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    Did you know? Community-based organizations that provide direct health services received a 2.3% funding increase in 2008-09. Smoking and your Health Smoking - Common QuestionsHow important is smoking to the health of Canadians?Smoking is the most copmmon cause of preventable illness, disability and premature death in Canada. More than 37,200 people will die this year in Canada due to smoking.[1] How lethal is smoking to smokers?Unless smokers quit, up to half of all smokers will die from their smoking, most of them before their 70th birthday and only after years of suffering a reduced quality of life. [2] Just how premature are deaths from smoking?The average smoker will die about 8 years earlier than a non-smoker. [2] How will smoking impact on the lives of today’s young Canadians?Health Canada estimates that smoking will account for more than 50 per cent of deaths before age 70 among today’s 15-year-old smokers. In contrast, about six per cent will die prematurely because of traffic accidents, suicides, murders and HIV/AIDS, all combined. Why does smoking kill?Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals. [3] Many are known to be harmful substances, including tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. [4] More than 50 of these chemicals cause cancer. [3] What keeps smokers smoking (and chewers chewing)?Most smokers want to quit, but find it very difficult. Most former smokers made at least one unsuccessful quit attempt before finally succeeding and many had to try repeatedly Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that makes smoking a powerful addiction. Experts rank nicotine ahead of alcohol, cocaine and heroin with regard to the severity of dependence resulting from its use. Some users of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and snuff) also find it very hard to quit. Who is at risk from tobacco use?While the health risks are highest among heavy smokers and long-term smokers, no user of tobacco escapes risk, including users of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and snuff). Young people who smoke or use smokeless tobacco are at immediate risk of a range of health problems, including nicotine addiction, increased cough, phlegm, and wheezing, reduced lung function and a worsening of problems from asthma. Those who start to smoke at an early age are more likely to develop severe levels of nicotine addiction than those who start later, and they are at higher risk of health consequences in adult life. As well, non-smokers, both children and adults, can be harmed by environmental tobacco smoke generated by other people’s smoking. What about other types of tobacco?Along with smoking there are other types of tobacco, this includes smokeless tobacco as well as chewing tobacco and snuff, contain many of the same harmful and addictive substances as cigarettes, pipes and cigars. Smokeless tobacco is a major cause of cancer of the mouth and throat. Along with that it can also cause major dental problems such as recession of the gums, tooth loss and discoloration of the teeth and gums. [2] For more information check out Health Canada’s web site at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca
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