Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette Smoking Poses Special Dangers to Women

Recent research indicates that smoking decreases a woman’s life span by nearly 15 years. Each year, more than 178,000 American women die from smoking-related medical conditions.

• In women, cigarette smoking is a direct cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In fact, 80% of women who die from this condition smoked cigarettes at some point in their lives. Since 2000, women have outnumbered men in the number of deaths attributed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Cigarette smoking increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer by up to 40%. Female smokers are also face a great risk of dying from cervical cancer than non-smoking women. In both sexes, smoking is linked to cancers of the lung, bladder, pancreas, kidney, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus.
• Postmenopausal female smokers have a significantly lower bone density than their non-smoking counterparts. This increases their risk of hip fractures.
• Cigarette smoking often creates fertility problems in women of childbearing age.

Risks during Pregnancy

Did you know that more than 10% of women smoke during pregnancy? However, smoking poses a serious danger to both the mother and her developing fetus.

• A woman who smokes during her pregnancy passes nicotine to her fetus and cuts oxygen flow to the placenta by 25%.
• Women who smoke are much more likely to face serious pregnancy complications such as placenta previa and placental abruption.
• Smoking substantially increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. In fact, 10% of all infant deaths are related to cigarette smoking.
• Research indicates cigarette smoking is responsible for about 30% of low birth weight babies and 14% of premature births. In many cases, this leads to learning disabilities and developmental delays.
• A baby whose mother smoked during pregnancy is three times as likely to die from SIDS as the child of a non-smoker.

It is important to note that the risks of smoking are the same regardless of whether or not a woman decreases her tobacco consumption for the duration of her pregnancy. Most women who reduce the number of cigarettes smoked on a daily basis simply inhale more deeply to consume the same amount of nicotine.

Kicking the Habit

Women who want to quit smoking face special challenges. Unlike their male counterparts, most women relapse due to stress, a fear of weight gain, or an inability to cope with negative emotions. Therefore, learning relaxation techniques, joining your local health club, or meeting with a counselor can increase your odds of successfully changing your behavior.

If you wish to quit smoking, contact your healthcare provider for advice. He/she can help you select an over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy or write a prescription for Zyban, a new medication that has helped many women overcome the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Some physicians also have information on local resources to help you adjust to life without cigarettes.

Additional Information

• Quit Smoking Resources from the CDC
• The National Partnership to Help Pregnant Smokers Quit
• The National Women’s Health Information Center