What you may not know about smoking tobacco

By now you should know that smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, however it is important to know that if you DO smoke, please quit smoking to better your overall health.

According to the surgeon general, tobacco smoke has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and cancers such as colon and bladder. You may find some useful information in a previous article published by the surgeon general called "How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease: A Report of the Surgeon General". It is extensive, so you may get more from reading one of the many published summaries. One I particularly liked was from The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention entitled Inhaling Tobacco Smoke Causes Immediate Harm.

It may surprise you that cancer caused by tobacco is not always found in obvious places such as the lung, throat, tongue, or lining of the mouth. Tobacco smoke is harmful to the overall body. Although much more research is needed in this area, it is also important to self-educate yourself and others. After all, it is your body and you have the right to take a stand and speak up for your own health.

Lastly, the American Council on Science and Health has introduced a website solely for learning how smoking tobacco influences your health. Of course, beyond the typical information you would see about this topic. There you will find a great Myth vs. Fact list. I particularly liked how the website explains the damage smoking can do, which is well beyond what a cigarette packs' warning label says. For instance, it explains:

"Smoking is able to cause such widespread damage because harmful substances from cigarette smoke reach every part of your body. Within seconds after a person inhales cigarette smoke, about 4,000 toxic substances are absorbed into the bloodstream. They then travel to every cell in the body. Thus, smoking doesn't just affect your lungs and heart -- it affects everything. But warning labels that mention only heart and lung diseases and pregnancy problems don't give people this message."

I hope this information finds you well. I encourage you to pass it along.