Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 438,000 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly, such as babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and victims of secondhand exposure to tobacco’s carcinogens. Beating nicotine dependence is one of the best things individuals can do for their health.
The new Quit Smoking Center on Mayo Clinic.com provides users with information on the health risks of smoking, smoking cessation advice, quit smoking strategies, and tips to help individuals cope with nicotine cravings.
According to the American Lung Association, for every person who dies of a smoking-related disease, 20 more people (approximately 8.6 million people in the United States) suffer from at least one serious illness related to smoking.
In the United States, smoking costs approximately $97.2 billion each year in health care costs and lost productivity. It also is responsible for 87 percent of lung cancer cases and causes most cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis.