Smoking and Death
Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.1
Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. This is nearly one in five deaths.1,2,3
Smoking causes more deaths each year than the following causes combined:4
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Illegal drug use
Alcohol use
Motor vehicle injuries
Firearm-related incidents
More than 10 times as many U.S. citizens have died prematurely from cigarette smoking than have died in all the wars fought by the United States during its history.1
Smoking causes about 90% (or 9 out of 10) of all lung cancer deaths in men and women.1,2 More women die from lung cancer each year than from breast cancer.5
About 80% (or 8 out of 10) of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are caused by smoking.1
Cigarette smoking increases risk for death from all causes in men and women.1
The risk of dying from cigarette smoking has increased over the last 50 years in men and women in the United States.1
Smoking and Increased Health Risks
Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.1
Smoking is estimated to increase the risk—
For coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times1,6
For stroke by 2 to 4 times1
Of men developing lung cancer by 25 times1
Of women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times1
Smoking causes diminished overall health, increased absenteeism from work, and increased health care utilization and cost.1
Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
Smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease).1,2
Smoking causes stroke and coronary heart disease, which are among the leading causes of death in the United States.1,3
Even people who smoke fewer than five cigarettes a day can have early signs of cardiovascular disease.1
Smoking damages blood vessels and can make them thicken and grow narrower. This makes your heart beat faster and your blood pressure go up. Clots can also form.1,2
A stroke occurs when a clot blocks the blood flow to part of your brain or when a blood vessel in or around your brain bursts.1,2
Blockages caused by smoking can also reduce blood flow to your legs and skin.1,2
