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Smoking Behavior

The purpose of this paper is to examine the current literature on smoking behavior. The review begins with a definition of "health behavior," and its relationship to individual and societal health as considered within the context of smoking and its various consequences and costs.

Research into sociodemographic and psychological factors associated with smoking is then reviewed. Treatment approaches aimed at addressing and changing the behavior are then described and evaluated in terms of effectiveness levels.

Health Behavior, Smoking, and Disease

Bloomquist (1994) defines health behaviors as actions that provide individual and societal well-being through promoting harmonious interaction of body, mind, and spirit. According to Mathre (1994), smoking behavior clearly does not promote the health of the individual or society. Indeed, one in six deaths in the United States are attributed to cigarette smoking (Mathre, 1994). Further, approximately 434,000 deaths per year are associated with complications arising from the negative effects of cigarette smoking on the body (Mathre, 1994).

The health consequences arising from smoking not only affect the individual but society as well. In this regard, Mathre (1994) reports that diseases and health problems directly attributable to smoking account for $22 billion per year in health care costs and $43 billion per year in lost productivity.

In terms of the specific diseases associated with smoking, cancer is considered the primary health consequence, especially cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, lung, pancreases, kidney and bladder (Milhorn, 1989). The relationship between smoking and cancer can be seen in the fact that, according to Milhorn (1989), it is estimated that cancer mortality would drop by approximately 25 percent if smoking were eliminated from the population.

A second health consequence of smoking is cardiovascular disease. Milhorn ...

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Smoking Behavior. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 08:47, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1693239.html