Tobacco smoking is the largest preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. It causes one in nine new cancers (10,000 cases every year) and one in five cancer deaths (more than 7500 cancer deaths every year). Smoking is also responsible for many cases of heart disease, stroke, chest and lung illnesses and stomach ulcers.
Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals, over 60 of which are known to cause cancer. When you inhale cigarette smoke these chemicals enter your lungs and spread through your body via blood and lymph systems.
As soon as you quit smoking, there are immediate and long-term health benefits, even if you already suffer from smoking-related health problems.
Chemicals in tobacco will also affect people who are exposed to your cigarette smoke. Second-hand or passive smoking poses health risks to adults similar to active smoking, and has also been associated with sudden infant death syndrome and asthma in children.
More information about the health risks of passive smoking is available in Cancer Council's position statement on the health risks of passive smoking.