We’ve heard for decades now all the warnings against tobacco use, but unfortunately, far too many people are still suffering the consequences.
This year alone, nearly 11,500 Tennesseans will die from smoking, and 42,000 people across the country will die from exposure to secondhand smoke.
In addition to lung cancer, tobacco use is often a contributing factor to chronic heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, birth defects and other diseases. It also increases the risk of other types of cancer including mouth, stomach, kidney, uterus, cervix, ovaries and colon.
Tobacco use continues to be a serious problem in Chattanooga and across Tennessee.
Quitting tobacco can stop or even reverse many of the harmful effects of past tobacco use, and it’s not only good for your health but for those in your life who can be impacted by the effects of secondhand smoke whether they choose to use tobacco or not. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause heart disease, asthma and lung cancer, even in people who have never smoked.