Health Tips A to Z

Health Tips – Why should you stop smoking?

Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death in both Canada and the U.S.

The health risks of smoking are well known:

• Four out of five lung cancer deaths are due to smoking

• 1/3 of all cancer deaths are cancer-related – smoking can cause cancer of the larynx, lip, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, bladder and pancreas and has been linked to breast and stomach cancer

• Smoking is a major cause of heart disease and stroke and is a risk factor for other serious diseases, such as bronchitis, emphysema, ulcers, osteoporosis, cataracts and gum disease

• Women who smoke are more likely to experience menstrual problems and early onset of menopause – there is also a possible link between smoking and cervical cancer

• Women who smoke during pregnancy are at higher risk of pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, stillbirth or delivering a low birth weight baby

• Babies born to mothers who smoke have five times the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) than babies of  non-smoking mothers

• Second-hand smoke causes disease and death in healthy non-smokers – children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma, breathing problems, lung damage and SIDS