Although there are some people who live into their 90’s while still smoking, these are the exception and not the rule. Even then, if you do manage to live longer, the quality of your life decreases significantly. The medical complications that accompany chronic smoking can make your remaining life quite unbearable. The good news, however, is that there is hope. These are 25 important things you should know before smoking your next cigarette.
25
8.6 million people in the United States live with a serious smoking-related illness
Source: lung.org 24
In 2013, U.S. states collected more than $25 billion from tobacco taxes and only 2% of that was spent on tobacco control programs
Source: npr.org 23
Tobacco companies pay for most of the anti-smoking campaigns that you are exposed to (they are legally required to do so because of a legal settlement in 1998)
Source: wikipedia 22
Smoking makes your hair turn gray faster
Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 21
1000 infants die every year because of smoking during pregnancy
Source: cdc.gov 20
Children who are exposed to second hand smoke experience a wide range of complications including asthma, infections, and even SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
Source: cdc.gov 19
Exposure to second hand smoke kills 50,000 people in the United States every year
Source: cdc.gov 18
1 out of every 5 deaths in United States is caused by smoking
Source: cdc.gov Image Source: Rosser321 @ flicker 17
Smokers have up to a 400% higher chance of getting a heart attack than a non-smoker
Source: cdc.gov 16
Every single day in the United States 4000 teenagers smoke their first cigarette
Source: lung.org 15
1000 of them will go on to continue smoking daily
Source: lung.org 14
Cigar and pipe smoking is not any safer than cigarettes
Source: lung.org 13
69% of smokers would like to completely quit smoking
Source: lung.org 12
30% of cancers could be prevented by avoiding smoking and alcohol, eating healthy, and exercising
Source: cancer.org 11
Although the legality/effects of marijuana itself is constantly being fought over, one thing is for sure - any form of smoke damages your lungs whether it is tobacco, marijuana, or even just a barbecue
Source: lung.org Image source: pdpics @ deviantart 10
Several well reported studies showed that smoking tobacco decreases your chance of getting Alzheimer's. It was revealed years later that all of the researchers behind these papers actually worked for the tobacco industry (Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 19, no. 2, 2010)
Source: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 19, no. 2, 2010 9
Every cigarette you smoke reduces your lifespan by 11 minutes
Source: cdc.gov 8
On average, adult male smokers will lose 13.2 years and females will lose 14.5
Source: lung.org Image Source: DafneCholet @ flickr 7
Yes, its true that one day you will die anyway. So why not just smoke it up while you can right? Well here's some food for thought - It's not the death you are trying to avoid, but rather the prolonged suffering from numerous heart and lung complications that will make your life unbearable
Source: lung.org 6
Usually smokers draw on lite and menthol cigarettes longer than average which causes the same amounts of tar and nicotine to be inhaled
Source: cdc.gov 5
One cigarette contains more than 4,800 chemicals
Source: lung.org 4
69 of them are known to cause cancer
Source: lung.org 3
Wayne McClaren and David McClean, two of the actors that played the Marlboro Man ended up dying of cancer. McClean's family even filed a lawsuit against Marlboro (Philip Morris)
Source: nytimes.com 2
Within 15-30 minutes of inhaling cigarette smoke your body begins to undergo changes that immediately increase your risk of cancer (yes, this even counts for your first cigarette)
Source: cdc.gov 1
If you are trying to quit though, it's never too late. As soon as you quit your body will begin to undergo changes once again and before long you'll be back to good health!
Source: cdc.gov Image Source: Jason A. Howie @ flickr 
