AMD Alliance International supports the Great American Smokeout

November 18, 2009

As if there weren't enough reasons to quit smoking, the AMD Alliance International (AAI) is strongly urging that all smokers take part in the Great American Smokeout. The event is designed to encourage smokers to quit through awareness and education. The AAI has gotten behind the event in an effort to bring to light the detrimental effect that smoking has on eye health.

"We add vision loss to the list of significant and debilitating health risks that are caused by smoking," says David Herman, Chairman of the global AAAI. "If you quit today, you can immediately begin lowering your risk of losing your sight to macular degeneration."

This year marks the 33rd Great American Smokeout, which will take place on November 19, and is sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS). The day is designed to serve as a way for the American Cancer Society to highlight the dangers of smoking through events such as rallies and parades, according the ACS website.

In addition to AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration), which can lead to blindness, smoking can cause a myriad of other health problems.