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 | health information | health living | lifestyle
Why are women particularly at risk? |
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It is worth remembering that because women took up smoking later than men, they have yet to see the full impact and effect on their health. But there is already more than enough evidence to make women think twice about continuing the habit. Smoking causes the same diseases as those that affect men. Added to that, there are other risks for women.
For instance in Scotland and in certain regions in England, lung cancer has now replaced breast cancer as the leading cause of death by cancer among women. Cancer of the cervix is another added risk for women.
Osteoporosis, or the 'thinning' of the bones, has increased in recent years and has also been found to be associated with smoking. This is a painful, often crippling, condition and one in three women will have some sort of fracture as a result of osteoporosis in their lifetime. It is a disease that women need to take measures to prevent. Stopping smoking is one of these measures.
Pregnant women should also consider that the babies of women who smoke are likely to be born lighter. They are also at greater risk of being stillborn or dying around the time of birth. Many of these deaths are associated with premature delivery which is also more common among smokers than non-smokers.
There are health factsheets on this website which deal with a range of issues, including smoking, women's health and pregnancy - click here to search.
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