The Most Preventable Cause of Death in the U.S.

What is the #1 Leading Cause of Avoidable Death?

Many individuals are unaware of the leading cause of preventable death across the nation. While there are several, the number one leading cause of death across the U.S. is tobacco which is responsible for two-thirds of deaths in the country. Tobacco causes a host of health-related issues which are responsible for the almost 1 million deaths yearly in the United States. The prolonged use of tobacco is responsible for life-threatening health complications such as:

• Increased chance of stroke
• Heart disease
• Lunch disease/lung cancer
• Emphysema

The longer you use tobacco and tobacco products, the more you are putting yourself at risk. The only are you, the tobacco user, putting your own health at risk but you are also putting those around you at risk. Second-hand smoke is responsible for over 40,000 deaths each year and is a result of breathing in smokers toxic and chemical-filled tobacco products.

Some of the most popular tobacco products which are accountable for the close to 1 million deaths per year are:

• Cigarettes (smoking cigarettes is the most popular form of tobacco use)
• Cigars
• Smokeless tobacco such as moist snuff (chewing, sniffing, and putting tobacco between the gums and cheek)

Although you must be of legal age to purchase these tobacco products, an increasing number of adolescents and teens are getting their hands on this very dangerous substance. Through instilling knowledge on the harms of trying and using tobacco products, younger adults will have the education and facts necessary to refrain from trying tobacco in the first place.

Preventing Tobacco Use

Studies suggest that when individuals are more active, more educated on the harms of tobacco use, and have easy access to healthy food options, they are less likely to use tobacco products. This means that our schooling system and our home lives must be conducive to these guidelines if we want our future generations to have the appropriate knowledge of tobacco use.

In order to prevent the early and underage use of tobacco, kids need to have access to afterschool programs so that they can stay engaged and active during nonschool hours. If teens are passionate about playing sports or doing well in an extracurricular activity, they are less likely to try smoking. Cities also have to do their due diligence in the fight against tobacco use by providing safe walking paths, access to safe bike lanes and have monitored public spaces for sports such as basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball so that individuals can remain physically active, lessening their chances of trying tobacco.

Through partaking in preventative care measures such as blood pressure screening, cancer screening, and heart health management, health risks that are related to tobacco use can be lessened, therefore, decreasing the number of deaths caused by tobacco.

It’s important that tobacco users seek the help of anti-craving medications and natural anti-smoking aids in order to quit their tobacco use. Tobacco takes a toll on your health immediately and the longer that you use tobacco, the more danger you are putting your body through.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.