For Immediate Release
Jan. 7, 2011
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Contact: Pam Udall
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cell: (512) 413-6807
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Brent Annear
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Smoking is, without a doubt, unhealthy, and new evidence reinforces that fact. Now it’s more important than ever for smokers to make quitting smoking a top goal in 2011, Texas Medical Association (TMA) physician leaders say.
A recent report by the U.S. surgeon general says the conclusion is clear: Cigarettes are a deadly threat, and even small amounts of smoke can have serious health effects.
“This is a ‘no-brainer’ for me — I advise my patients to quit smoking for themselves and for their loved ones,” said Susan R. Bailey, MD, TMA’s president and an allergist. “Let’s start now; make quitting smoking your top goal in 2011.”
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease for both men and women in the United States. According to the report, “Tobacco smoke damages every organ in the body and causes disease and death.” The report notes that more than 1,000 people are killed every day by cigarettes, and one-half of all long-term smokers are killed by smoking-related diseases — typically heart attacks, chronic lung diseases, and cancers. But even if tobacco doesn’t kill you, it’ll make you sick: For every person tobacco kills, 20 Americans suffer from tobacco-related illnesses.
Secondhand smoke kills, too. The study reported, “There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.” Annually, secondhand smoke kills thousands of nonsmokers via heart disease and lung cancer, and forces hundreds of thousands of children to suffer from respiratory infections. That is because anyone who inhales cigarette smoke, either directly or secondhand, inhales more than 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are hazardous including at least 69 that are known to cause cancer. The body quickly absorbs these chemicals, which begin to damage the person’s cells, wreck the immune system, and cause disease.
TMA supported legislation to ban smoking in all public places and workplaces in the past two legislative sessions. Texas doctors again voiced their concern over tobacco use in the association’s latest physician survey: More than two-thirds of physicians (68 percent) support a statewide ban of smoking in workplaces and public places, calling the issue very or somewhat important.
“I know it is difficult to quit smoking. But how many things can you do that can certainly improve and extend your life? The benefits are well worth the struggle to quit,” added Dr. Bailey.
“If patients want to quit smoking, they should first talk to their doctor. Today, there are resources available to help patients quit smoking, from education to counseling to new medications that curb the nicotine craving,” said Dr. Bailey. Patients also can call the American Cancer Society’s free and confidential telephone Quitline at (877) 937-7848 (877-YES QUIT) for support and information on how to quit using tobacco, or visit the American Cancer Society website.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing 45,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans. TMA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the association and raises funds to support the public health and science priority initiatives of TMA and the family of medicine.
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Last Updated On
May 06, 2016
Originally Published On
January 07, 2011