Cigarette advertising on television and radio has been illegal in the United States since 1971. Additional state and local regulations enacted since then have resulted in a virtual ban against smoking in most public places. Many entertainment and hospitality establishments feared a sharp drop in business as a result of these bans, but this has not been the case, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite these bans, as well as ongoing research that confirms the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke, many people take up the habit, while others continue to smoke.
Cancer
Smoking causes 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and 80 percent of lung cancer deaths in women. Male smokers are 23 times more likely to contract lung cancer than nonsmokers, while the risk for female smokers is 13 times higher than for nonsmokers, according to the CDC. Smokers are also at increased risk for cancer of the mouth, esophagus, uterus, cervix and pancreas. The risk is not limited to cigarettes--marijuana smoke contains more carcinogens, or cancer causing agents, than cigarette smoke, the American Lung Association claims.
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease
Smoking does not just cause cancer. It is responsible for more than 393,000 deaths each year, making it the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, according to the American Lung Association. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease by narrowing the blood vessels and weakening the aorta. Smoking also damages the alveoli, or small air sacs in the lungs, which increases the risk of emphysema and bronchitis, according to the CDC.
Risks from Secondhand Smoke
Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are also at risk, because they are inhaling many of the same carcinogens as smokers. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke are 20 to 30 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers who are not exposed. Each year, 3,400 nonsmokers die from lung cancer and 46,000 die from heart disease because of exposure to secondhand smoke, according to the CDC.
Pregnancy Risks and SIDS
Pregnant women who smoke run the risk of low birth weight babies, and premature and stillborn deliveries, according to the CDC. Smoking during pregnancy is responsible for approximately 20 to 30 percent of low birth weight babies, nearly 14 percent of premature babies and 10 percent of stillborn babies, according to the American Lung Association. Even apparently healthy babies are often born with reduced lung function and narrowed air passages when their mothers smoke during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. Babies exposed to secondhand smoke are also at increased risk of SIDS, the American Lung Association claims.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Smoke-Free Policies Do Not Hurt the Hospitality Industry
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking
- American Lung Association: Smoking--Health Effects
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Effects of Secondhand Smoke
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Smoking During Pregnancy
