Description

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.1

• Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. This is nearly one in five deaths.1,2,3
• Smoking causes more deaths each year than the following causes combined:4
  
  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  
  Illegal drug use
  
  Alcohol use
  
  Motor vehicle injuries
  
  Firearm-related incidents
  
• More than 10 times as many U.S. citizens have died prematurely from cigarette smoking than have died in all the wars fought by the United States.1
• Smoking causes about 90% (or 9 out of 10) of all lung cancer deaths.1,2 More women die from lung cancer each year than from breast cancer.5
• Smoking causes about 80% (or 8 out of 10) of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).1
• Cigarette smoking increases risk for death from all causes in men and women.1
• The risk of dying from cigarette smoking has increased over the last 50 years in the U.S.1

Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.1

• Estimates show smoking increases the risk:
  
  For coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times1,6
  
  For stroke by 2 to 4 times1
  
  Of men developing lung cancer by 25 times1
  
  Of women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times1
  
• Smoking causes diminished overall health, increased absenteeism from work, and increased health care utilization and cost.1
• 1 800 QUIT NOW

Reference

CDC.GOV 

Health Effects of Cigarettes Smoking