More Reasons to Quit Smoking
Smoking is harmful not only to smokers, but to everyone around them. The impact of secondhand smoke isn’t just annoying to the senses of non-smokers; it can be deadly. Exposure to secondhand smoke can kill non-smokers and increase their risk of developing lung cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and other illnesses.
Whether passive or personal, smoking is attributed to 85 percent of lung cancers, said Witold Rybka, MD, Pennsylvania Medical Society member and president of the Pennsylvania Society of Oncology & Hematology (PSOH).
“The more you smoke or inhale secondhand smoke, the more cells are altered and the greater the risk of developing cancer,” he said.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society has long advocated for smoke-free environments and policies that help people to quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke. Our Patient Poll surveys have shown that a majority of Pennsylvanians prefer a smoke-free environment.
Last Updated: 7/15/2009