2. Be Tobacco Free
New York City has made considerable progress in reducing the number of smokers: between 2002 and 2007, there were 300,000 fewer adult smokers and youth smoking also declined significantly. Despite these successes, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death, killing more than 7,400 New Yorkers every year. Individuals who die of smoking-related illnesses lose an average of 14 years of life.
Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and many other illnesses. Second-hand smoke is also dangerous, and can lead to many of these same health problems. Infants whose parents smoke are more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome, and children who live with a smoker are more likely to have asthma, bronchitis, ear infections and pneumonia, and are twice as likely to become smokers themselves.
DOHMH: Bureau of Tobacco Control
