Smoking
Minority Women's Health > Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians > Health Topics > Smoking
Women smoke for different reasons. Some women smoke to deal with stress or control their weight. Younger women may start smoking to rebel, be more independent, or be accepted by their friends. But there is never a good reason to smoke. Smoking causes serious health problems, including:
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.
Smoking rates for Asian American women are over 50 percent less than women in other groups. While Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders smoke less compared to other groups, it is still a cause of disease and death in this group.
Publications
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
Filipinos Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Don't Burn Your Life Away-Be Good to Your Heart - This easy-to-read, bilingual Tagalog and English booklet discusses the harmful effects tobacco abuse can have on the body.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/filipino_facts/filipino-smokin...
Heart Disease and Asians and Pacific Islanders - This web page provides up to date statistics about Asian Americans and heart disease, obesity, hypertension, cholesterol, smoking and more.
http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3060
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
Surgeon General's Report on Women and Smoking: Asian or Pacific Islander Women and Smoking - Fact Sheet - This publication discusses the prevalence of smoking among Asian American and Pacific Islander women and the health effects of smoking to these women.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/owh/pub/factsheets/smoking_asian.htm
Vietnamese Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Don't Burn Your Life Away - Be Good to Your Heart - This easy-to-read, bilingual Vietnamese and English booklet discusses the harmful effects tobacco abuse can have on the body.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/viet_facts/viet-smoking.pdf
Asian Language Materials - This web site lists the American Cancer Society materials available in different Asian languages such as Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ASN/ASN_0.asp
Tobacco Use in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Communities (Copyright © AAPCHO) - This publication describes the prevelance of smoking among Asian Americans and discusses how tobacco companies are targeting Asian communities. It advocates for community involvement to stem the rise in tobacco use in Asian Americans.
http://www.aapcho.com/links/AAPItobacco3-02.pdf
Organizations
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National Tobacco Quitline, TCRB, NCI, NIH, HHS
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Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC), OMH, OPHS, OS, HHS
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American Cancer Society
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American Lung Association
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Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership
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National Asian Women's Health Organization
= Indicates Federal Resources
Current as of December 2007