Health Effects of Smoking

Smoking is an important risk factor for the three diseases that cause most deaths in Australia: heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. It is responsible for around 80% of all lung cancer deaths and 20% of all cancer deaths. Smoking has also been linked to cancers of the mouth, bladder, kidney, stomach and cervix, among others. Smokers are also at increased risk of having reduced lung function from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Using tobacco has been linked to a variety of other conditions, such as diabetes, peptic ulcers, some vision problems, and back pain. Smoking in pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth.

The HealthInsite topic page on Passive Smoking has links to information on the health effects of passive exposure to smoke.

Reviewed March 2010

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Related HealthInsite Topics

Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease

HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about the effects of smoking on cardiovascular disease, stroke and heart disease.

47 Resources Found

Results 1 to 20 displayed.     1  2  3 

Title:   Tobacco use
Publisher:   Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Description:   These web pages provide information and resources about tobacco use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Date:   Jul 2010
Title:   Cigarettes and smoking
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Did you know that 80% of young people who smoke regularly continue to smoke as adults? Nearly half the smokers under 30 started smoking by the age of 15.
Date:   May 2010
Title:   Pregnancy - risks
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   During your pregnancy it is very important to avoid some things that can harm your developing baby.
Date:   May 2010
Title:   Cigarettes and smoking
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   This topic looks at reasons why some young people start smoking, and why many get addicted to smoking.
Date:   May 2010
Title:   The effect of smoking on eye health - how smoking affects the eyes
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   There is an increased risk of a number of eye disorders in those who smoke, and those who are frequently exposed to tobacco smoke, including allergic conjunctivitis, cataract, age related macular degeneration and thyroid eye disease.
Date:   Apr 2010
Title:   The effect of smoking on the mouth - how smoking affects the mouth
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Smoking plays a part in several diseases and lesions in the mouth, the most common being gum disease. The chance of dental implant failure is also more common among smokers than among non-smokers.
Date:   Mar 2010
Title:   Smoking - effects on your body
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco that causes smokers to continue their smoking habit. Along with nicotine, smokers also inhale about 4,000 other chemicals. These chemicals harm nearly every organ in the body.
Date:   Feb 2010
Title:   Welcome to the Quitnow website
Publisher:   Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Description:   This is the web site of the Australian National Tobacco Campaign. The site is a one-stop-shop with all the information you need on the campaign and how to get information on quitting.
Date:   Feb 2010
Title:   Smoking statistics
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Smoking-related diseases killed 14,900 Australians in 2004–05. This means there were 40 preventable deaths every day. Major tobacco-related diseases include cancer, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking kills more men than women and smoking rates are higher among younger age groups and people with a lower level of education.
Date:   Dec 2009
Title:   Pregnancy and smoking
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Smoking while pregnant exposes a woman and her unborn child to an increased risk of health problems including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, premature labour and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Passive smoking can also affect a pregnant woman and her child. Discuss alternatives to nicotine replacement therapy with your doctor if you are trying to quit.
Date:   Dec 2009
Title:   Smoking during pregnancy
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Giving up smoking is one of the best things that you can do for your own health and for the health of your baby - before your baby is born and afterwards.
Date:   Oct 2009
Title:   Smoking before pregnancy
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   During the months before you become pregnant, there are some important things that you can do to improve your chances of becoming pregnant and set the scene for a healthier pregnancy and healthier baby.
Date:   Oct 2009
Title:   Smoking tobacco is deadly
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Tobacco causes more illness and death than any other drug. One in two lifetime smokers will die from their habit, half of them in middle age. Tobacco smoke contains a deadly cocktail of chemicals and can cause a range of cancers. Tobacco smoke also causes heart disease, stroke and emphysema. The nicotine in cigarettes is addictive but most smokers say they want to quit.
Date:   Sep 2009
Title:   Myths and misconceptions about smoking
Publisher:   The Cancer Council Australia
Description:   Answers general questions about the myths and misconceptions about smoking.
Date:   Aug 2009
Title:   Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: COPD - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long term condition that blocks the airways in the lungs.
Date:   Jul 2009
Title:   Lifestyle factors
Publisher:   The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health
Description:   Smoking is known to have an adverse affect on bone health and results in a significant loss of bone mass (bone mineral density).
Date:   Jul 2009
Title:   The effect of smoking on skin health - how smoking affects skin health
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Smoking is associated with premature ageing and wrinkles, as well as more serious skin conditions such as skin cancer and psoriasis. Smoking can also discolour skin, or make your skin dry.
Date:   Jul 2009
Title:   Dangers of cigarette smoking
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Provides information on the dangers of cigarette smoking, written by professional health specialists.
Date:   Jul 2009
Title:   Pregnancy planning - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Getting into shape before getting pregnant helps to give your child the best possible start.
Date:   Jul 2009
Title:   Bronchitis - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Bronchitis can be acute or chronic (long term) and is usually caused by viral or bacterial infection of the lungs. Find out the symptoms and treatment.
Date:   May 2009

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