Smoking----How Serious Is The Cancer Risk?

People ask me this question all the time somehow believing that the cancer risk may be exaggerated. Nothing is farther from the truth.
The single biggest harm you can do to your heatlth is through smoking and on a very objective basis, you are really significantly multiplying your risk of conditions like chronic lung disease(emphysema and chronic bronchitis),heart diseases and stroke etc.
As far as cancer is concerned smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer,larynx,oral and esophageal , kidney and stomach cancers and leads to over 30% of overall cancer deaths in the United States. Over 80% of lung cancer deaths are directly attributable to smoking and tobacco use.

These statistics are so startling that all smokers must really take notice immediately and start working on a plan to quit smoking as soon as possible. Every passing day is a lost opportunity and you are putting yourself in serious peril and severely compromising your health. Additionally, you are putting the future of your family at a really major risk.
Unfortunately, in India we are witnessing an increase in women smokers as changing lifestyles coupled with new workplace habits and 24/7 working hours in IT and BPO related industries, are contributing to young girls taking to smoking. This is an extremely dangerous trend and the one with serious repurcusions for the future.For example in pregnant women, smoking causes stillbirth, Sudden Infant death syndrome, low birth weight and other similar complications and therefore the coming generation's health is being very adversely affected by this trend of increase in women smokers.

The other important point is that the second hand smoke has been officially recognized by WHO as a known human carcinogen and therefore family members in the smoker's homes are also exposed to enhanced risk of lung and other cancers and also for lower respiratory tract infections.
There are more than 50 well identified carcinogens in cigarette smoke and it should really be very obvious to everyone that how dangerous this single source is to your and your near and dear ones' health.I
f you really DO care about your family and yourself, STOP SMOKING. NOW.

Very caringly yours

Pradeep K Jaisingh