Cigarettes Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking results in more than 400,000 premature deaths in the United States each year-about 1 in every 5 U.S. deaths. Another 49,000 deaths are caused by secondhand smoke each year. Cigarette smoke is a toxic mixture of more than 4,000 known chemical compounds. According to a November 2001 report issued by the National Cancer Institute, there are 69 known or probable carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) in cigarette smoke. Health Effects Smoking causes an increased risk of: • Cancer • Asthma • Heart Disease • Infertility • Stroke • Stillbirth • Emphysema • Low birth weight • Pneuomonia • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) • Bronchitis And the list goes on… Aside from the serious health effects, smoking can cause yellow teeth and nails, bad breath and premature wrinkles. Roughly one-third of all youth smokers will eventually die prematurely from smoking-caused disease. TF LUNG SAYS: A burning cigarette contains over 4000 chemicals – 69 of those chemicals are known to cause cancer. Sponsored by the Macomb County Tobacco Prevention Coalition, Macomb County Health Department. 586.469.5373. Disclaimer