Despite significant progress since the first Surgeon General’s report, issued 50 years ago, smoking remains the single largest cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. (9) There are roughly 600 ingredients in the common cigarette. When burned cigarettes typically create more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are toxic. (7)
Direct links have been reported between active smoking and impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. The risk of developing diabetes was aligned most significantly in heavy smokers ( >20 per day) than lighter smokers and former smokers. (1)
It is commonly understood that smoking and 2nd hand smoke exposure poses a cardiovascular health risk. This is partially due to the lower levels of HDL observed, in both males and females, in several studies. (4)
CRP levels in heavy smokers have been reported at twice the concentration levels compared with non-smokers and significantly increased levels in children who are exposed to secondhand smoke. (2) Although most of smoking-induced changes are reversible after quitting, CRP can be significantly raised in ex-smokers up to 10 to 20 years after quitting, suggesting ongoing low-grade inflammatory response persisting in former smokers. (3)
Quitting smoking can be tough, but expert suggest that the following can help improve your chances of success.
Pick a day that's not too far away (but not today) and prepare for it. Decide whether you are going to quit "cold turkey" or gradually over time. Tell your friends and family about the date, and get rid of all smoking related accessories. Stock up on substitutes like gum, mints, and lozenges. Try to identify your "triggers" and break those associations. On your quit day, stay busy, avoid urges, drink less alcohol. Try to take it one day at a time.
If needed, you might consider using NRT's, such as nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges. Make sure to talk to a healthcare professional before using an NRT to quit smoking. You might also want to talk to your doctor about medications to help quit smoking, such as bupropion (Zyban) or varenicline (Chantix). These medications do not contain nicotine, but they can have adverse side effects.
1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18073361?dopt=Abstract
2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2780563/#b25
3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17494805
4) https://pace-cme.org/2013/07/18/cigarette-smoking-negatively-affects-hdl-c-in-multiple-ways/
5) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19953845
6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3449664
7) https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/whats-in-a-cigarette.html
8) https://bit.ly/2GqUxh4 https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/fact-sheet.html
