You Decide

Be smart, don’t be fooled and remember that tobacco in all forms increases the risk of cancer — it’s your decision.

Smoking “Rules”

Cigarette smoking draws smoke, fire and toxic substances into your lungs, for the purpose of giving the body a dose of nicotine, a highly toxic and addictive drug.

Cigarettes cause can cause a chronic lung disease known as emphysema, lung cancer and heart disease, and are reported to kill 1,200 Americans every day. That amounts to more than 400,000 Americans each year and two to three million deaths worldwide annually. Today in the U.S., smoking causes one out of every five deaths and smokers comprise 90 percent of all lung cancer cases. Smoking harms not just the smoker, but also family members, coworkers and others who breathe the smoker’s cigarette smoke, called secondhand smoke. Among infants to 18 months of age, secondhand smoke is associated with as many as 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia each year.

If you are a smoker, it’s not too late to quit. Studies show that smokers who quit for 10 years reduce their risk of getting lung cancer down to just a little higher than a person who does not smoke. If you have not started, think twice before you try a cigarette.

Quitting Tips

• Set a date for quitting. If possible, have a friend quit with you.
• Throw away all of your cigarettes, chewing tobacco or snuff. Put away all ashtrays.
• When you want a smoke, chew or dip, wait a few minutes. Try to think of something to do
• instead; you might want to chew gum or drink a glass of water.
• Try to exercise — studies show that exercise relieves tension and improves your mood.
• Eat regular meals to avoid being hungry. Don’t confuse needing to eat with the desire to put a cigarette or chewing tobacco in your mouth.
• Carry other things to put in your mouth, such as gum, hard candy or a toothpick.
• Reward yourself at the end of the day for not using tobacco. See a movie or go out and enjoy your favorite meal.
• Start a money jar with the money you save by not buying tobacco products and spend the money on another kind of pleasure: a shopping spree, a night out, a party to celebrate your success.
• Let others know that you have quit smoking — most people will support you.
• If having trouble, ask your doctor about using a nicotine patch or nicotine gum to help you avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Smokeless or “Spit” Tobacco

The nicotine in spit tobacco, commonly referred to as “chew” or “dip,” can cause measurable increases in the heart rate and blood pressure of healthy young men and women within five minutes of use. The longer spit tobacco is used, the greater the risk of both cancerous and noncancerous oral effects. It can cause gingivitis or peeling back of gum tissue as well as oral leukoplakia — a precancerous condition consisting of white, wrinkled and hardened patches of gum tissue where tobacco is held. It also has been found to cause oral cancers, which can permanently disfigure your face.

Spit tobacco contains nitrosamine and benzopyrene, which are proven to be cancer-causing agents. It also contains formaldehyde, which is an embalming fluid, as well as, Uranium 235 and Polonium 210, which are both nuclear products.