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Health Risks of Smoking

Identifying the potential negative consequences of tobacco use relevant to your client may enhance their motivation to quit smoking.

FACTS about tobacco use:

  • More than 47,000 people die prematurely each year in Canada due to tobacco use.
  • The average person who smokes will die about eight years earlier than a similar non-smoker.
  • Health Canada estimates that at least 700 non-smokers will die each year of coronary heart disease caused by exposure to second-hand smoke.
  • There are approximately 4,000 chemical compounds in second-hand smoke. More than 40 of them are known to cause cancer.

Exposure to these toxic chemicals occurs whenever a tobacco product is burned:

  • Tar
  • Nicotine
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Formaldehyde
  • Hydrogen cyanide
  • Benzene

For further details on the toxic components of cigarettes, visit Health Canada’s Toxic Emissions Statement

Tobacco use increases the risk of:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Cancers
  • Respiratory diseases
  • Adverse effects in pregnancy
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Orthopedic conditions
  • Rheumatologic conditions
  • Kidney damage
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Skin conditions
  • Cataracts
  • Tooth and Gum problems