Cigarette smoke is made up of many different substances. Cigarette smoke contains over 4000 chemicals and over 70 can cause cancer.
All cigarettes can damage the body. Using tobacco in any form is not considered to be safe.
Second-hand smoke
Second-hand smoke is very harmful. It contains the same toxic chemicals, so non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke absorb the same harmful compounds as smokers. No amount of exposure to second-hand smoke is safe.
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Smoking and health
Smoking has many harmful effects on a person's health. Scientific evidence shows that smoking is related to more than two dozen diseases and health conditions. Smoking is the main risk factor for the top 3 causes of death in Canada – cancer, cardiovascular disease and lung (respiratory) disease.
- About 37,000 people die each year in Canada as a result of smoking.
- The link between smoking and cancer is very clear.
- Smoking is estimated to be responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths and 85% of lung cancers.
- Smoking is also linked to many other types of cancer, such as oral, nasal cavity and paranasal sinus, esophageal, stomach, pancreas, bladder and kidney cancers.
Smoking lowers a person's life expectancy. Up to half of all regular, long-term smokers will die prematurely from a tobacco-related disease unless they quit smoking.
Cigarette smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in Canada. Eliminating tobacco use is one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of Canadians who die each year. Quitting smoking has many health benefits.
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Costs associated with smoking
In 2002, it was estimated that Canada spends over $4.4 billion a year in direct healthcare costs, including hospital, doctor and drug costs, for tobacco-related illnesses. If non-medical costs like lost productivity due to illness and premature death are included in these costs, the economic burden to Canadian society from tobacco use rises to at least $17 billion each year.
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Tobacco control
Canada has made a lot of progress in tobacco control in recent years. There are many tobacco control initiatives in place. Tobacco control efforts are not limited to governmental action alone. Tobacco control advocates and health professionals play an important role in helping to educate the public about the health hazards associated with tobacco. They also hold government representatives accountable for developing effective public health policies that deal with tobacco control.
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Reducing your risk
The number of Canadian smokers is decreasing. Every year, thousands of Canadians stop smoking and the number of ex-smokers continues to grow.
You can help reduce your risk of developing cancer and other tobacco-related illnesses by avoiding all tobacco products.
- Live smoke-free. If you smoke, get help to quit.
- Don’t use any tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, cigars, cigarillos and pipes.
- Avoid second-hand smoke.
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