There isn't anything good that can be said about smoking. It's bad for your health and the health of those around you. Now, on a positive note, do you know how much money you could save if you quit smoking today?
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These figures assume there are 20 cigarettes in each pack of cigarettes.
Your results
On average, your smoking costs are per month (30 days) and per year (365 days).
Health effects of smoking
Smoking contributes or causes breathing problems, heart disease, and cancer.
Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 250 cause serious harmful effects, and at least 69 of them cause cancer. Smoking is linked to lung cancer, mouth cancer, and cancers of the larynx, esophagus, cervix, pancreas, kidney, and bladder. Smoking accounts for a third of all cancer deaths in this country and 9 in 10 lung cancers.
Smoking destroys the ability of the lungs to clean themselves. This makes you more likely to get pneumonia. Smoking also causes long-term (chronic) bronchitis and emphysema. Together they are called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Smoking increases the risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Smoking causes cholesterol to build up in blood vessels, making them narrower. It causes blood to clot more easily. This can lead to blood clots that block the flow of blood. Or the clots travel to organs such as the lungs (causing a pulmonary embolism) or to the brain (causing a stroke).
Smoking affects people around you who are exposed to your smoke. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to have bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections.
Effects of smoking on productivity
Smokers miss more days of work than people who don't smoke because of tobacco-related health problems. Because of the missed work and higher health insurance costs, some companies refuse to hire smokers.
This information is not to replace your healthcare provider's advice.
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Author: Lambert, J.G. M.D.
© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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