Tobacco Free Action Coalition of Ulster County

Cigarette smoking is harmful to everyone but if you are a woman here are some additional facts and concerns.

90% of all lung cancer deaths among women can be linked to smoking.
Women who smoke have an increased incidence of cancer of the bladder, pancreas, kidney, liver and colon.
Smoking is a major cause of heart disease in women. Heart disease remains the #1 killer of women, 75% of those women were smokers.
Smoking by girls reduces lung growth and function
Women smokers have earlier menopause with symptoms that are more severe the women who don’t smoke.
Increased risk of infertility.
Smoking in women increases your risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Smoking and Pregnancy

Women that quit smoking before or when they become pregnant will have less risk of:

• Miscarriage
• Preterm delivery
• Premature rupture of membranes
• Stillbirth
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Learning disabilities in the child as they grow especially in math and reading.
• Having a child that will become a smoker when they are in their teenage years.

Second Hand Smoke and Children

Exposure to secondhand smoke has a negative effect on children from infancy to Adolescence. Some of these effects are:

• Increase of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS)
• Respiratory infections
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Ear Infections
• Risk that they will become smokers