\[\begin{array}{}
{1} &\;\; \text{Several generations ago, cigarettes and smoking did not} \\
{2} & \;\;\text{carry the stigma that they do today. Many people smoked} \\
{3} & \;\;\text{without realizing the harmful effects it had on the human} \\
{4} & \;\;\text{body. Some early cigarette companies even touted their} \\
{5} &\;\; \text{brand as being healthy, wanting more people to choose their} \\
{6} & \;\;\text{product. Because it wasn’t seen as harmful during that time,} \\
{7} & \;\;\text{smoking was allowed in restaurants, offices, and even} \\
{8} & \;\;\text{hospitals. Today, we know better. Still, the CDC estimates} \\
{9} & \;\;\text{that 18 in every 100 Americans are smokers, and that over} \\
{10} & \;\;\text{16 million Americans live with smoking-related illnesses.} \\
\end{array}\]
\[\begin{array}{}
{11} &\;\; \text{While the possibility of lung cancer is generally the biggest} \\
{12} & \;\;\text{concern for smokers, a disease known as COPD should also} \\
{13} & \;\;\text{be taken into account. COPD, or chronic obstructive} \\
{14} & \;\;\text{pulmonary disease, is a lung disease that interrupts proper} \\
{15} &\;\; \text{air-flow within the lungs, causing the sufferer to be} \\
{16} & \;\;\text{chronically short-of-breath. The idea of struggling to breathe} \\
{17} & \;\;\text{on a daily basis should be enough to make many people} \\
{18} & \;\;\text{toss their cigarettes right out of the window!} \\
\end{array}\]
\[\begin{array}{}
{19} &\;\; \text{COPD is characterized by shortness of breath, coughing,} \\
{20} & \;\;\text{chest tightness, and the production of respiratory mucus,} \\
{21} & \;\;\text{known as sputum. While other factors such as pollution,} \\
{22} & \;\;\text{genetics, and prolonged exposure to harmful fumes can} \\
{23} &\;\; \text{cause COPD, the main cause of this disease is smoking. In} \\
{24} & \;\;\text{fact, statistics show that almost half of lifelong smokers will} \\
{25} & \;\;\text{be diagnosed with COPD. Once this disease has developed} \\
{26} & \;\;\text{in the respiratory system, it is very difficult to recover from. A} \\
{27} &\;\; \text{degenerative disease, COPD often requires the sufferer to} \\
{28} & \;\;\text{utilize physical therapy, medications, and supplemental} \\
{29} & \;\;\text{oxygen. In very serious cases, surgeries such as lung} \\
{30} & \;\;\text{transplants are necessary. Unfortunately, many COPD} \\
{31} &\;\; \text{sufferers continue to smoke, making it very difficult to qualify} \\
{32} & \;\;\text{for a transplant.} \\
\end{array}\]
\[\begin{array}{}
{33} &\;\; \text{Even if you have smoked for many years, it is never too late} \\
{34} & \;\;\text{to quit. Patients who have already been diagnosed with} \\
{35} & \;\;\text{COPD should not assume they have missed their chance, as} \\
{36} & \;\;\text{smoking cessation is shown to significantly improve the} \\
{37} &\;\; \text{symptoms of COPD. Even if the disease can never be fully} \\
{38} & \;\;\text{reversed, smoking should at least be stopped in order to} \\
{39} & \;\;\text{prevent symptoms from worsening over time. Many} \\
{40} & \;\;\text{healthcare centers across the country provide smoking} \\
{41} &\;\; \text{cessation programs for those who want to quit but have been} \\
{42} & \;\;\text{unsuccessful on their own. Taking advantage of these, or} \\
{43} & \;\;\text{similar, programs can help people reclaim a healthy, smoke-} \\
{44} & \;\;\text{free lifestyle.} \\
\end{array}\]