
smoke
Among black or African Americans, 27.6 percent of men and
18.0 percent of women smoke
Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2 percent of men and 12.5 percent
of women smoke
Among Asians (only), 21.3 percent of men and 6.9 percent
of women smoke
Among American Indians/Alaska Natives (only), 32.0 percent
of men and 36.9 percent of women smoke
Studies show that smoking prevalence is higher among those
with 9-11 years of education (35.4 percent) compared with
those with more than 16 years of education (11.6 percent).
It's highest among persons living below the poverty level
(33.3 percent).
And
These Figures Spell Death...
One out of every five deaths is caused by tobacco
An average of 400,000 Americans die each year from tobacco
Tobacco to blame for many serious pulmonary and cardiovascular
diseases
Tobacco and nicotine are some of the most potent carcinogens
and are to blame for a majority of all cancers of the
lung, trachea, bronchus, larynx, and esophagus
Tobacco use also produces cancers in the pancreas, kidney,
bladder, and cervix
Impotency is sometimes to blame from addiction to nicotine
because of its ability to reduce blood flow
Smoking is an important risk factor for respiratory illnesses,
causing 85,000 deaths per year from pulmonary diseases
such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia
Children and adolescents who are active smokers will
have increasingly severe respiratory illness, as they
grow older
Smoking during pregnancy causes about 5-6% of prenatal
deaths, 17-26% of low-birth-weight births, and 7-10%
of pre-term deliveries, and it increases the risk of
miscarriage and fetal growth retardation
Cigarettes are responsible for about 25% of deaths from
residential fires, causing nearly 1,000 fire-related
deaths and 3,300 injuries each year
