Thursday is the annual Great American Smokeout, sponsored nationwide by the American Cancer Society. Each year at this time, about 52 million adult and adolescent smokers in the United States are encouraged to drop the habit for at least one day. The effort can be the most important personal investment a person will make in the future. The American Cancer Society points out that cigarettes kill more Americans than suicides, homicides, car accidents, alcohol, AIDS and illegal drugs. Smoking is responsible for one of every five deaths in the United States, and the way smokers die isn't pretty.
Smoking is a major cause of cancers of the esophagus, lung, larynx, oral cavity and pharynx.
It contributes in the development of cancers of the bladder, pancreas, uterus, cervix, kidney, stomach and some leukemias. Women who smoke increase chances of miscarriage, preterm delivery, stillbirth and infant death. Each year, about 1.2 million adult smokers successfully quit smoking. However, not starting is easier than quitting. Enter words describing a concept or keywords.