Smokers not only have increased risk of lung disease, including lung cancer and emphysema, but also have increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and oral cancer.

Living a healthier lifestyle can help to prevent heart disease. This means eliminating all tobacco, following a heart-healthy diet, and getting regular exercise.

“Quitting smoking was just about the toughest thing I’ve ever done,” says S. Epatha Merkerson. “But the struggle was certainly worth it."

When people consider the cost of smoking, they usually focus on the cost of the cigarettes alone. But that's only the first step.

When you smoke, toxins are carried by your blood to every organ in your body. At the same time, the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke keeps red blood cells from carrying as much oxygen as normal.

As you probably already know, quitting smoking isn't easy. But, millions of other people have done it, and you can, too.

Know your triggers for wanting a cigarette and figure out a plan to deal with them.

Fewer than a quarter of those who attempt to quit are able to make it beyond three months before resuming smoking. Women usually find it harder to quit than do men, even though women have a higher risk of smoking-related diseases. The following suggestions can help you kick the habit, again, for good.

Excessive drinking can cause potentially fatal conditions, not only high blood pressure, but also damage to the brain, heart or liver; diabetes and stroke.

It helps to understand why and when you drink if you are going to successfully reduce the amount of alcohol you consume.