11/28/25 Public Health Education Topic: Smoking

Per CDC:

At a glance

• Cigarette smoking is a major public health concern, with over 16 million Americans living with a smoking-related disease.

• Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure cause over 480,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

• Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and causes many diseases.

• Quitting smoking lowers the risk for early death and of developing smoking-related diseases.

  
  

Cigarette smoking causes:

• Cancer

• Heart disease and stroke

• Lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Type 2 Diabetes

• Harmful reproductive health effects

• Other diseases, including certain eye diseases and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Quitting smoking benefits health

• Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health.

• Quitting smoking improves health and reduces the risk of premature death. Quitting also reduces the risk for smoking-related diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and COPD.

• Treatments—including counseling and medication—can help people quit smoking. Free resources are available to help people quit.

To learn more visit: Cigarette Smoking | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC