9781422273913

The average smoker tries their first cigarette at age 12. Every day, about 3,500 kids try a cigarette for the first time.

• Smoking is implicated in a huge variety of cancers, not just lung cancer: other sites include cancers of the mouth, throat, stomach, liver, kidney, bladder, and more. • Smoking can cause fertility problems in women, and smoking by pregnant women can cause problems for the developing fetus. • Nicotine raises levels of “bad” cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease. • Smoking raises blood pressure and can cause blood clots. • Longtime smokers are at increased risk of hip fractures and blindness. • Smoking damages the lungs, resulting in wheezing, coughing, and asthma. • Smoking can cause acid reflux and make gastrointestinal problems worse. • Recent research has even found links between smoking and type 2 diabetes.

Understanding Tobacco and Nicotine

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