The following is a list of the main headings within this document. Clicking on a topic will drop you to the section that discusses this topic. It also increases your risk of developing heart disease, the leading killer of women.
Cigarettes contain a highly addictive drug known as nicotine.
In addition to nicotine, with each puff of a cigarette, a smoker is exposed to over 4,000 chemicals-43 of which are known to cause cancer. Studies have shown that former smokers who have managed to kick the habit for ten years or more have little to no remaining physical damage associated with smoking, regardless of the number of cigarettes they had smoked daily. Each individual needs to develop a strategy to quit smoking that suits her or his personality and abilities. Others may choose to cut down slowly. Regardless of the strategy that works best for you, there are a few fundamental steps that may help you on your way.