More than 16 million Americans are living with a smoking related disease. 70% of adults say they want to quit and research shows that quitting has major and immediate health benefits.
Dr. McAfee, Senior Medical Officer for the CDC‘s Office on smoking and health, says that the campaign is focusing on two new conditions that are tied with smoking. The conditions are colorectal cancer, which is the 2nd leading cancer, and macular degeneration, which is the #1 cause of blindness.
Smoking produces 7,000 chemicals and many of them are carcinogenic. The toxins are absorbed in the blood stream and go throughout the body. Dr. McAfee says that smoking takes 10-11 years off of your life so it is important that if you are currently smoking, that you quit as rapidly as possible.
Marlene, former smoker and tips ad participant, says she was 15 when she started smoking. She saw smoking in a movie and that is what influenced her to smoke for 45 years. Marlene has macular degeneration from smoking. She gets injections in her eyes every month. Marlene says it is slowing down the progression, but it will not stop it.
Stop Smoking Hotline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW
