Pregnancy
All of the toxins from cigarette smoke that reach a pregnant woman’s blood also go to her developing baby. A two-pack-a-day smoker who is pregnant takes away the equivalent of 1/4 of her baby’s oxygen supply. On average, a smoker’s baby weighs 7 ounces less than a non-smoker’s baby and is about 1/2 inch shorter in body length.
Children
Children of smokers are more likely than those of non-smokers to have chest infections like bronchitis and pneumonia, especially during the first year of life. Secondhand smoke is particularly harmful to small children. Children of parents who smoke a half-pack or more per day are at almost twice the risk of hospitalization for respiratory illness. Statistics also show that smoking is a contributing factor in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Cancer
Smoking accounts for about 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 85 percent of all cases of lung cancer. Cigarette smoking also is linked to cancers of the bladder, kidney and pancreas.
Stroke
Stroke, or brain attack, is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain are blocked. Its risk factors are similar to those for heart disease.
Osteoporosis
Smoking decreases the effects of estrogen, an important factor in promoting formation of new bone. Women who smoke have a two to three times greater chance for vertebral fractures than non-smokers.
Risks of Smokeless Tobacco
Smokeless tobacco produces a 50-fold increase in the risk of oral cancer, gingivitis and tooth loss.
|
