What is the impact of smoking on heart health?

An estimated 46.2 million adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes even though this single behavior will result in death or disability for half of all regular smokers. Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 440,000 deaths each year and more than 8.6 million people in the U.S. have at least one serious illness caused by smoking. Noted below are the number of deaths and diagnosis at death per year caused by cigarette smoking:

• Coronary Heart Disease – 81,976 deaths per year
• Stroke – 17,445 deaths per year
• Lung cancer – 124,813 deaths per year
• Other cancers – 30,948 deaths per year
• Chronic lung disease – 82,431 deaths per year
• Other diagnoses – 104,785 deaths per year.

Smokeless tobacco, cigars, and pies also have deadly consequences, including lung, larynx, esophageal, and oral cancer. Low-tar and novel tobacco products such as bidis and clove cigarettes are not safe alternatives.

How do I stop smoking?