For Your Health — The Large and Growing Benefits of Being Smoke-Free

It’s important to celebrate big accomplishments. And when it comes to our health, the drop in U.S. smoking rates over the last six decades is certainly one to cheer.

Over 8 million deaths have been avoided during that time as more and more Americans have kicked the habit or not picked it up, translating to more than 150 million years being added to people’s lives.

These are amazing numbers. But they’re also numbers that we can keep building on. Around 1 in 10 American adults still smoke, and that continues to have a huge impact on individuals, families and our nation. It leads to nearly half a million premature deaths each year, with over 16 million people in the U.S. having a smoking-related disease.

Lung cancer leads this list, which is probably no surprise. But smoking causes at least 15 other cancers as well. And it affects nearly all parts of the body, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, eye disease, arthritis, infertility and many other conditions.

Quitting smoking lowers the risk of nearly all of these, and the benefits start almost immediately after the last cigarette — and grow from there. Over time, the risk of many conditions equals that of someone who has never smoked. And it’s almost never too late to see gains. Quitting at age 65, for example, can add four or more years to someone’s life. And it’s not just more years — quitting at any age can improve overall quality of life. This means improved health and also benefits in other areas of daily life, like food tasting better or having more energy to play with our kids and grandkids.

There are great resources available for people who want to quit — or are just starting to think about it. While many are able to stop on their own, getting help can double the chances of success. Healthcare providers and local health departments are a good place to start. Free resources are also available at smokefree.gov and 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669), and include specific programs for teens, veterans and others.

Quitting isn’t easy — and it can take a number of attempts – but thousands of people are able to stop for good every day, and the rewards are truly worth the effort.

Supporting our friends or family members who are trying to quit can also be an important part of their success. This can be as simple as providing encouragement, helping them avoid situations that might trigger the urge to smoke, or helping them find information and resources about quitting.

We can also help our kids and grandkids lay a foundation for smoke-free lives by talking to them openly about the dangers of smoking and vaping — and modeling healthy behaviors for them by not smoking ourselves and keeping homes and cars smoke-free.

With the progress we’ve made against tobacco, it can be easy to shift our focus to other parts of health and wellness, especially with competing posts filling our news and social media feeds. But it’s important not to lose sight of the impact tobacco can have on the health of individuals and our nation. It remains the No. 1 cause of premature deaths in the U.S., and getting smoke-free or staying smoke-free is the single most important step most of us can take for our — and our families’ —well-being.