This policy demonstrates the Health System s commitment to improving the health of our patients, employees and the communities we serve. Our mission of leadership in patient service, research and education includes fostering an environment where healthy behaviors are encouraged and supported. The Health System is committed to providing the best care possible for our patients and this includes removing barriers to healing and to health. As health care workers, we need to display positive health behaviors and we need to demonstrate our belief that smoking is a health hazard that can be overcome. Health hazards of smoking The health hazards of tobacco use are numerous and well known.
Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death in the United States.
Tobacco use is implicated in the most common causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and lung disease. In fact, one in every five deaths in the United States is smoking related. Lifelong smokers have a 1 in 2 chance of dying from a smoking related disease, and if that smoker dies from a smoking related disease, he or she loses an average of 12 years of life. Environmental, or second-hand smoke is also an important and unnecessary cause of lung cancer and heart disease. In children, exposure to smoke increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, lung infections, asthma and chronic ear infections.