The 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.

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