Cigarette smoking is the top preventable cause of disease, death, and disability in the US, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths every year. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024). That is one in every five deaths in the US. The life expectancy for people who smoke is 10 years shorter compared to people who so not smoke. Secondhand smoke is accountable for about 41,000 deaths every year in the US.
Cigarette smoking increases the chances of heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, serious lung diseases like emphysema and bacterial pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer. This is because smoking a cigarette exposes to around 7,000 harmful .
People living with HIV who smoke cigarettes are at an increased risk for developing smoking-related diseases and more likely to develop HIV-related symptoms and infections. Cigarette smoking also interferes with HIV medications, making them less effective, and increasing the risks of an impaired immune system.
By quitting smoking, the risks for serious illnesses and dying from cigarette smoking goes down, especially for people living with HIV. Quitting smoking can even preserve health conditions from cigarette smoking. Quitting smoking can also reduce HIV symptoms. Quitting can help you feel better and improve your quality of life. It takes strength and practice to quit.
Having a plan before attempting to quit smoking can really help. Try talking with your health care provider about different programs or products that can help you quit. Smokefree.gov and CDC.gov/quit are online websites that give useful information for quitting and lists free live online chats, and access to text messaging programs and apps. National Cancer Institute and American Heart Association also lists information, quit lines, and online resources.
The Boston Living Center at the Victory Program and opens the door to hope, recovery, and community for individuals and families facing homelessness, addiction, or other chronic health conditions. Fenway Health and JRI Health are other organizations that provide support and community for people living with HIV.
