Tobacco smoking is the largest preventable cause of premature death and disease in Australia. Smoking is a major cause of heart disease, stroke, several different forms of cancer (in the lung, lip, tongue, mouth, throat, nose, nasal sinus, voice box, oesophagus, pancreas, stomach, kidney, bladder, urethra, cervix, and bone marrow), emphysema, asthma, blindness and a wide variety of other health problems.1
Other health consequences
Cigarette smoking is also a risk factor associated with:
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lowered fertility in both men and women |
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miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight and death in early infancy (including SIDS) |
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age-related macular degeneration (blindness) |
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osteoporosis |
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asthma |
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back pain and spinal disc degeneration |
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delayed wound healing |
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complications of diabetes |
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periodontal disease (tooth & gum problems). |
Smoking Kills
Every year, about 15,000 Australians die from diseases caused by smoking. In 2003, Lung Cancer was responsible for the greatest burden of disease due to smoking (35%), followed by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (27%), Heart Disease (15%), Stroke (6%) and then other circulatory diseases and cancers other than lung cancer.2
References
1 2004 Surgeon General's Report.
2. Begg S, Vos T, Barker B, Stevenson C, Stanley L, Lopez AD, 2007. the burden of disease and injury in Australia 2003. PHE 82. Canberra: AIHW.
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