Quit Smoking!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an interview on 2015 which estimates that approximately 36.5 million adults or 15.1 percent of the United States’ population are cigarette smokers (Jamal, Ahmed et al., 1205). Based on the report, cigarette smoking is most prevalent among adults aged 25 to 64 year old. Though, cigarette smoking is also widespread among young adults with ages 18 to 24 years old. Adults mainly smoke to relax and relieve their anxiety and stress. Unfortunately, it is an addicting past time which is detrimental to your health and finances. If you are not a smoker, good for you and keep it up. If you are a smoker, you should quit smoking cigarettes. You should quit smoking because of its negative effects on your health and finances.
We often hear that cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health. Do we know how dangerous? Let us examine the facts. According to the Surgeon General’s report, cigarette smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. It kills more than 480,000 people per year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 11). Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and it can also cause liver, colorectal, and breast cancer. Smoking is also the dominant cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease. It also increases the risk of asthma, tuberculosis, and stroke. Millions of Americans suffer from diseases caused by cigarette smoking. Some may argue that it is their life and they should decide how they want to live it. However, cigarette smoking does not only affect the smoker. It also affects those who are around him. Second-hand smoke contains hundreds of toxic chemicals and 70 of which can cause cancer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). From 1964 to 2014, more than 2.5 million non-smoking adults have died due to second-hand smoke. Just like, cigarette smoking, second-hand smoke causes coronary heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory infections, stroke, and sudden death infant syndrome. I believe that it is important to keep these facts in mind whenever you smoke. Think about your loved ones and what you are doing to their health when you smoke.
Cigarette smoking is also expensive. A pack of cigarettes costs approximately seven dollars. If you smoke one pack a day, you could save 49 dollars. In month, you could save 196 dollars. In one year, you could save as much as 2,352 dollars. That is a lot of money. You could take an overseas vacation with 2,000 dollars. Just imagine what else you could do with that money! If we factor in the costs of healthcare and medication for the medical conditions that you are likely to have, the lifetime cost of smoking is estimated to at 1 million to 2 million dollars. Do you feel robbed yet?
Quitting smoking will have a positive impact in your life. First, quitting smoking will make you and your loved ones healthier. You can avoid the health risks and medical conditions that are caused by cigarette smoking. Second, you will be able to save on health care costs and medication. Health insurance premiums are more expensive if you are a smoker. In addition, you will also be less likely to try other addictive substances such as heroin and cocaine.
It is easy to see that the negative effects of cigarette smoking outweigh the temporary ease and relaxation that it provides. Remember that smoking is preventable cause of many diseases. I need to emphasize the word “preventable.” This means that you can avoid the diseases and financial burden that are associated with cigarette smoking. You can choose how to live your life and you might as well live it well for your sake and the sake of your loved ones.
Outline
Title: Quit Smoking!
I. Introduction
a. Approximately, 36.5 million adults or 15.1% of the United States’ population are cigarette smokers.
b. Cigarette smoking is most prevalent among adults aged 25 to 44 year old. However, cigarette smoking is also widespread among young adults with ages 18 to 24 years old.
c. Thesis statement: You should quit smoking because of its negative effects on your health and finances.
II. Body
a. Smoking has many negative effects
i. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
ii. Smoking is expensive.
b. Quitting smoking will have a positive impact in your life
i. Quitting smoking will make you and your loved ones healthier
ii. Quitting smoking will make you look better
iii. Quitting smoking will decrease your chance of using other addictive substances
III. Conclusion
a. Cigarette smoking is an addicting past time which is detrimental to your health and finances.
Works Cited
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Fact Sheet – Health Effects Of Secondhand Smoke.” Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, 2014, https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects/index.htm.
Jamal, Ahmed et al. “Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults — United States, 2005–2015.” MMWR. Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report, vol 65, no. 44, 2016, pp. 1205-1211. Centers For Disease Control MMWR Office, doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6544a2.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “50 Years Of Progress: A Report Of The Surgeon General.” Surgeongeneral.Gov, 2014, https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/50-years-of-progress-by-section.html.
