Final answer:
Tobacco use is the top preventable cause of death according to the CDC. It contributes to numerous health issues including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers. Lifestyle choices such as smoking have a significant impact on the occurrence of these diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of tobacco is the #1 preventable cause of death in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking is the most significant cause of respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Regular smokers die about 10 years earlier than nonsmokers do, highlighting the drastic impact that tobacco use has on health and longevity. Not using tobacco would prevent an estimated 25 percent of cancer deaths, and lifestyle choices like not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising could prevent another 35 percent of cancer deaths.
The CDC describes tobacco use as "the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and an important cause of [early] death worldwide." Understanding that heart disease is also a leading cause of death in the US, it's clear that preventable lifestyle choices are pivotal in mitigating these health risks. Consumption of tobacco products significantly increases the risk of developing these chronic, noninfectious diseases that are largely preventable.