Category: Latest Health News

Timely information on various health conditions including: Alzheimer’s disease, Chronic Pain, Diabetes, Emotional Health, Hypertension, Kidney Disease, and Stroke. Links cover disease descriptions, causes, symptoms, at-risk communities, prevention, connections to the social environment, health disparities, coping, and further information.

Facts about Smoking

  • Smoking leads to chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke, lung problems as well as heart disease.
  • Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death.
  • In 2009, 20.6% of all United States adults were smokers.

Source:
Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (). “Smoking & Tobacco Use: Fast Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atlanta, GA.

Health Disparities and Tobacco Use

American Indians and Alaska Natives are the group with the highest prevalence of tobacco users followed by African American and Southeast Asian men. The groups with the lowest prevalence of smoking are Asian American and Hispanic women.

This difference in the prevalence of smokers among each ethnic group can be attributed to many factors including: socioeconomic status, cultural factors, stress, advertising that is more often target to certain populations, as well as an individual’s community tobacco control initiatives.

Source:
Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (). “Highlights: At A Glance.” Surgeon General’s Report: Tobacco Use Among U.S. Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.