Tobacco is addictive!

Using tobacco increases the risk for short and long-term health problems (USDHHS, 1996, ALA, 2001, CDC, 2000):

• Short-term:
  
• Asthma
  
• Bronchitis
  
• Colds, and nasal congestion
  
• delayed skin wound healing
  
• Long-term:
  
• Breathing: asthma, emphysema
  
• Heart: high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke
  
• Reproductive: infertility
  
• Stomach: esophageal acid reflux, peptic ulcer disease
  
• Cancer: lung, mouth, throat, esophagus and bladder
  
• Death
• Exposing others (especially children) to second hand smoke increases their risk for short and long-term health problems:
  
• Short-term:
  
• Asthma
  
• Bronchitis
  
• Colds and nasal congestion
  
• Long-term:
  
• Asthma
  
• Emphysema
  
• Lung cancer
  
• Death
  
• Exposing an unborn baby to nicotine increases their risk for:
  
• Low birth weight
  
• Premature delivery
  
• Death
• If you are currently smoking tobacco, you are most likely addicted to the effects of nicotine, and it will be difficult to quit. Here are some starter steps:
  
• Smoke outside to minimize exposing others to second hand smoke
  
• Cut down
  
• Explore stop smoking programs:
  
• Student Health Center
  
• Community programs
  
• www.lungusa.org
  
• www.webmd.com
  
• Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Publications or call 1-800-358-9295 or write Clearinghouse, PO Box 8547, Silver Spring, MD 20907.

References:

American Lung Association. Fact sheet smoking. www.lungusa.org, 1-4.

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Preventing tobacco use and addiction. CDC’s Guidelines for School and Community Health Programs, www.cdc.gov, May, 2000, 1-6.

US Department of Health and Human Services. Counseling to prevent tobacco use.Guide to Clinical Preventive Services:Taskforce, 1996, 2nd edition,

http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/GUIDECPS