Pillars of Health 6: Avoiding Toxic Exposures: Part 1

For the last pillar, risky substances, we’ll talk about toxic exposures, by which we mean tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.  Let’s start first with tobacco.  It is no secret that tobacco use, mostly in the form of smoking, is hazardous to your health.  It is the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States.  Compared to nonsmokers, smokers have have a lifespan that is 10 years shorter. The most common health problems associated with smoking are cancer, heart disease, and lung disease, causing almost 500,000 deaths annually.