Over 430,000 Americans die each year from the effects of smoking cigarettes. Some of these deaths result from heart disease that was caused by smoking. In fact, cigarette smoking is a major cause of heart disease and stroke in this country. The risk for these diseases increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
Some people are worried about gaining weight.
But the truth is, most people who stop smoking gain only 5 to 10 pounds. Only a small number of those who quit smoking gain more than 20 pounds. It is possible to stop smoking and still maintain a desirable weight. There are lots of resources available that can help you learn how to eat properly so you will not gain weight when you quit smoking. Exercise is an important key to maintaining or losing weight when you stop smoking.