Smoking and How to Quit

About 1 out of every 5 women in America smokes, and women are starting to smoke at younger and younger ages. Did you know that lung cancer kills more women every year than breast cancer? More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from AIDS, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined.

Smoking can also affect more than just your lungs. Smoking can increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis (thinning or weakening of your bones), and cancers other than lung cancer. It can also reduce your ability to get pregnant and increase your chances of having problems with your pregnancy.

This section of womenshealth.gov will help you and the people you love to not smoke! Along with information on the health effects of smoking, we provide you with resources to help you quit if you are a smoker. We encourage you to learn as much as you can about smoking and share this information with your loved ones. Remember, it's best not to start smoking. If you do smoke, don't give up on quitting. We know how hard quitting can be, but you'll be glad you did! Being smoke-free will help you to live longer with better health.