SMOKING STATISTICS

Leading Death Related Smoking Illnesses

When you mention smoking related death most people immediately think of lung cancer. Eighty-seven percent of all lung cancer deaths are cigarette related. But while it is true that lung cancer is the leading cause of smoking related fatalities, it is far from the only hazard facing tobacco users.

Lung cancer claims the lives of over one hundred and twenty three thousand Americans each year. Another thirty-five thousand will die from other cancers. Smoking greatly increases your likelihood of contracting cancer of the lip, mouth and stomach. Cancers of the pancreas, kidneys and cervix are also far more common among smokers.

Heart attack and stroke are the next largest smoking related killers. Cardiovascular disease accounts for thirty-five percent of smoking related deaths. Heart disease is the number one killer in America. Cigarette smoking increases your risk of heart disease by two to four times so that over one hundred thousand people die each year from smoking related heart attacks and strokes. Quitting now greatly reduces those risks.

Damage to the respiratory system from cigarette smoke is a major contributing factor in pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema and influenza. In the United States fourteen point two million people have been diagnosed with some form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. (COPD) Fifteen percent of all smokers will develop COPD and ninety percent of all COPD deaths are related to cigarette smoke. Symptoms are chronic shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.

Fortunately recent trends have shown a significant drop in smoking by expectant mothers. However, as of 2006, six point five percent of women giving birth still reported smoking during pregnancy risking miscarriage, still births, low birth weight and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. (SIDS)

The saddest part of all this preventable loss of life is that it claims not only smokers but family, friends, children and work associates as well. It is estimated that thirty-eight thousand Americans annually succumb to the diseases mentioned above as a result of exposure to second hand smoke.

Smoking is responsible for more deaths each year than drug and alcohol abuse, car crashes, AIDS, murder and suicide put together. Think about that the next time you light up.