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:

Need help quitting? Check out our Quitting Smoking section.

• cancer
• heart disease
• stroke
• lung disease
• gum disease
• eye problems that can lead to blindness

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

1.   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.     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...

3.   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

4.   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

5.   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

6.     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

7. 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

8.   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

1.   National Tobacco Quitline, TCRB, NCI, NIH, HHS
2.   Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC), OMH, OPHS, OS, HHS
3. American Cancer Society
4. American Lung Association
5. Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership
6. National Asian Women's Health Organization

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007