Here are some hard numbers that might help you kick the habit, and
improve your quality of life as well.

* In the US, a high prevalence of smoking (>70%) has been
reported among patients having acute myocardial infarction
* Cigarette consumption in Africa has increased by over 40% in
the past two decades.
* Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of
CHD in women, with more than 50% of MIs among middle-aged women
attributable to tobacco.
* The magnitude of excess risk, a twofold to fourfold
elevation, is similar in women and men.
* Risk of CHD begins to decline within months of smoking
cessation and reaches the level of persons who have never smoked
within 3 to 5 years.
* Although the prevalence of smoking among US women declined
from 34% in 1965 to 24% in 1991, smoking cessation rates have
declined more slowly among women than men.

On the basis of current trends, it is estimated that by the year 2000
smoking rates will be higher in women (23%) than in men (20%). These
changing demographics of smoking, particularly the unfavorable
smoking patterns among younger women, may contribute substantially to
the future burden of CHD on women, as well as other smoking-related
illnesses.

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