Tobacco: Avoidable Deaths In The United States

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The use of tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, accounting for more than 443,000 deaths each year. More than 16 million Americans suffer from a disease caused by smoking. On average, smokers die ten years earlier than non-smokers. About 18.1% of all adults (42.1 million Americans) are currently users of tobacco. The number of people addicted to products such as tobacco is too high, and can be lowered. The origins of tobacco are almost untraceable. As long ago as the 1400s, Christopher Columbus was offered dried tobacco leaves as a gift from the American Indians that he encountered. Quite soon after, sailors brought the tobacco back to Europe and the plant expanded throughout the continent. In 1776, during …show more content…

(WebMD) It is a very addictive drug that causes changes in the brain that make people want to use it more and more. As nicotine enters one’s body, the body craves more. The use of tobacco is a very hard habit to kick, and can take years for some people to drop. More than 85% of people who try to quit on their own can’t even last more than a week. There aren’t many people out there who can drop tobacco and never pick it up again. Being addicted to a nicotine-containing product such as tobacco can affect your health in many ways, depending on how you intake the …show more content…

Very important to the baby’s health, the mother must stop smoking. If a woman continues to smoke while she’s pregnant, the baby’s oxygen level could decrease, resulting in the baby’s heart rate to increase to a dangerous level. Secondhand smoke could also affect the baby in a few different ways. The baby could develop asthma and other allergic reactions. Babies should always be kept on a safe, clean environment to ensure a healthy childhood. Mothers can kick the addiction by avoiding cigarettes, maybe by reading a book to keep the mind off of things, or even going on a short walk. Children whose mother smoked during pregnancy are at greater risk of conditions such as: a behavioral problem, learning disorders, and could even increase their chance to become a smoker. It is very important for pregnant women to at least temporarily quit until birth is

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