Consultant.
No. 13
Women and Smoking-Related Diseases:The Scope of the Epidemic
November 1, 2002
Smoking-related diseases have reached epidemic levels
among women in the United States. Since 1980, neoplastic,
cardiovascular, respiratory, and pediatric diseases attributable
to smoking—as well as cigarette burns—have
been responsible for the premature deaths of 3 million
American women and girls. Lung cancer is now the leading
cause of cancer-related deaths among US women; it
surpassed breast cancer in 1987.1
The first US Surgeon General's report on women
and smoking was issued in 1980. In the past 20 years, numerous
studies have shown that in addition to lung cancer,
heart disease, and emphysema, a multitude of other
health problems threaten the approximately 22% of American
women who smoke. The results of these studies
prompted the US Surgeon General to release a second report
devoted to women and smoking. The Table summarizes
the major smoking-related health risks listed in the
report.
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Table — Health hazards of smoking for women |
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Health risk |
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Comments |
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Lung cancer |
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Among women smokers in the United States, about 90% of all lung cancer deaths
result from smoking. Since 1950, lung cancer mortality rates in US women have
increased approximately 600%. Lung cancer is now the leading cause of
cancer-related deaths among women. Environmental tobacco smoke also causes
lung cancer in women. |
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Cervical cancer |
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Smoking is associated with a heightened risk of cervical cancer, but whether this
association is independent of human papillomavirus infection is unknown. |
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Cardiovascular disease |
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The primary cause of CHD in women younger than 50 years is smoking;
oral contraceptive use further heightens the risk. Smoking also increases the
risk of ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and peripheral vascular
atherosclerosis. |
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COPD |
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COPD mortality rates among women have increased in the past 20 - 30 years.
Cigarette smoking is associated with about 90% of the deaths resulting from COPD. |
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Reproductive effects |
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Smoking increases the risk of primary and secondary infertility and is linked
to delayed conception. In addition, the risk of stillbirth, neonatal death, and
SIDS is greater for the children of mothers who smoke. Infants born to smokers
are also more likely to be of lower birth weight and small for gestational age
and to have reduced lung function. |
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Bone density |
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Postmenopausal smokers have lower bone density than nonsmokers. Women
who are current smokers are at increased risk for hip fracture. |
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GI tract disease |
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Smoking increases the risk of Crohn disease and is associated with worsening of
symptoms. Peptic ulcers are also linked to smoking. |
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Eye disease |
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Smoking is associated with an increased risk of cataracts. |
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Depression |
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Women smokers are more likely to be depressed than nonsmokers. |
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REFERENCE:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women and smoking: a report
of the Surgeon General. MMWR. 2002;51(RR-12):1-30.
