Health Consequences of Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke

Mortality and Morbidity

• Premature death

• Significant disease and disability

Cardiovascular Effects:

• Coronary heart disease (heart attack)

• Cerebrovascular disease (stroke)

• Atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease (increased risk of amputations)

Cancer (the following cancers can be caused by tobacco):

• Lung

• Laryngeal

• Esophageal

• Bladder

• Cancer of the oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, and pharynx)

• Pancreatic

• Renal

• Gastric

Lung Diseases

• Emphysema

• Chronic bronchitis

Women's Health Effects

• Intrauterine growth retardation, leading to low birth weight babies

• Cervical cancer

• Unsuccessful pregnancies

Other Health Effects 

• Addiction to nicotine

• Adverse interactions with occupational hazards that increase the risk of cancer

• Alteration of the actions and effects of prescription and nonprescription medications

• A probable cause of peptic ulcer disease

Health Consequences of Secondhand Smoke

• Lung cancer in adult nonsmokers

• Associated with higher death rates from cardiovascular disease in nonsmokers

• Associated with increased irritant effects, particularly eye irritation, among allergic persons

• Worsens asthma in adults

In children 

• Associated with respiratory tract infections

• Increased prevalence of fluid in the middle ear

• A risk factor for developing asthma and associated with more frequent and severe asthma attacks

• Associated with increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

• Associated with increased risk of bacterial meningitis

Check out these fact sheets to learn more. Print and share with individuals you know smoke or use smokeless tobacco.

• Tobacco Fact Sheet

• Second Hand Smoke Fact Sheet

Resources
The Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP) of the Sedgwick County Health Department provides resources and technical assistance to community coalitions like Tobacco Free Wichita, Derby Community Coalition Promoting Healthy Choices and Derby Youth Leadership Council.

TUPP focuses on four priority areas
     1) Preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people
     2)Promoting quitting among young people and adults through the Kansas Quitline
     3)Eliminating nonsmokers' exposure to secondhand smoke
     4)Identifying and eliminating the disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among different population groups.

For more information on TUPP, call 316-660-7387 or email Tyler Kane.
For information on how to quit using tobacco, call the Kansas Tobacco Quitline at 1-866-KAN-STOP (1-866-526-7867) or go to this website.
For a list of tobacco free restaurants in Wichita, click here to be redirected to the Tobacco Free Wichita Dining Guide.