Snuff Your Habit and Live Longer

4/18/2008
We've all heard the warnings. Cigarette smoking can kill you. But did you know that if you are African American you stand a greater chance of dying from smoking-related diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease and stroke? This may be in part because of the type of cigarettes African Americans smoke. 

About 76 percent of African American cigarette smokers choose menthol cigarettes, compared to 23 percent of Caucasian smokers. Menthol smokers can inhale more deeply and hold smoke inside their lungs longer than people who smoke non menthol cigarettes. That may lead to higher death rates among menthol smokers. 

As opposed to switching to other forms of nicotine, such as low-tar cigarettes, chewing tobacco or snuff, talk to your doctor for help in finding a smoking cessation program. Some insurance companies will even pay for some or all of a program that helps you stop smoking."