Smoking

Minority Women's Health > American Indians/Alaska Natives > 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.

American Indians/Alaska Natives have the highest smoking rates of any group in the U.S. In fact, American Indian/Alaska Native women over 18 are more likely than other groups of women to smoke (34.7 percent). In 2004, American Indian/Alaska Native women had the highest rates among women for smoking during pregnancy (18.2 percent). Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for American Indian/Alaska Natives.

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.   American Indian and Alaskan Native People: Help Your Heart! - Although the use of tobacco has been a part of the American Indian and Alaska Native culture for many years, health concerns associated with tobacco have been brought to the forefront. This document discusses the harmful effects of tobacco, such as heart attack, cancer, and lung problems. It explains the dangers of tobacco use while providing suggestions for staying healthy.

   http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/FactSheets/helphrt.htm

3.   American Indian Health - This web site is an information portal for and about the health of native peoples of the United States.

   http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/

4.   Online Guide to Quitting - This on-line resource is designed to help you at any stage of the quitting process, whether you’re still thinking about quitting, have made the decision to quit, or have already taken steps to quit and just need help maintaining your new lifestyle. Both ex-smokers and experts have contributed to this guide.

   http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/index.html

5.   Quit Tips - This publication gives tips on how to quit smoking and encourages smokers to take control with a plan of action that will ensure success. It also contains a list of resources to contact for help.

   http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/quittip.htm

6.   Smokefree.gov - Smokefree.gov is intended to help you or someone you care about quit smoking. Different people need different resources as they try to quit. The information and professional assistance available on this web site can help to support both your immediate and long-term needs as you become, and remain, a nonsmoker. Resources include telephone hotlines, print materials and an Internet instant messaging service.

   http://www.smokefree.gov

7. Fact Sheets & Prevention Tips (Copyright © NPAIHB) - This is a list of resources from the National Tribal Tobacco Prevention Network about secondhand smoke, smoking cessation, traditional tobacco, and more.

   http://www.npaihb.org/programs/project/nttpn_reports_publications_media_materials...

8. Native Americans/Alaska Natives and Lung Disease Fact Sheet (Copyright @ ALA) - This publication provides statistical information on smoking and lung disease among people identified as Native Americans/American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Inuit.

   http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2058817&co...

9. Smoking and American Indians/Alaska Natives Fact Sheet (Copyright © ALA) - Among racial and ethnic groups, the prevalence of current smoking is highest among American Indians/Alaska Natives. This publication contains statistics on tobacco use among the American Indians/Alaska Natives in comparison to national statistics.

   http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35999

Organizations

1.   Indian Health Services
2.   National Cancer Institute, NIH, HHS
3.   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, HHS
4.   National Tobacco Quitline, TCRB, NCI, NIH, HHS
5. American Cancer Society
6. National Indian Women's Health Resource Center (NIWHRC)

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007