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How much do you know about smoking bans? Answer these questions and find out.

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Illness and Death
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DID YOU KNOW?

Students who smoke very few cigarettes have symptoms related to nicotine addiction and 50% will be addicted to nicotine for at least 16 years.

 

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Illness and Death

Skeleton smoking

Sure, you know smoking is bad for your health. But do you have any idea how bad?

Check out the facts:

  • Every year, tobacco use causes nearly 5 million deaths, worldwide. (1)
  • Most likely, it will cause more than nine million deaths annually by 2020 (1)
  • One in every five deaths in the U.S. is smoking related. (2)

And now for the most shocking statistic of all: The number of deaths caused every year by tobacco is higher than the number of deaths from all of the following combined (3):

  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Suicides
  • Alcohol use
  • Illegal drug use
  • Homicides
  • AIDS

So, obviously tobacco use leads to a huge number of early deaths.

But that’s only half of the story. For every person who dies of a smoking-related disease, 20 more people suffer with at least one serious illness from smoking. (4)  

Let’s take a look at a few of the serious health problems tobacco use can cause:

  • Tobacco use increases the risk of cancer of the bladder, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx (voice box), esophagus, cervix, kidney, lung, pancreas, and stomach (3)
  • Tobacco use doubles the risk of stroke (3)
  • Cigarette smoking is associated with many reproductive and early childhood health problems, including increased infertility, early delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). (3)
  • According to the 2004 Surgeon General’s report, smoking affects almost every organ in the body.

BACK TO TOP

Check out this animated model of the health consequences on the body and the benefits of quitting tobacco use.

Teenage tobacco users at risk right away
And in case you think that smoking only affects older people, studies have shown that smoking immediately increases blood pressure and heart rate, even in teenagers.

In fact, youth smokers are more likely to report worse health than students who don’t smoke. The usual complaints are cough and phlegm, shortness of breath and wheezing, an increase in number and severity of respiratory illnesses, and a decrease in physical fitness. Lung function can also decrease. (5)

However, the worst part is that research shows that it doesn’t take long to become addicted to nicotine. Youth who smoke very few cigarettes have symptoms related to nicotine addiction; a recent study even found that some youth become dependent on nicotine within a day of inhaling their first cigarette! (6)

The facts are clear—tobacco use is terrible for your health!  The good news, however, is that as the number of smokers declines, millions of early deaths can be prevented! (2)

So, why not do something about it? Help us spread the word that smoking is garbage. Support a friend or loved one who is trying to quit! It could save your life or the life of someone you love.

references | updated 09.30.2007

references

  1. World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2002: Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002 [cited 2006 Sep 23]. Available from: http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/index.html.
  2. Surgeon General’s Report. (2004) Health Consequences of Smoking. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/sgr_2004/.
  3. CDC. Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/health_effects.htm.
  4. CDC. Morbidity and Mortality related to tobacco use. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/FastFacts.htm.
  5. American Lung Association. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=39868./li>
  6. DiFranza JR et al. Symptoms of tobacco dependence after brief intermittent use. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007. 161(7)704-10 Retrieved from http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0127.pdf.
  7. CDC. Cigarette Smoking-Related Mortality. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/cig_smoking_mort.htm.

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