ABSTRACT
KEY POINTS Demographics and Health Effects of Smoking ■ Tobacco is responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide. ■ Half the people who smoke today, that is, about 650 million people will eventually be killed by
tobacco. ■ Around 22% of U.S. adults are current smokers (24% of men and 19% of women); 50% of those
who had ever smoked were former smokers. ■ In developed countries, smoking causes 40% of heart disease deaths among people less than age
65 and 21% of all heart disease deaths. ■ Stopping smoking dramatically reduces risk of developing CHD with a 50% reduction after one
year compared to continuing smokers. ■ In established CHD smokers who quit have a 36% crude relative risk reduction in mortality com-
pared to continuing smokers. ■ Nonsmokers living with smokers have an increased risk of heart disease of between 20% and 30%. ■ Exposure of nonsmokers to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) causes an increased risk of lung
cancer, in those living with smokers in the region of 20% to 30%. ■ The tar, oxidizing gases, and carbon monoxide are the main causative factors in tobacco related
diseases. ■ Most smokers become dependent on nicotine, which is the addictive drug found in all tobacco
products. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, as addictive as heroin or cocaine. ■ There are many health benefits when smoking is ceased, with health benefits existing even for
cessation at an advanced age.
