Introduction
Smoking is the leading cause of premature, preventable death globally. Tobacco kills up to two-thirds of its long-term users, which equates to 8 million deaths a year globally. As well as being lethal, smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and affects a person’s overall health. It is well-known that smoking causes cancer, lung disease and heart disease, and that smoking while pregnant can harm foetal development. This factsheet lists some of the other health impacts of smoking: diabetes, eye and mouth diseases, multiple sclerosis, meningococcal disease causing meningitis and septicaemia, and dementia.
See also:
ASH Factsheet: Smoking and Cancer
ASH Factsheet: Smoking, the Heart and Circulation
ASH Factsheet: Smoking and Respiratory Disease
ASH Factsheet: Smoking, Pregnancy and Fertility
ASH Factsheet: Smoking and Mental Health