Summary: Smoking harms almost every organ and accounts for nearly 20% of all deaths in the USA. Almost all cancers of the lung and many other cancers are caused by smoking. Heart disease and stroke are increased and death from chronic lung disease—emphysema and bronchitis -- is more than 10 fold higher in smokers. But equally if not more important, smoking is associated with chronic illness before death with severe symptoms that diminish activity. The illnesses and deaths associated with smoking are chronic, not reversible and often not adequately treated by medical care. Stop smoking; even better, don’t start.
