"In a 2004 study in The American Journal of Public Health, researchers found that technology played a surprisingly minor role in improving health. In analyzing mortality data from the 1990s, the researchers concluded that only about 1 in 16,000 Americans had their lives extended or saved as a result of recent improvements in health care technology. The real gains in health, experts say, have come from lifestyle changes like smoking cessation and seat-belt use or from public health improvements like vaccination, a cleaner water supply and increasing access to primary care."- New York Times, 3/3/2009
"WHO estimates that 5.4 million people died in 2005 of tobacco related illnesses,
more than from any single infectious disease. Today there are some 25 known
health threats that are linked to tobacco use, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory illness,
many forms of cancer, and male impotence, Cigarrete smoke kills more people each year than all
other air pollutants combined..." - from Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, by Lester Brown
"Based on data collected in the late 1990s, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that adult male smokers lost an average of 13.2 years of life and female smokers lost 14.5 years of life because of smoking. And given the diseases that smoking can cause, it can steal your quality of life long before you die. Smoking-related illness can limit your activities by making it harder to breathe, get around, work, or play." - The American Cancer Society
Cigarette smoking is one of the most addictive behaviors we know of. If you are reading this, you already know about the adverse health consequences and are ready to get started.
We have devised a means to help you stop smoking which is minimally intrusive, and involves far more 'know how' than fancy technology. Under the care of a board certified psychiatrist, you will be get an initial evaluation and education on the first visit to get you off to a quick start. We provide flexible brief follow-up visits to guide you to success and build your confidence.
Below we have assembled a brief collection of helpful links. We invite you to contact us if you have questions or wish to make an appointment. (919) 810-3536
Click on the image to download or view Powerpoint slides containing smoking related facts. (requires PDF viewer, allow a minute or so for download time)
Links:
Nicotine and the Heart - This study shows that nicotine as a pure drug, delivered without cigarettes, is not harmful to the heart. It's smoking that is lethal, not the nicotine.