Written by Dimitrios Vrachatis, Specialist Cardiologist, PhD, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Can smoking cause death or disability?
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death. In the United States, for example, it causes more than 480,000 deaths each year, almost one in five deaths. After quitting, the risk of illness, serious disability or death gradually decreases and, within a few years, approaches that of a non-smoker. Even if you already smoke, stopping immediately and permanently can therefore bring major benefits.
What can smoking do to my health?
Smoking, including passive smoking, is associated with the worsening or development of many conditions, including:
- Asthma
- Cancer of the lung, larynx, head and neck, and colon
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diabetes
- Gum disease
- Cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, coronary artery disease and heart failure
- Stroke
- HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
- Mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety
- Premature birth
- Vision problems
Why quit if I could become ill even without smoking?
Every disease has a range of causes and triggers. Some illnesses can occur in non-smokers and may not develop in people who smoke. In many cases, however, smoking is entirely responsible for their development. Even when it is not the sole or main cause, it accelerates their development and increases their severity. Quitting therefore substantially improves the chances of a healthier life without symptoms or disability.
Is passive smoking harmful too?
The harmful effects are not limited to the person who smokes. Second-hand smoke contributes to approximately 41,000 deaths among non-smoking adults and 400 infant deaths each year. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Even a small amount can harm health. Passive smoking can cause heart attacks, stroke and lung cancer in non-smoking adults.
It also causes illness and death in children, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to have lung problems, ear infections and more frequent and severe asthma attacks.
Does smoking in a neighbouring room or restaurant area matter?
Only a completely smoke-free indoor environment fully protects non-smokers from the risks of second-hand smoke. Studies show that separate non-smoking areas do not provide protection. Neither do ventilation, air filtration or opening a window.
I know smokers who lived for many years. Could I be as lucky?
Some smokers do not die from smoking-related disease. Rational decisions, however, should be based on the rule rather than the exceptions. The figures show that for every smoking-related death, at least 30 other people live with a smoking-related illness.
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease. Research shows that quitting reduces the risk of premature death and can add up to a decade to life expectancy.
The best step a smoker can take to protect both their own and their family’s health is to stop smoking completely.