Smoking is a global problem. It is estimated that one in three adults smoke, with over 1 billion people smoking worldwide. The majority of these smokers reside in countries on the low end to the middle of the socioeconomic spectrum. Of this majority, about 80% live in low and middle-income countries. The total number of smokers worldwide is expected to keep on increasing each year.
The worldwide popularity of tobacco use varies by social class, historical era, and culture. Historically, smoking had been a pastime of the rich. However, this trend has changed dramatically in recent decades. It appears that financially advantaged men in wealthier countries have been smoking less in recent times.
The World Health Organization has been studying smoking trends and statistical patterns across the globe and has uncovered the following statistics:
1) Eastern Europe has a particularly high rate of smoking, with up to 59% of adult males smoking. Also, significantly more women smoke in Eastern Europe than in East Asia and the Pacific Region.
2) Most people who smoke, begin smoking before they are 25 years old. Worldwide observations suggest that people are stating to smoke at a much younger age. World Health Organization studies reveal that the majority of smokers in affluent countries; begin in their teens.
Smoking In The US
How do Americans compare to the rest of the world when it comes to smoking? It may come as no surprise to hear that Americans are no better than anyone else. According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics:
3) In the US, it is estimated that 25.6 million men (25.2%) and 22.6 million women (20.7%) are smokers. These smokers face a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Here are the latest estimates for smokers’ aged 18 and above:
4) Studies reveal that smoking popularity is significantly higher among people with 9-11 years of education (35.4%) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (11.6%).
5) There appears to be a correlation between a country's standard of living, level of education, and income and the number of people who have quit smoking. The more and better-informed people are, the more likely they are to quit smoking.
6) People living below the poverty level (33.3%) are much more likely to start smoking.
7) Among whites, 25.1% of men and 21.7% of women smoke.
8) Among black or African Americans, 27.6% of men and 18% of women smoke.
9) Among Asians, 21.3% of men and 6.9% of women smoke.
10) Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2% of men and 12.5% of women smoke.
11) Among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 32% of men and 36.9% of women smoke.
12) A shocking…1 out of every 5 five deaths is caused by tobacco
13) It is estimated that Tobacco is responsible for 400,000 deaths in the US every single year.
14) Cigarettes are responsible for about 25% of deaths from residential fires, causing nearly 1,000 fire-related deaths and 3,300 injuries each year.
15) Tobacco is blamed for many serious cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases
16) Nicotine and tobacco are some of the most potent carcinogens and are responsible for the majority of all cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, esophagus and bronchus.
17) Smoking tobacco is known to produce cancer in the pancreas, kidney, bladder, and the cervix
18) Because tobacco reduces blood flow, nicotine addiction has been proven to cause impotency.
19) If you smoke, the risk of respiratory illnesses is high. This could lead to pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia, which are responsible for some 85,000 every year.
20) Children and adolescents who are active smokers will have increasingly severe respiratory illness, as they grow older
21) Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and fetal growth retardation. It also causes about 5-6% of prenatal deaths, 17-26% of low-birth-weight births, and 7-10% of pre-term deliveries.
If you don't want to quit smoking after reading these shocking figures, you really need to get your head examined. You know in your heart, what's the right thing to do. Make a firm decision to quit today, and stick to it!
About The Author:
Ben Adams is author of: 'Quit Smoking Now! Secrets Of An Ex Smoker'. It's an excellant step-by-step guide for anyone who wants to kick the habit of smoking. Download your FREE copy here: http://www.quit-smoking-treatment.com
What Can You Do to Stop Smoking and Add Years Back to Your Life?
Congratulations on making the decision to quit smoking. As an ex-smoker, I know this is a big decision for you and also that you are aware that it's not easy to stop this bad habit. Smoking is responsible for 440,000 deaths each year. More than 8.6 million people in the United States have at least one serious illness caused by smoking. Pretty scary facts.
So now that you've made the decision to look for an effective plan - quit smoking treatment, what are the best ways to quit smoking?
I'm sure you've heard of the patch products where you stick a nicotine filled patch on your arm and it releases this powerful chemical into your system, or the chewing gum that does the same thing orally. While these treatments may be fine for some people, this method still involves ingesting nicotine and other chemicals into your body. Not everyone is comfortable with this, especially since their success rate varies.
There are herbal supplements available that claim to help rid you of your addiction cigarette smoking. Again, these remedies have varying success rates and involve ingesting something that may not agree with your body.
So what is a safe and highly effective product to help quit smoking?
Perhaps you've heard of hypnosis treatment. I'm not talking about the outrageous sideshow hypnosis you see in nightclubs or on TV where people are doing silly things. No, this is more of a therapy type of hypnosis.
Hypnosis treatment is considered one of the best natural ways to quit smoking. Yes, it involves the power of suggestion, but it is a gentle suggestion, meaning YOU are always in control of your actions. This is what makes hypnosis treatment one of the top natural ways to stop smoking.
When you do hypnosis treatment:
You won't ingest chemicals
You won't have to wear a patch
You won't have to chew nasty gums
You won't experience any food cravings
You will not relapse back into your old habit
You will be in total control of your mind and body
You will hear gentle, positive reinforcement
You will be able to do the treatment in the comfort of your own home
You will quit smoking now or your money back
There are many people just like you who are seeking help online quit smoking. Many are also seeking a natural stop smoking remedy that will finally work for them so they can quit for good. Believe me, I know what it's like to try quitting cold turkey only to be searching the ashtrays for cigarette butts to puff on--now that's desperate!
Realize that you are not alone in this struggle, and there are people who can help you overcome this terrible physical and psychological smoking addiction.