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