Tobacco is the leading cause of a host of preventable diseases including cancer, heart disease, and strokes. It is also the leading cause of death in the United States, causing more than 400,000 deaths annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco use causes more than seven million deaths each year worldwide.
Effects on Health
Tobacco use has a significant impact on human health, contributing to a variety of cancers, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that smoking causes about one in five deaths in the United States each year. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, and it is responsible for nearly 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths. Smoking is also a major risk factor for other cancers, including bladder, kidney, throat, stomach, and pancreatic cancer.
Addiction
Tobacco use is highly addictive, with nicotine being the primary addictive substance in cigarettes. The nicotine in cigarettes is quickly absorbed and reaches the brain within 10 seconds of inhalation. Nicotine acts on the brain's reward system, causing a sense of pleasure and ultimately leading to addiction.
Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker and the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette. Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including at least 70 known to cause cancer. It is the third-leading cause of preventable death in the United States, causing an estimated 41,000 deaths each year. Secondhand smoke can cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems.