Identifying the Risks of SmokingLesson 3

Truth #1

Tobacco is as much a part of Kentucky’s culture as Bourbon

and Horseracing

Just the facts…

• Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 440,000 American lives each year.

• Cigarettes contain at least 43 distinct cancer-causing chemicals.

• Smoking is directly responsible for 87% of lung cancer cases and is most responsible for emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

The facts continued..

• Smoking is a major factor in coronary heart disease and stroke.

• Smoking in pregnancy accounts for an estimated 20 to 30% of low-birth weight babies, up to 14% of pre-term deliveries, and 10% of all infant deaths.

• Smoking by parents is related to serious negative health affects in their children, including asthma, ear infections and SIDS

Truths…..

• Approximately 22.2 million American women are smokers

• Women are 12 times more likely to die prematurely from lung cancer than nonsmoking females.

• Tobacco companies have targeted both African-Americans and Hispanics with intense media campaigns.

• Tobacco advertising plays an important role in encouraging young people to begin a lifelong addiction.

More Truth…

Nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco, gives the smoker a very pleasant experience, making it very hard to just quit…in spite of serious health warnings.

Kentucky and the Nation

• Kentuckians who smoke…30.5%• People nationwide that smoke…22.3%• Kentucky’s lung cancer death rate…121.4 per 100,000• The nation’s lung cancer death rate..90.2 per 100,000• The lung cancer rate in California is 74.1 per 100,000,

which has a statewide ban on smoking in public places

How Does Tobacco Affect My Life?