Tobacco Initiative - Sedgwick County, Kansas Health Department

Sedgwick County > Health Department > Wellness > Tobacco Initiative

Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke

Health and Consequences

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.

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:

Preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people
Promoting quitting among young people and adults through the Kansas Quitline
Eliminating nonsmokers' exposure to secondhand smoke
Identifying and eliminating the disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among different population groups.

For more information on TUPP, call 316-660-7198 or email Hilary Meister.

For information on how to quit using tobacco, visit the Kansas Tobacco Quitline Website or call 1-866-KAN-STOP (1-866-526-7867).

For a list of tobacco free restaurants in Wichita, click here to be redirected to the Tobacco Free Wichita Dining Guide.