The AMA is urging all smokers to put their health first in 2008 by making a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking for good.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said today that making a clean start at the beginning of the year was an ideal way to tackle the difficult goal of quitting smoking.

“Quitting is hard at the best of times, so the New Year is a great time to start before other sources of stress can distract you from your goal,” Dr Capolingua said.

Smoking is the cause of a number of life-threatening and debilitating conditions including lung cancer, breast and cervical cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, gum disease, eye disease, impotence, and miscarriage.

The combination of smoking and excess alcohol consumption greatly increases a person’s risk of developing mouth and throat cancers.

“The list of diseases is just endless – when you know the consequences, there is no good excuse not to give up smoking,” Dr Capolingua said.

“We know that smoking doesn’t only harm the individual but also anyone who is exposed to secondary tobacco smoke, like family members – especially children and the elderly.

“Breathing other people’s cigarette smoke is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, asthma and other respiratory diseases, ear infection, and sudden infant death syndrome.

“Quitting will be the best thing smokers can do for their health, and for the health of those around them.”