It’s no longer a mystery – everyone knows that smoking has all sorts of negative impacts on health. Nevertheless, the number of people in Quebec who still smoke is alarming. Find out about the risks associated with tobacco use and take charge of your health by quitting smoking!
Everyone knows that tobacco use can have disastrous consequences on your health. Nevertheless, many people decide to ignore the risk and go on smoking. According to the most recent statistics, nearly one out of every five people in Quebec is a smoker.
More than 4,000 chemical substances are present in cigarette smoke, including at least 50 that can cause cancer. These substances include arsenic, tar, and carbon monoxide. In addition to these toxic products, cigarettes also contain nicotine, which causes physical and psychological addiction to tobacco.
Smoking is among the leading causes of death around the world. Every year, nearly 13,000 people in Quebec die due to the consequences of smoking. It is estimated that a smoker is three times as likely to die between the ages of 35 and 70 as a non-smoker. In addition, half the people who smoke at age 20 and don’t quit die of a tobacco-related disease.
Clearly, cigarettes have a major impact on the lungs. An estimated 85% of cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and of lung cancer are caused by smoking. About a third of all cancer cases are due to smoking, including:
Tobacco use is also a significant cause of heart disease. In fact, smoking considerably increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Smoking can also affect fertility. In addition, smoking during pregnancy can adversely affect fetal development, for example, increase the likelihood of premature birth and low birth weight.
Apart from the serious health consequences mentioned above, smoking can also impact your everyday life. It can affect your breathing, causing coughing and shortness of breath. It increases the risk of respiratory tract infection, including bronchitis. All of these occurrences can significantly reduce your quality of life.
Smoking can also affect you in many other ways, for example:
Smoking also entails considerable financial costs, both at the personal level and for the health system.
If you are a slave to cigarettes, please know that it is never too late to stop smoking. With help and a good action plan, everyone can quit smoking for good. If you achieve this objective, you’ll notice its benefits in the first few days. Over time, your risk as an ex-smoker for developing tobacco-related diseases falls to the level associated with lifetime non-smokers. Make the right choice for your health and quit smoking now!
Smoking can also affect you in many other ways, for example:
Smoking also entails considerable financial costs, both at the personal level and for the health system.
If you are a slave to cigarettes, please know that it is never too late to stop smoking. With help and a good action plan, everyone can quit smoking for good. If you achieve this objective, you’ll notice its benefits in the first few days. Over time, your risk as an ex-smoker for developing tobacco-related diseases falls to the level associated with lifetime non-smokers. Make the right choice for your health and quit smoking now!
