| Women
and Smoking in Wisconsin
Smoking is the
number one preventable cause of death in Wisconsin. In addition,
recent data has made it clear we have a new gender equality in Wisconsin
- women are now smoking and dying at rates approaching those of
men.
Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:
- Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is commonly known as chronic bronchitis
and emphysema and is characterized by a loss of lung function.
It is the fourth leading cause of death after heart disease, all
cancers, and stroke.
- According
to the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, in 1998, nearly five times
as many women died from COPD as in 1979. (152 in 1979; 888 in
1998). In the same time period, deaths among men from COPD less
than doubled. (636 in 1979; 1044 in 1998).
- Deaths from
COPD among Wisconsin women in 1998 exceeded deaths from either
breast or lung cancer.
- Between 80
and 90 percent of COPD cases are caused by either direct or indirect
cigarette smoke. It is therefore almost entirely preventable.
Source: Mortality
from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Wisconsin, 1979-1998:
The Silent Epidemic among Women, Technical Report, University of
Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, September 2003
Lung
Cancer:
- In the early
1990’s lung cancer surpassed breast cancer as the number
one cause of cancer death among women. In 2001, lung cancer death
rates are almost 40% higher than breast cancer death rates. Once
again, approximately 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by cigarette
smoke.
Source: National
Cancer Institute, State Cancer Profiles. Death rates are age-adjusted
to the 2000 US standard population by 5-year age groups.
Smoking
and Pregnancy:
- Smoking during
pregnancy is associated with low birth weight, intrauterine growth
retardation, infant mortality, SIDS and many negative consequences
in child development including ADHD and asthma.
- In 1999,
17.1% of pregnant Wisconsin women reported smoking during their
pregnancy. This compares to 12.1% of women, nationally.
- In 2000,
16.5% of women reported smoking during pregnancy and in 2001,
15.8% reported smoking.
- Though high,
this represents a substantial improvement from 1990 when 22.9%
of pregnant women reported smoking - a 3.3% relative decline each
year.
Source: Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services, Division of Health Care
Financing, Bureau of Health Information. Wisconsin Births and Infant
Deaths, 2001 (PHC 5337). November 2002.
Smoking
and Girls:
- According
to the 2001 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey, high school
girls smoked at rates higher than boys for the first time in history.
Source: Wisconsin
Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2001, Department of Public Instruction
(DPI)
Women
and smoking general information
To
help a woman in your life quit smoking ,click here
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