Cigarette smoke contains about 4000 chemicals, 50 of which are known to be carcinogenic (cause cancer). Second hand smoke (the smoke exhaled by smokers and the smoke that comes from the end of a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe) contains more tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide than smoke inhaled by smoker from filtered cigarettes. Nicotine, the primary addictive drug in tobacco, is a central nervous system stimulant which increases heart and respiration rates, blood pressure, and suppresses appetite. In large doses nicotine is toxic, even lethal. In fact, nicotine was once used as a chemical in insecticides. Women who use birth control pills should NOT smoke as it increases their risks of stroke and heart attack.

Children of parents who smoke tend to cough and wheeze more, have more ear infections, and more frequent asthma attacks than children of nonsmokers. Children of smokers are more likely to smoke as they grow older.

Cigarette smoking is perhaps the most devastatingly preventable cause of morbidity and mortality.

According to the Lung Association the benefits of quitting smoking are immediate:

• Within 1 day, toxins are flushed out of your body.

• Within 1-3 months, breathing becomes easier and the cough has improved or disappeared.

• Within 1 year, risk of developing heart disease decreases by 50%.

• Within 2 years, risk of heart attack decreases.

• Within 5 years, risk of developing cancer of the mouth, esophagus, and bladder decreases by 50%.

• Within 12 years, risk of developing lung cancer decreases by 70%.

It is never too late to quit smoking. If you require further information to help you quit, please contact the C.O.R.E. Program.