Health Consequences of Tobacco Use

Mortality and Morbidity

• Results in premature death
• Causes significant disease and disability

Cardiovascular Effects

• Causes hearth attack (coronary heart disease)
• Causes stroke (cerebro-vascular disease) and
• Causes increased risk of amputations

Cancer

• Causes lung, laryngeal, esophageal and bladder cancers, as well as cancer of the oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth and pharynx); smokeless tobacco is also a cause of oral cancer
• A contributing factor for pancreatic and renal cancers
• Associated with gastric cancer

Lung Diseases

• Causes emphysema and chronic bronchitis

Women's Health Effects

• Causes intrauterine growth retardation, leading to low birth weight babies
• Contributes to cervical cancer
• A probable cause of unsuccessful pregnancies

Other Health Effects

• Addiction to nicotine
• Alters the actions and effects of prescription / nonprescription medications
• A probable cause of peptic ulcer disease

Health Consequences of Secondhand Smoke

• Causes lung cancer in adult nonsmokers
• Associated with higher death rates from cardiovascular disease
• Associated with increased irritant effects among allergic persons
• Worsens asthma in adults

In children

• Associated with respiratory tract infections
• Increased prevalence of fluid in the middle ear
• A risk factor for developing asthma
• Associated with more frequent and severe asthma attacks
• Associated with increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Associated with increased risk of bacterial meningitis

Additional Resources Relating to Health Consequences of Tobacco Use

Cigarette Smoking and Cancer: Questions and Answers - A fact sheet about the health hazards of cigarette smoking, including the fact that cigarette smoking is directly responsible for at least one-third of all cancer deaths in the U.S. National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 10.14

Quitting Tobacco: Short-term and Long-term Health Benefits - This fact sheet provides information about the positive effects of smoking cessation. National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 10.13

Secondhand Smoke: Questions and Answers - A fact sheet that summarizes the studies on the health effects of exposure to environmental (secondhand) tobacco smoke. National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 10.18

Smokeless Tobacco and Cancer: Questions and Answers - A fact sheet about the health risks associated with the use of smokeless tobacco. National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 10.15

The Truth About "Light" Cigarettes: Questions and Answers - This fact sheet answers questions about the health effects of smoking "low-tar," "mild," or "light" cigarettes. National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 10.17

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