Smoking Cessation: Four Ways to Quit

By now, even the tobacco companies agree: smoking is bad for your health—very bad, in fact. Cigarettes are the most hazardous, but cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco also contribute to tobacco's terrible toll. And secondhand smoke is an important cause of death and disability in people who never light up.

We're making progress. Over 45 million Americans have quit, and many communities prohibit smoking in public places. But more than 20 percent of adults still smoke, and the habit remains more prevalent in men than women. Tragically, thousands of teenagers take up smoking every day.

We can do better. Fortunately, there are more ways to kick the habit than ever before.

The hazards of smoking

Tobacco is responsible for one of every five deaths in the U.S. That adds up to over 435,000 lives lost each year, and over 8.5 million Americans suffer from chronic illnesses caused by smoking. All in all, the average nonsmoker lives about 14 years longer than the average smoker. And the worldwide burden is truly staggering. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking will kill about 650 million of the world's 1.3 billion smokers alive today.

Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes and peripheral artery disease. About 20 percent of all cardiac deaths are caused by smoking.

Between 80 percent and 90 percent of all patients with emphysema owe their lung disease to smoking. Chronic bronchitis and pneumonia are among the other lung diseases that are increased in smokers.

And there's more. Smoking contributes to many other health problems, ranging from cataracts, sinusitis, and dental disorders to aging skin, heartburn, diabetes, osteoporosis, and two issues of special concern to men, bladder cancer and erectile dysfunction.

The more you smoke, the higher your risks—but even a few cigarettes a day will harm your health. "Light" and "low-tar" cigarettes are no safer than high-tar brands. The only truly safe dose of tobacco is zero.

Smoking and sexuality

Classic movies may make smoking look sexy, but men who smoke are likely to experience exactly the opposite effect. Because smoking damages blood vessels, it's a major cause of erectile dysfunction. According to a 2005 study of 2,115 men in Minnesota, men who smoke at some time in their lives are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than men who never smoke. And current smokers are even worse off than former smokers; even in their 40s, current smokers are 2.7 times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than former smokers and nonsmokers. It's a worldwide problem; in fact, a 2007 study blames smoking for nearly a quarter of the cases of ED in China.

As with other smoking-related maladies, erectile dysfunction is most common in heavy smokers. And as with other smoking woes, quitting helps. In a 2007 study of 20 smokers, penile blood flow began to improve within 24 to 36 hours of the last cigarette.

The benefits of quitting

Quitting helps, even if you've smoked for years. Within days, your blood vessels will regain much of the normal function that is damaged by smoking. Within weeks, you'll be able to taste food better, and your sense of smell will recover from tobacco's assault. Within months, symptoms of chronic bronchitis ease up, and lung function improves within a year. Quitting reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke within two to five years. And the risk of lung cancer begins to drop substantially within five to nine years of quitting.

People who kick the habit, regardless of age, live longer than those who continue to smoke. And since each pack of cigarettes costs our society $7.18, quitting will help America's budget as well as yours.