CREDIT: THE OTTAWA CITIZEN
Cigarette smoking can lead to disease, including lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in America. Cigarette smoking has been proven by research to be the main factor responsible for most cases of lung cancer. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cigarette smoking causes about 90 per cent of cases of lung cancer in men, and 80 per cent in women.
There are factors that increase your risk of developing lung cancer, such as how long you've had the habit of smoking, the number of cigarettes you smoke per day, and the age at which you began smoking, according to the National Cancer Institute in America.

Secondhand smoke occurs when one inhales the smoke from someone else's cigarette. It is also strongly related to lung cancer. The American Cancer Society states that about 3,000 nonsmoking adults will die each year from lung cancer due to inhaling secondhand smoke. These people are being affected by someone else's bad habit.

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, and more than 40 of them are known carcinogens, according to the American Cancer Society. Carcinogens are cancer-causing agents in tobacco smoke that affect the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally or reproduce too quickly.

Cigarettes are also extremely addictive. They contain nicotine, which is a drug that is naturally present in tobacco and is the main ingredient responsible for the addiction. Nicotine addiction is currently the most common addiction.

Smoking also affects your appearance. It causes teeth to turn yellow and skin to wrinkle.

Quitting smoking entirely is evidently a smart move, as immediate health benefits will take place. Your heart rate and blood pressure will begin to return to a normal rate. The level of carbon monoxide in your blood will start to decrease, allowing better flow of oxygen throughout your body. Overall, quitting will improve your breathing by producing less phlegm and less coughing. People who quit smoking will also notice an improved sense of smell, and taste, according to the National Cancer Institute.

For people who have already developed cancer, quitting smoking will reduce the risk of developing a second cancer and may even lower the risk of the previous cancer returning, according to an article on MedicineNet.com. Quitting also lowers the risk of pneumonia and respiratory failure, according to information from the National Cancer Institute.

Over time, your risk of developing cancer will most likely decrease after quitting completely. However, it takes many years after quitting for the risk of cancer to start to decline.

Quitting smoking is a very tough job, as it is so addictive. You need to commit and strive to continue not to smoke, as the benefits will increase the longer you remain smoke-free. There are different paths to take, either gradually cutting down on the number of cigarettes smoked or simply quitting cold turkey. It is different for everyone, so you won't know what works best until you try it yourself.

Firstly, admitting to yourself that you are smoking out of addiction, rather than choice, will help encourage you to take the next steps, according to tobaccofree.org. One of the most important factors is the support and help from coworkers, family and friends. Also, if they happen to smoke as well, it is a good idea to ask them to avoid smoking around you, as watching them smoke may tempt you to smoke as well. You may even be their motivation to quit, which will boost confidence and self-assurance that quitting is the right choice. If there is a lack of support, there are many helplines or support groups available to listen and help cope what you are going through.

Tobaccofree.org also suggests staying away from alcohol, sugar and caffeine because they increase the desire to smoke. Instead, drink lots of water and other fluids, as these will get rid of the nicotine and all the other toxins from your body.

Exercise can also help you quit. By going to the gym or taking a yoga class, you will feel more relaxed and better about yourself.

There are many alternatives to try, such as patches, gums, nasal sprays and inhalers that will decrease the urges to have a cigarette. These prescription products may come with certain side effects, so you just need to find one what works best for you.

By using these techniques, you will be more likely to see results. Plus, the urge to smoke will gradually become easier to deal with. If you relapse, do not give up. Keep going or else you will only hurt your own self-efficacy, which is the belief in yourself that you can succeed with your goal.

There are no benefits to smoking cigarettes, they only do harm to the body. It is not considered to be cool or sexy anymore — it is a senseless habit. Cigarettes are extremely addictive and lead to serious health concerns such as cancer. With so many options available to help you quit smoking, there is no reason to not quit today!

Erin Donnelly is a Fitness and Health Promotion student at Fanshawe College.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.