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Smoking and Tobacco

By Tech. Sgt. Ceasar Colorina, 374th Medical Group / Published November 24, 2014

A jar full of tar that represents the accumulation of tar a smoker builds in their lungs each year they smoke sits on a table at the Great American Smokeout Campaign booth at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 20, 2014. The event is an annual campaign aimed at educating people about the hazards of smoking and informing them of quitting options. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Airman 1st Class David C. Danford/Released)
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A jar full of tar that represents the accumulation of tar a smoker builds in their lungs each year they smoke sits on a table at the Great American Smokeout Campaign booth at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 20, 2014. The event is an annual campaign aimed at educating people about the hazards of smoking and informing them of quitting options. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Airman 1st Class David C. Danford/Released)

Staff Sgts. Anthony Washington, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion flight NCO in charge, and Michael Miklosi, 374th Dental Squadron lab technician, promote the Great American Smokeout Campaign at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 20, 2014. The campaign provides resources that aim to counteract tobacco use, the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David C. Danford/Released)
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Staff Sgts. Anthony Washington, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion flight NCO in charge, and Michael Miklosi, 374th Dental Squadron lab technician, promote the Great American Smokeout Campaign at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 20, 2014. The campaign provides resources that aim to counteract tobacco use, the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David C. Danford/Released)

Staff Sgt. Anthony Washington, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion flight NCO in charge, explains the Great American Smokeout Campaign and its goals to base residents at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 20, 2014. The campaign encourages people to quit smoking for one day as a proof of concept. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David C. Danford/Released)
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Staff Sgt. Anthony Washington, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion flight NCO in charge, explains the Great American Smokeout Campaign and its goals to base residents at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 20, 2014. The campaign encourages people to quit smoking for one day as a proof of concept. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David C. Danford/Released)

Japan Air Self-Defense Force members ask Staff Sgt. Anthony Washington, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion flight NCO in charge, about the Great American Smokeout Campaign at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 20, 2014. The campaign focuses on encouraging people to quit smoking and is part of the Healthy Base Initiative. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David C. Danford/Released)
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Japan Air Self-Defense Force members ask Staff Sgt. Anthony Washington, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion flight NCO in charge, about the Great American Smokeout Campaign at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 20, 2014. The campaign focuses on encouraging people to quit smoking and is part of the Healthy Base Initiative. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David C. Danford/Released)

Runners at the Turkey Trot 5k Fun Run do warm up exercises before running the race at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 21, 2014. Booths were set up and prizes were given out to participants during the race. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Melissa K. Mekpongsatorn/Releasable)
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Runners at the Turkey Trot 5k Fun Run do warm up exercises before running the race at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 21, 2014. Booths were set up and prizes were given out to participants during the race. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Melissa K. Mekpongsatorn/Releasable)

Participants sign up to receive fitness towels from the USO at the Turkey Trot 5k Fun Run at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 21, 2014. Booths were set up to provide information to runners about upcoming USO events and the Great American Smokeout event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Melissa K. Mekpongsatorn/Released)
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Participants sign up to receive fitness towels from the USO at the Turkey Trot 5k Fun Run at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 21, 2014. Booths were set up to provide information to runners about upcoming USO events and the Great American Smokeout event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Melissa K. Mekpongsatorn/Released)

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YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --   According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 20 million Americans have died due to smoking related issues since the first Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health was issued in January 1964.  Most of those deaths were adults who smoked, but 2.5 million were nonsmokers who died from secondhand smoke.

For all military and civilian Air Force personnel, AFI 40-102, Tobacco Use in The Air Force, depicts the adverse impact of tobacco use on health, mission readiness and unit performance.  The goal is a tobacco-free Air Force.  Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and its use degrades the state of military readiness and the health of military personnel.

In addition to bad breath, other possible oral health impacts of smoking and all tobacco products include:

 stained teeth and tongue
 dulled sense of taste and smell
 slow healing after a tooth extraction or other surgery
 difficulties in correcting cosmetic dental problems
 gum disease
 oral cancer

Quitting is the only way to decrease your risk of these and other tobacco-related health problems. The addictive quality of nicotine, which is found in cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco, can make this especially difficult.  That's why it's important to have a plan and a support network to help you stick to your plan.  Writing down your reasons for quitting, exercising, chewing gum and keeping yourself occupied can help you quit.

Talk to your dentist or doctor to learn more about plans available to help you stop using tobacco.  The Medical Group's Health Promotion Program Flight also offers tobacco prevention and cessation programs. For those interested in the tobacco cessation course, contact the 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion flight at 225-8322.

A helpful website when quitting tobacco is http://www.ucanquit2.org.