| Smoking is a global problem. It is estimated | | | | (33.3%) are much more likely to start |
| that one in three adults smoke, with over 1 | | | | smoking. |
| billion people smoking worldwide. The | | | | |
| majority of these smokers reside in countries | | | | 7) Among whites, 25.1% of men and 21.7% of |
| on the low end to the middle of the | | | | women smoke. |
| socioeconomic spectrum. Of this majority, | | | | |
| about 80% live in low and middle-income | | | | 8) Among black or African Americans, 27.6% of |
| countries. The total number of smokers | | | | men and 18% of women smoke. |
| worldwide is expected to keep on increasing | | | | |
| each year. | | | | 9) Among Asians, 21.3% of men and 6.9% of |
| | | | women smoke. |
| The worldwide popularity of tobacco use | | | | |
| varies by social class, historical era, and | | | | 10) Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2% of men and |
| culture. Historically, smoking had been a | | | | 12.5% of women smoke. |
| pastime of the rich. However, this trend has | | | | |
| changed dramatically in recent decades. It | | | | 11) Among American Indians/Alaska Natives, |
| appears that financially advantaged men in | | | | 32% of men and 36.9% of women smoke. |
| wealthier countries have been smoking less in | | | | |
| recent times. | | | | 12) A shocking...1 out of every 5 five deaths |
| | | | is caused by tobacco |
| The World Health Organization has been | | | | |
| studying smoking trends and statistical | | | | 13) It is estimated that Tobacco is |
| patterns across the globe and has uncovered | | | | responsible for 400,000 deaths in the US |
| the following statistics: | | | | every single year. |
| | | | |
| 1) Eastern Europe has a particularly high | | | | 14) Cigarettes are responsible for about 25% |
| rate of smoking, with up to 59% of adult | | | | of deaths from residential fires, causing |
| males smoking. Also, significantly more women | | | | nearly 1,000 fire-related deaths and 3,300 |
| smoke in Eastern Europe than in East Asia and | | | | injuries each year. |
| the Pacific Region. | | | | |
| | | | 15) Tobacco is blamed for many serious |
| 2) Most people who smoke, begin smoking | | | | cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases |
| before they are 25 years old. Worldwide | | | | |
| observations suggest that people are stating | | | | 16) Nicotine and tobacco are some of the most |
| to smoke at a much younger age. World Health | | | | potent carcinogens and are responsible for |
| Organization studies reveal that the majority | | | | the majority of all cancers of the lung, |
| of smokers in affluent countries; begin in | | | | larynx, trachea, esophagus and bronchus. |
| their teens. | | | | |
| | | | 17) Smoking tobacco is known to produce |
| Smoking In The US | | | | cancer in the pancreas, kidney, bladder, and |
| | | | the cervix |
| How do Americans compare to the rest of the | | | | |
| world when it comes to smoking? It may come | | | | 18) Because tobacco reduces blood flow, |
| as no surprise to hear that Americans are no | | | | nicotine addiction has been proven to cause |
| better than anyone else. According to the | | | | impotency. |
| National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), | | | | |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, | | | | 19) If you smoke, the risk of respiratory |
| National Center for Health Statistics: | | | | illnesses is high. This could lead to |
| | | | pulmonary diseases such as chronic |
| 3) In the US, it is estimated that 25.6 | | | | obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia, |
| million men (25.2%) and 22.6 million women | | | | which are responsible for some 85,000 every |
| (20.7%) are smokers. These smokers face a | | | | year. |
| higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Here | | | | |
| are the latest estimates for smokers' aged 18 | | | | 20) Children and adolescents who are active |
| and above: | | | | smokers will have increasingly severe |
| | | | respiratory illness, as they grow older |
| 4) Studies reveal that smoking popularity is | | | | |
| significantly higher among people with 9-11 | | | | 21) Smoking during pregnancy increases the |
| years of education (35.4%) compared with | | | | risk of miscarriage and fetal growth |
| those with more than 16 years of education | | | | retardation. It also causes about 5-6% of |
| (11.6%). | | | | prenatal deaths, 17-26% of low-birth-weight |
| | | | births, and 7-10% of pre-term deliveries. |
| 5) There appears to be a correlation between | | | | |
| a country's standard of living, level of | | | | If you don't want to quit smoking after |
| education, and income and the number of | | | | reading these shocking figures, you really |
| people who have quit smoking. The more and | | | | need to get your head examined. You know in |
| better-informed people are, the more likely | | | | your heart, what's the right thing to do. |
| they are to quit smoking. | | | | Make a firm decision to quit today, and stick |
| | | | to it! |
| 6) People living below the poverty level | | | | |