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Every year, the American Cancer Society dubs the third Thursday of November the Great American Smokeout, a day of encouragement for smokers to kick the habit -- even just for one day.
Currently, about 18 percent of Americans say they smoke cigarettes -- a dramatic drop from smoking rates of years passed. On the other hand, use of electronic cigarettes is on the rise: The American Heart Association cites predictions that e-cigarette sales will amount to a $10 billion industry by the year 2017, and "vape", the term given to consuming that nicotine vapor, was even named Oxford Dictionary's 2014 word of the year.
But tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death. By 2030, around8 million people will die annually from the habit, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
So while we've made undeniable progress, we clearly have a long way to go. If you or a smoker in your life is not yet convinced, here are a few numbers to remind us all why it's important we get there.
The number of deaths in the United States caused by cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke every year.
The number of those tobacco-related deaths from lung cancer alone.
The percentage of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. that are caused by smoking.
The number of total cancer deaths caused by smoking
The number of Americans who smoke cigarettes.
The number of Americans who smoke cigars.
The number of Americans who smoke tobacco in pipes
The number of years longer a nonsmoker is expected to live than a smoker. However, quit before you turn 40 and you'll reduce your risk of dying from a smoking-related illness by about 90 percent.
The percentage of their entire income that low-income New York smokers spend on cigarettes, according to a 2012 study.
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