According to the American Cancer Society:

• Each year, smoking cigarettes kills more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, HIV, guns, and illegal drugs combined.
• On average, non-smokers live longer than cigarette smokers.
• Male smokers live roughly 12 years less than the average life expectancy, while female smokers live roughly 11 years less.
• In addition to cancer, smoking has also been known to damage nearly every organ in the body, including your heart, blood vessels, reproductive organs, mouth, skin, eyes, and bones.

Arguably the most commonly-known disease associated with smoking is cancer, particularly lung, mouth, and throat cancer. Because the poisons in cigarette smoke weaken your immune system, it makes it difficult for your body to kill cancerous cells. Cigarettes also actively change the structure of your DNA, making it more likely that your cells will grow out of control and create a cancerous tumor.

COPD refers to a group of diseases that cause breathing-related problems, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

With smokers being 30 – 40% more likely than non-smokers, it’s now known that smoking causes type 2 diabetes. And even if you have type 1 diabetes, smoking makes your diabetes harder to control.

With smokers being 30 – 40% more likely than non-smokers, it’s now known that smoking causes type 2 diabetes. And even if you have type 1 diabetes, smoking makes your diabetes harder to control.

The best thing a smoker can do for their health is quit. Just 12 hours after you quit smoking, the carbon monoxide levels in your blood begin to drop and stabilize. Within months of quitting, your risk of many smoking-related diseases drops substantially.

Find out more about the wellness and preventive care services offered at our Urgent Care Centers by calling for our Bloomfield location or Plymouth location.