Tobacco Is The Leading Cause Of Preventable Death

Introduction: The Institute of Medicine found that children, who are born between the years 2000 and 2019, would suffer 249,000 fewer premature deaths and 45,000 fewer deaths from lung cancer, when the legal age to purchase tobacco is increased from 18 to 21 years of age (atg.wa.gov 2016). Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., which causes many chronic health complications such as heart disease, cancer, and lung disease (atg.wa.gov 2016). Raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21 in Washington state will decrease the use later in adult life. Children, specifically ages 15 to 17, are targeted the most by tobacco companies because of their vulnerability, creates an addiction to the nicotine, which often results in loyalty to a specific tobacco company. Needham, Massachusetts, campaigned to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 in 2005 and won. Results are already compelling, showing that between 2006 and 2012 Needham’s high sch ool smoking rate dropped more than half among girls and boys (atg.wa.gov 2016). Given that nicotine can be such an addictive drug and be seen to be used as a coping mechanism, specifically ages 15 to 17 through their developing stages of life, need to encounter difficulty in accessing tobacco products. According to the Center of Disease Control, one in 13 Americans age 17 or younger alive today is estimated to die prematurely due to the effects of smoking (atg.wa.gov 2016). Raising theShow MoreRelatedWhy Tobacco Is The Leading Cause Of Preventable Death1963 Words   |  8 Pagesare born between 2000 and 2019, would suffer 249,000 fewer premature deaths and 45,000 fewer deaths from lung cancer, when the legal age to purchase tobacco is increased from 18 to 21 years old (atg.wa.gov 2016). Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S, which causes many chronic health complications such as heart disease, cancer, and lung disease (atg.wa.gov 2016). Raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21 in Washington state will decrease the use later in adultRead MoreCigarettes Should be Illegal Essay812 Words   |  4 Pagescurrently the leading cause of death in our country, due to its harmful and addicting contents, such as nicotine and tobacco. Although millions die from it each year, smoking is the single most preventable cause of death as well. Without smoking, a tremendous amount of money and lives will be saved. I think that our country should ban smoking and the production of cigarettes in order to maintain a healthier nation, help save the environment, and prevent the almost 1000 deaths that they cause in firesRead MoreThe Effects of Smoking Bans on Victims of Exposure to Second Hand Smoke800 Words   |  4 Pagesespecially young children and pregnant women. SHS is estimated to contribute to heart attacks in nonsmokers and causes nearly 53,800 deaths in the United States alone on an annual basis.1 According to the United States Surgeon General’s report from 2010, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in this country, causing approximately 443,000 adult deaths from smoking-related illnesses each year.2 Additionally, smoking has been estimated to cost the United StatesRead MoreThe Public Health Crisis in America1062 Words   |  5 Pagescritical point that demands action. Chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory diseases and diabetes are the leading causes of disability and premature death in America. While chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also preventable. Three health-damaging behaviors at the center of the issue are tobacco use, lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. Public health campaigns aimed at these behaviors have been in place for many yearsRead MoreThe Effects Of Smoking On The Decline Of Smoking Rates1072 Words   |  5 Pagesthe decline of smoking rates within the population, with rates falling dramatically since the 1960s to approximately 14% of the population classed as smokers, smoking continues to be a leading cause of preventable illness and deaths in Australia. Worryingly, smoking is attributed to more hospital admissions and deaths than alcohol and illicit drug consumption combined. Unfortunately, smoking claims a staggering 15,500 Australians every year. Internationally, the WHO states that 5.4 million peopleRead MoreOral Health Promotion For Health1508 Words   |  7 Pagesfocusing on reducing tobacco use or on smoking cessation in the past year (Beall, 2011, p.15). The baseline is 10.5 percent of adults have received information from the dentist or dental hygienist focusing on reducing tobacco use or on smoking cessation in the past year, 2011–12 (age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population) with a target of 13.2 percent (Beall, 2011, p.15) Tobacco use can lead to a wide array of diseases that are not isolated t o only the lungs. Tobacco use can lead to cancersRead MoreSmoking Should Be Illegal742 Words   |  3 PagesTherefore smoking should be illegal because it causes cancer and it s highly addictive. People can die from lung cancer First,SMOKING CAN KILL† states â€Å"lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer in the United States for both men and women. It kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers combined. Lung cancer is caused by smoking. Next,â€Å"WARNING SMOKING CAN KILL YOU† claims â€Å"tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Around 400,000 peopleRead MoreNot All Companies Are Viewed as Equal605 Words   |  3 Pagesis a vast difference between the cigarette commercials of the 1980s and the anti-tobacco Truth ads of today. We were sold a lie, and now many have paid the price with their health and their life. Should it be the responsibility of the tobacco industry to care for these people who have life threating illnesses caused by their products? Should they also handle the burial of the individuals who die as a result of tobacco usage? In this industry, someone has to look out of the consumers that are not lookingRead MoreSmoking Cigarettes Should Be Legal1219 Words   |  5 PagesDoctors Smoke Camels than any other Cigarettes, was created in 1946 by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (More Doctors Smoke Camels). This was when smoking was not a huge factor of risk. The tobacco company specifically wanted to endorse their Camel cigarettes to the overall population and that their product was better than any other cigarettes out there in the market. One common method utilized by the tobacco business to console a worried public was to incorporate images of physicians in their advertisementsRead MoreIssues That Affect Health Care Delivery Essays1175 Words   |  5 PagesHealthcare March 7th, 2012 Issues that affect health care delivery When I hear the term â€Å"health care industry†, I imagine a system where there is access to diagnosis and care 24 hours a day, seven days a week for all in need, from birth to death. According to Knickman and Kovner (2011), good health care is an essential foundation for being able to function in society and to enjoy life. People view health care quite differently depending on whether they are sick or well or whether they have