Tobacco-free Living is a term used to describe a way of life for an individual who does not use tobacco and is not exposed to secondhand smoke.
| Smoking Attributable Deaths: |
| In Simcoe Muskoka, for the five-year period between 2007 and 2011, there were approximately 500 deaths per year that could be attributed to smoking. | |
| Smoking-attributable deaths also accounted for more than one-in-ten of all deaths during this five-year period. | |
The age-standardized rate for smoking-attributable deaths during this time period was 159 (145.1, 172.6) per 100,000 adults 35 years of age and older.
This was significantly higher than the Ontario rate of smoking-attributable deaths during the same period of time, which was 125 (122.0, 127.0) per 100,000 adults 35 years of age and older.
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| The majority of smoking-attributable deaths were due to lung cancer, COPD and ischemic heart disease (IHD), which accounted for more than three-quarters of all smoking attributable deaths in Simcoe Muskoka over this time period. | |
| Smoking attributable deaths were higher in males when compared with females for all disease groups other than COPD. | |
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Smoking Attributable Mortality (SAM)
See HealthSTATS website for further tobacco information.
| Secondhand Smoke |
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Secondhand smoke (SHS) has been identified as one of the possible causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). -
Children found to breathe SHS have a higher rate of asthma, ear infections and respiratory problems. -
SHS contains more than 50 cancer causing chemicals. -
The effects of SHS on adults include cancer of the lung, breast, bladder, pancreas, liver and brain, heart disease, asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. |
| Warning: Smoking and Pregnancy |
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Smoking increases the risk of low birth weight. -
Smoking increases the risk of miscarriage. -
Babies receive nicotine and carbon monoxide from their mother’s blood. -
Smoking has a direct effect on the growth and long-term development of the fetus. |
| The Good News |
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After 15 years of tobacco-free living, the risk of death returns to nearly the level of persons who have never smoked. -
The risk of lung cancer drops to as much as one half that of those continuing to use tobacco, after 10 years. -
After 1 year of being smoke free, the excess risk of heart disease caused by smoking is reduced by half. -
Those that have been tobacco free for many years are less likely to die of chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema, than those who continue to smoke. -
Quitting smoking reduces the risk of repeat heart attacks and death from heart disease by 50% or more. -
Women who stop smoking before becoming pregnant or during the first trimester of pregnancy, reduce their risk of having low birth weight babies. |
| Further Tips for Patients |
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People who quit smoking are more likely than current smokers to exercise regularly. Exercise may help new quitters stay tobacco free and avoid or minimize weight gain. -
On average, it takes a person who smokes several times of trying to quit smoking before they are able to quit for good. -
Once a person has stopped smoking, they may be tempted to eat more to cope with nicotine cravings. Encourage incorporation of healthy, tasty, well-balanced meals and snacks into daily life to help maintain a healthy weight. -
Current smokers have reported others’ smoking as one of their main challenges to quitting, and top reasons for relapse. Creation of supportive environments/smoke-free places (home, car, public places) are proven to motivate tobacco users to quit smoking and help those that have quit to stay smoke free. |
