Tobacco and Your Health

The following are some health risks associated with tobacco use:

Long-term Risks

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (emphysema and chronic bronchitis)
• Cancer - lung, throat, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, cervix and leukemia
• Heart attack, heart disease and stroke

Short-term Risks

• Shortness of breath
• Asthma becomes worse
• Impotence
• Infertility
• Increased carbon monoxide level in the blood
• Effects on physical appearance
• Wrinkles at an early age
• Tooth and gum disease

Oral Health Risks

• Cancers affecting the mouth, tongue, lips, throat, pharynx and larynx (More than 90 percent are attributed to tobacco use.)
• Periodontal disease
• Cavities
• Gum recession
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Reduced ability to taste
• Yellowed teeth

Health Risks Caused by Tobacco That May Affect Your Family

• Your partner or children are more likely to have lung cancer.
• Babies of smokers are more likely to be born premature, with low birth weight, with cleft lip or palate, with birth defects and may have other health problems.
• Children of smokers are more likely to be smokers themselves.
• Children of smokers are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), have asthma, lung problems and ear infections.

This information has been approved by Amy Lukowski, PsyD (October 2010).