What are some of the health risks for women who use tobacco?
In 2007, 21% of all Pennsylvania adults indicated they were current cigarrette smokers. (2007 BRFSS) The following are some of the health effects and mortality rates for women smokers: • Cigarette smoking kills and estimated 178,000 women in the U.S. annually. The three leading smoking-related causes of death in women are lung cancer (44,000), heart disease (41,000) and chronic lung disease (37,500). (Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2002) • Ninety percent of all lung cancer deaths in women smokers are attributed to smoking. Since 1950, lung cancer deaths among women have increased by more than 600%. Lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) • Women who smoke double their risk for developing coronary heart disease and increase by more than ten-fold their likelihood of dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (Source: American Public Health Association, 199
