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The bad news
- Smoking is the greatest single
cause of ill health and premature death in the UK.
- Smokers have a 1 in 2 risk of getting ill and
dying early from smoking.
- Smoking kills 120,000 people each year in the
UK, compared to 5,000 in road accidents.
- 13 people die each hour because of smoking.
- Over 80% of all lung cancer deaths are caused
by smoking.
The diseases caused
by smoking
There are many
serious and fatal diseases caused by smoking. The
most common of these are:
- Coronary heart disease
- Cancer of the lung
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Pneumonia
The list of smoking-related
diseases includes the following:
Heart and circulation
Heart attacks • Arteriosclerosis
(this is the build-up of fatty deposits and loss of
elasticity in the artery walls, which can lead to
a range of diseases including strokes, peripheral
vascular disease and gangrene, and aortic and other
aneurysms) • Buerger's disease - which
can lead to gangrene and amputations.
Cancers
Lung • Mouth •
Nose and thoat • Larynx • Oesophagus •
Pancreas • Bladder • Stomach • Leukaemia
• Kidney
Respiratory
Chronic bronchitis, Emphysema
and other lung diseases • Recurrent infections
in the airways • Damage and loss of efficiency
in the lungs
Others
Impotence • Peptic
ulcers • Adverse effects on fertility
Smoking can also increase the incidence and severity
of everyday complaints. Many people do not realise
that coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath on
exertion can be caused by their smoking habit.
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