Up in Smoke

Why and How to Give up the Habit

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

You know you should quit. You know it is not healthy. But something keeps bringing you back. Don't blame yourself. You are not alone. The American Cancer Society reports that more than two billion people will quit smoking at least five times in their lives. So how do you finally kick the habit – and kick it for good?

Over the years there have been thousands of reports informing the public of the dangers of smoking. Everything from breathing difficulty, pregnancy complications, cancer and death has been tied to smoking. Information from the CDC points to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to Frank Salvatore, Jr., a member of the American Association for Respiratory Care's (AARC) special subcommittee on smoking and tobacco-related issues at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Conn. "The bad news is, this disease is growing. COPD is the umbrella term for emphysema and chronic bronchitis – smoking primarily causes both diseases."

Additionally, research and studies have revealed information about the additional health risks that male smokers face. "Many are probably aware of the increased risk for heart disease, lung cancer and cancers of the throat, bladder, colon, rectum and pancreas, all as a result of smoking," says Dr. Saul Shiffman, a psychologist and smoking cessation expert at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa. "However, they might not know that male smokers are at risk for smoking-related diseases unique to their gender, particularly their sexual health. For example, smoking can increase erectile dysfunction by 50 percent in middle-aged men and can lead to complete impotency when risk factors such as heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis are present. Smoking also reduces sperm density and motility, increasing the risk for male infertility."

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