Effects of Smoking - A Closer Look at Smoking Death Statistics

I realize that there are articles and information all over the place about smoking death statistics. However, I thought I would update you and put them all in one article.

Everyone is aware that smoking causes cancer and lung disease, but were you aware that smoking does a lot more.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

• Every 8 seconds someone dies from tobacco use. Smoking related diseases kill 1 in 10 adults globally, or cause 4 million deaths. By the year 2030, if current trends continue, smoking will kill 1 in 6 people.
• About 12 times more British people have died from smoking than from World War II. Staggering.
• Cigarettes cause more than 1 in 5 American deaths.
• Half of the long-term smokers will die from tobacco and every cigarette that you smoke cuts at least 5 minutes off of your life expectancy. That is about the time it takes for you to smoke it.
• Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death and premature death. It is a prime factor in heart disease, stroke, and chronic lung disease. It can also cause cancer, which affects many parts of the body.
• At least ¼ of all deaths from heart diseases and about ¾ of the world's chronic bronchitis are related to smoking.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death and was among the first diseases causally linked to smoking. Lung cancer is obviously one of the major diseases attributed to smoking. But, did you know that smoking also causes cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, stomach, and even the cervix, kidneys, and pancreas. It's true.

Other statistics show:

• Compared to non-smokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer and women who smoke are 13 times more likely to develop lung cancer. Smoking causes about 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and 80 percent in women.
• In 2003, an estimated 171,900 new cases of lung cancer occurred and approximately 157,200 people died from lung cancer.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of death by smoking. More than 61 million Americans suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and all of these can be attributed to smoking. More than 2600 Americans die every day because of cardiovascular diseases, that is about 1 death every 33 seconds. Unbelievable.

Smoking related coronary heart disease may contribute to congestive heart failure. An estimated 4.6 million Americans have congestive heart failure and 43,000 die from it each year.

Smoking is related to chronic coughing and wheezing among adults. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in 118,000 deaths. More than 90 percent of these deaths were attributed to smoking.

And the most startling statistics:

• Among young teens (ages 13-15), about 1 in 5 smokes worldwide.
• Between 80,000-100,000 children worldwide start smoking every day and evidence shows that around 50 percent of those who start smoking as an adolescent go on to smoke 15 to 20 years.

All of these smoking death statistics are unbelievable. Especially when all you have to do to change them is to quit smoking. I realize it is a very hard thing to do, but a happier, healthier, and longer life is waiting for you. Just quit!! Do it!!

KimberlyAnn

I have never smoked nor do I ever intend to smoke. However, I have been exposed to the effects of smoking most of my life. I lost my mother recently to cigarettes. She was my best friend. I miss her every day. If you don't want to leave someone missing you, then visit http://www.squidoo.com/effect-of-smoking and learn how to quit smoking and stay around to watch your loved ones grow up.

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