Cancer and Tobacco
Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S., responsible for nearly 1 in 5 cancer diagnoses. All forms of tobacco—cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and snuff—contain dangerous toxins and highly addictive nicotine. Understanding the risks can help you make informed choices about your health. Key Facts About Tobacco Use […]
How Tobacco Use Affects Oral Health
Cigarettes, cigars, hookah, e-cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco all negatively impact oral health, often in ways that are both painful and dangerous. Tobacco use is strongly linked to oral cancers, including those of the mouth, throat, lips, and gums. Cigarettes can cause gum disease, stained teeth, and even tooth loss. Cigars, even without inhaling, can cause […]
Cigar Smoking and Cancer
Cigars and cigarettes may seem similar, but the differences go far beyond size. Cigarettes are typically small, wrapped in paper, and contain less than 1 gram of unfermented tobacco. They’re made to be inhaled and usually smoked in under 10 minutes. In contrast, cigars are made from fermented tobacco wrapped in tobacco leaf, come in […]
How can we prevent tobacco use?
Tobacco use continues to be one of the leading preventable causes of death, not only due to direct smoking but also through secondhand exposure. Since the landmark 1964 Surgeon General’s Report, tobacco control efforts have made major strides—researchers estimate they’ve helped avert 8 million premature deaths and added 2.3 years to male and 1.6 years […]
Cigars Are a Public Health Problem
Cigars—once seen as a niche luxury—are now aggressively marketed to youth, women, and communities of color through flavored products, low prices, and targeted advertising. The tobacco industry has designed and promoted cigars using flavors like cherry and vanilla to mask harsh tobacco, making them appealing to first-time users. From 2009 to 2020, cigar sales rose […]
Menthol Tobacco Products
Menthol is a compound found naturally in peppermint and similar plants, but it can also be made synthetically. In tobacco products like cigarettes, menthol produces a cooling sensation in the throat and lungs, which reduces the harshness of the smoke and makes it easier to inhale—an effect that can increase the likelihood of addiction. Menthol […]
Public Health Strategies for Tobacco Prevention and Control
Commercial tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the U.S., disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. For decades, tobacco companies have strategically targeted youth, low-income communities, and racial and ethnic minorities, increasing access to and appeal of tobacco products. Social factors like poverty, discrimination, and adverse childhood experiences further contribute to […]
Quit Smoking For Better Health
Smoking is incredibly damaging to the body, leading to numerous health problems and significantly increasing the risk of premature death. Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States, claiming nearly half a million lives annually. The harmful chemicals in cigarettes damage the lungs, heart, and blood vessels, contributing […]
Smoking, Pregnancy, and Babies
Smoking is widely known to cause cancer and other severe health issues, and smoking during pregnancy can lead to serious complications such as premature birth, birth defects, or even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Exposure to cigarette smoke can also harm both the mother and baby. While quitting before pregnancy is ideal, stopping at any […]
Vision Loss, Blindness, and Smoking
Smoking harms your eyes just as much as it harms the rest of your body, increasing your risk of serious eye conditions that can lead to vision loss or blindness. Two major threats to your eyesight are macular degeneration and cataracts. Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), affects central vision, which is essential for […]