Cigarette smoking is the single most important cause of disease and premature death in the United States. There are 440,000 cigarette-related deaths per year - 12 million dead since the first Surgeon General report in 1964. Smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier, and half of all long-term smokers will die due to tobacco-related death. Smoking is the cause of 90 percent of lung cancer deaths, 40 percent of all cancers (cancer of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, stomach, kidney, bladder, pancreas, cervix), and can cause acute myeloid leukemia as well. More women die of lung cancer than breast cancer.
Smoking is also a major risk factor in heart disease, and smokers are three- times more likely to die of heart disease. Female smokers have increased infertility, earlier menopause, osteoporosis, as well as vaginitis. Smoking also increases the risk of a stroke in women who are on birth control pills. Men who smoke have fewer sperm. Pregnant smokers also have increased complications from pregnancy. Children of smokers have increased respiratory illness, impaired cognitive development, as well as behavioral development. There also are increased incidents of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) among children of smokers. Children of smokers also have an increased risk of smoking.
Secondhand smoke causes disease in nonsmokers: 3,400 lung cancer deaths, 22,700 to 69,600 cardiac deaths per year, and 430 SIDS deaths in the U.S. per year. Thirty-five percent of children live with smokers, and 50 – 75 percent of children in the U.S. have detectable levels of cotinine from cigarette smoke. Smokeless tobacco can cause cancer of the mouth, pharynx as well as esophagus, and can also cause tooth discoloration, gingival recession, periodontal bone destruction, and death from juice ingestion.
Smoking kills more people each year than alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroine, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fires, and AIDS combined.
There are different treatments available for quitting smoking. Currently, the following are available: gum, patch, lozenge, nasal spray, inhaler, and two drugs, Zyban and Chantix. All decrease cravings as well as withdrawal and boast 20 – 25 percent quit rates at one year.
• The gum is available in 2 and 4 mg and should be used in conjunction with the patches as well as Zyban.
• The patch is available in 7, 14 and 21mg, and the first patch should be applied on the night before the quit day.
• The nicotine nasal spray is used for three to six months, and if not abstinent by week four, that is stopped.
• The inhaler deposits nicotine in the mouth, which can cause throat irritation in 40 percent of patients. It is used for three
months and then weaned over three months.
• The nicotine lozenge is available in 2 and 4 mg and can work with the patch where the gum failed. It can cause hiccups,
heartburn and nausea. It is a 12- week program.
• Zyban is a pill taken for seven to 12 weeks and can be used in conjunction with nicotine replacement; cost runs about three
dollars per day. If the person has not stopped in eight weeks, it should be discontinued.
• The other available drug is Chantix, which is available in 0.5mg as well as 1mg tablets. The person should stop smoking
after seven days of the medicine. It can be used for up to six months and can cause nausea, constipation as well as
abnormal dreams; cost runs an average of three to four dollars per day.
The effects on health from smoking are reversible if a smoker stops smoking. Cough and difficulty breathing resolve in weeks and exercise tolerance improves rapidly. There is a 50 percent reduction in bladder cancer in five years and 50 percent reduction in lung cancer in 10 years. There is a 50 percent reduction in vascular disease in five years and heart disease in one year. Death rates are the same as never-smokers by 10 to 15 years.
It is unfortunate that the relapse rate among smokers is very high. At least 70 percent relapse within the first year; two-thirds within the first three months; and the largest group within the first week.
If you have any questions or need help to quit smoking, please contact your primary care provider.
by Ed Jovellana, M.D., FCP Health & Wellness Center
The Health & Wellness Center is named for two sisters -
Ke wed nok which is Potawatomi for North Wind, and
Wa se gish gok which is Potawatomi for Breaking Daylight.
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by Forest County Potawatomi Community Health and Wellness Center, an enterprise of the sovereign Forest County Potawatomi Community;
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