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Minority Women's Health
Minority Women's Health

Smoking

Women smoke for different reasons. Some women smoke to deal with stress or control their weight.

Each year, more African Americans die from diseases caused by smoking than from murders, AIDS, drug and alcohol abuse, and car crashes combined. More African American women today die from lung cancer than breast cancer. Studies show that most African American women don't begin smoking in the teen years, which is the time when many people try cigarettes. Instead, African American women start smoking later. The smoking rates for white women are higher than African American women until the mid-40s. After this time, the rates for African American women exceed those for white women until the mid-60s.

There is never a good reason to smoke. Smoking causes serious health problems, including:

Need help quitting?
Check out our
Quitting Smoking

section.

Women who smoke are at increased risk for cervical cancer. Women who take birth control pills and also smoke have a higher risk of stroke.

Smoking can make illnesses last longer and make it harder to get pregnant.

These are just a few of the health problems caused by smoking. Smoking also stains your teeth, fingers, and fingernails, gives you bad breath, and causes wrinkles.

Publications

  1. Federal resource  A Breath of Fresh Air! Independence from Smoking - NWHIC created this page to help empower women and teens, and the people they love, to breathe clean! Gain independence from the stale world of smoking by using our information and resources. Learn about the specific effects of smoking on your health and how to quit effectively.

    http://www.womenshealth.gov/QuitSmoking/index.cfm

  2. Federal resource  Black, White Teens Show Differences in Nicotine Metabolism - This news release summarizes the findings of one study about the differences in nicotine metabolism between white teens and black teens.

    http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/06/NR1-20.html

  3. Federal resource  Pathways to Freedom: Winning the Fight Against Tobacco - This guide was developed to address the national concern over the high rates of smoking among the African American population. It offers proven strategies for anyone who wants to quit; how friends and family can help; and how the community and its leaders can promote the value of gaining freedom from tobacco.

    http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/pathways/index.htm

  4. Federal resource  Refresh Yourself! Stop Smoking - This booklet offers specific information on how to quit smoking and identifies steps to promote healthy lifestyles among African Americans. Easy-to-follow tips are provided on resisting the urge to smoke and maintaining the will power to accomplish your goals.

    http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/chdblack/refresh.htm

  5. Federal resource  Support and Advice From Your Prenatal Care Provider - This publication explains the benefits of not smoking for both mother and baby along with the key steps to quitting successfully. The information provided is based on scientific research and suggests which steps you can take to ensure the best chances of quitting.

    http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/prenatal.htm

  6. Guide to Quitting Smoking (Copyright © ACS) - This publication provides detailed information on why you should quit smoking, how you can quit, how you can deal with withdrawal symptoms and more.

    http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Guide_for_Quitting_Smoking.a...

  7. Smoking and African Americans Fact Sheet (Copyright © ALA) - African Americans suffer disproportionately from many chronic and preventable diseases associated with smoking. This fact sheet provides a summary of the statistical research that exists on smoking and African Americans.

    http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35988

Organizations

  1. Federal resource  CDC's WISEWOMAN™ - Well Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation
  2. Federal resource  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS
  3. Federal resource  National Tobacco Quitline, TCRB, NCI, NIH, HHS
  4. American Cancer Society
  5. American Heart Association
  6. American Lung Association

Federal resource = Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007

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