Bill Wilson

Tue, Dec 30, 2008 (2:37 p.m.)

Bill Wilson

Tis the season for new year's resolutions. This January, more than a million people will toss out their cigarettes and try to kick their deadly addiction to nicotine.

I can think of no better way to improve your health, your family's heath and your financial health.

The incentive to quit smoking can be seen with many of the Fire Departments' medical calls. A large portion of our respiratory emergencies involve patients who have smoked all of their lives and for their remaining years will struggle for every breath due to diseases like emphysema.

Need more reasons to free yourself from tobacco? The following is a list of conditions smoking can cause:

Lip cancer , mouth cancer, tongue cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, increased heart risk, increased coronary artery disease, increased myocarditis risk, increased risk of hypertension, emphysema, CDPD, advanced skin aging, coronary stenosis, varicose veins, kidney disease, gall bladder disease, liver disease, colon cancer, macular degeneration, skin cancer, bad breath, bad smell, clothes smell, financial strain.

Whether you've been smoking for a few months or many years, it doesn't take much time to start feeling the benefits of quitting and you'll also enjoy these improvements in your health and life:

• Increased life expectancy. The earlier you stop, the longer you'll live and the better you'll feel. If you quit before age 50, for instance, your risk of dying from a tobacco-related disease will significantly decrease.
• Improved appearance. Smoking encourages premature wrinkling, bad breath, stained teeth, gum disease and yellow fingernails.
• Money saved. Not just on cigarettes, but also on health-care costs.
• The gratitude of friends and family. You won't affect their health with second-hand smoke.

The Boulder City Fire Department wishes you good luck in your endeavor and a Happy New Year.

Bill Wilson, a firefighter-paramedic for the Boulder City Fire Department, can be reached at 293-9228.