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CDC Study Details Smoking Trends

According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics published in last
week's MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT (MMWR), approximately 24.7 percent of adults in the United States (47 million) smoked in 1995. The study also shows that smoking rates differ significantly between sexes and among ethnic groups.

Native Americans and Alaska Natives had the highest smoking rate at 36.2 percent. African-Americans ranked second at 25.8 percent, followed by whites at 25.6 percent, Hispanics at 18.3 percent, and Asian and Pacific Islanders at 16.6 percent.

The study also reports:
• 24.5 million men and 22.4 million women smoked in 1995.
• Nearly 70 percent of the nation's 47 million smokers want to quit.
• Smoking rates were higher for people with between 9 and 11 years of schooling (37.5 percent) than for people with 16 or more years of schooling (14 percent).
• 32.5 percent of people living below the poverty line smoke compared with 23.8 percent of those living above the poverty line.
• 44.3 million people report being former smokers (25 million men and 19.3 million women).
• The United States Public Health Service's goal of reducing the adult smoking rate in the US to 15 percent by the year 2000 is now unlikely according to the CDC.

Sources: "Cigarette Smoking Among Adults - United States, 1995," MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT, December 26, 1997; David Brown, "Quitters, Smokers Draw Even In Study Of Habit," WASHINGTON POST, December 25, 1997, p.A24; "Study Shows Smokers Want To Quit," UPI, December 24, 1997. (Post Date: 12/29/97)

Physical Benefits of Quitting

Within 20 minutes of last cigarette:
1) Blood pressure drops to normal,
2) Pulse rate drops to normal rate,
3) Body temperature of hands and feet increase to normal

After 8 hours of last cigarette:
1) Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal,
2) Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.

After 24 hours:
Chance of heart attack decreases.

After 48 hours:
1) Nerve endings start re-growing,
2) Ability to smell and taste is enhanced.

After 72 hours:
Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier.

After two weeks to three months:
1) Circulation improves,
2) Walking becomes easier,
3) Lung functioning increases up to 30%.

After one to nine months:
1) Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease,
2) Cilia re-grow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection,
3) Body's overall energy level increases.

After five years:
1) Lung cancer death rate for average smoker (one pack a day) decreases from 137 per 100,000 to 72 per 100,000. After 10 years:
1) Pre-cancerous cells are replaced,
2) Other cancers, such as those of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas, decrease (there are 43 cancer causing chemicals in tobacco smoke),
3) Lung cancer death rate drops to 12 deaths per 100,000 almost the rate of those who never smoked.

According to a publication put out by the Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia), called "Clear Horizon's" (A Self-Help Quitting Manual), here are some facts:

Within about ONE YEAR after quitting, the extra risk of dying from a heart attack caused by smoking is cut by HALF. Your heart and circulation begin to improve within A FEW MONTHS.

Diseases like emphysema and bronchitis are TEN TIMES less likely among nonsmokers. These diseases can stabilize or improve when people stop smoking.

Within ten years, your chances of getting lung cancer drop to HALF of those of a person who keeps smoking.

Smokers have an early death rate, 70% higher than those who quit.

Diabetics are much less likely to suffer serious effects like heart disease, blindness and stroke.

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