Health Facts and Statistics About Cigarette Smoking

Health Facts and Statistics About Cigarette Smoking Addiction Nicotine Use Smoking-Related Diseases Print Important Statistics About Cigarette Smoking By Terry Martin facebook twitter Terry Martin quit smoking after 26 years and is now an advocate for those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction. Learn about our editorial policy Terry Martin Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD on August 05, 2016 Sanja Jelic, MD, is board-certified in sleep medicine, critical care medicine, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine.   Learn about our Medical Review Board Sanja Jelic, MD Updated on January 23, 2020 Peter Dazeley/Photographers Choice/Getty Images More in Addiction Nicotine Use Smoking-Related Diseases After You Quit How to Quit Smoking Nicotine Withdrawal The Inside of Cigarettes Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery As of December 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U.S. We all know that smoking cigarettes is horribly destructive and in many  cases, deadly, killing half of all people who dont quit. Over 7,000 chemicals have been identified in cigarettes and cigarette smoke to date, 93 of which are harmful or potentially harmful, and more than 70 of which can cause cancer.?? These  ingredients and additives  affect everything from the internal functioning of your organs to the efficiency of your bodys immune system. Some of the facts and statistics about smoking may surprise you.   Toxic Ingredients in Cigarette Smoke The chemicals in cigarette smoke are inhaled into the lungs and from there travel throughout the body, causing damage: Nicotine reaches the brain in seven to 10 seconds after smoke is inhaled. Nicotine has been found in every part of a smokers body, including breast milk. Its also as addictive as heroin.??Carbon monoxide, which is present in cigarette smoke, binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing these cells from carrying all of the oxygen they normally would. This can lead to symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.Cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke damage important genes that control the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally or to reproduce too rapidly. More than 70 such cancer-causing chemicals have been identified in cigarette smoke to date.Smoking affects how the immune system functions by causing oxidative stress. This, in turn, causes DNA mutation, setting the stage for cancer and heart disease. Oxidative stress is also thought to be a contributor to the aging process, as smokers have fewer antioxidantsâ€"natures way of combating the damage oxidative stre ss causes to the bodys cellsâ€"in their blood than non-smokers.Smoking is associated with higher levels of chronic inflammation,?? another damaging process that may result in oxidative stress.Cigarette smoke contains radioactive heavy metals that stick to the tar that collects in the lungs of smokers. Over time, this builds up and is believed to be one of the risk factors for lung cancer in smokers.?? Increased Health Risks Smokers face a substantial increase in their risk for a number of diseases over those who dont smoke:Coronary heart disease: 2 to 4 timesStroke: 2 to 4 timesLung cancer risk for men: 25 timesLung cancer risk for women: 25.7 timesChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related death: 12 to 13 times The Health Benefits of Smoking Cessation Cigarette Smoking and Death Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the world today. Here are the statistics on smoking cigarettes and the number of deaths smoking causes:?? In the U.S., cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 480,000 deaths a year. Globally, nearly 6 million people die from tobacco use annually, and if current trends continue, that number is expected to increase to eight million by the year 2030.If no one smoked, cancer deaths in the U.S. would decrease by one-third.Lung cancer is largely a smokers disease; 90% of men and 80% of women who succumb to lung cancer smoked.COPD-related deaths are also primarily caused by smoking, with 90% of these deaths traced back to cigarettes.Smokers die 10 years sooner than non-smokers, on average.More than 41,000 die per year from exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco use is responsible for more deaths each year in the U.S. than all of the following combined: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), motor vehicle injuries, alcohol use, and illegal drug use.?? Reasons Why You Should Consider Quitting Smoking