Department of Health
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  Smoking and Women Download

It is an established fact that both smoking and secondhand smoke can damage your health and appearance.
SMOKING HARMS YOUR SKIN

The carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke inhibits oxygen transportation to different parts of the body. As a result, the skin becomes dry, sallow and thin. Wrinkles may develop around the mouth and eyes. There will also be delay in wound healing too.
What a pity to let smoking damage your beautiful skin!!
SMOKING CAUSES CANCER
There are more than 40 cancer causing agents in tobacco smoke. Over 90% lung cancers are due to smoking. Besides, it can cause other cancers such as breast cancer, throat cancer, oral cancer, bladder cancer and pancreatic cancer ¡K etc.
SUDDEN DEATH: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
Tobacco smoke constricts blood vessels and increases blood stickiness. Carbon monoxide depletes oxygen in heart muscles. As a result, the risk of heart disease is greatly increased in smokers.
For women taking oral contraceptive pills, smoking women have 10 times greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those who do not smoke.
SMOKING DAMAGES YOUR BONES

Tobacco smoke increases your chance of developing osteoporosis. One pack of cigarettes a day increases the risk of arthritis by 50 % in women.
TOBACCO SMOKE CAUSES PREMATURE DELIVERY & INTRAUTERINE DEATH

Smoking is associated with premature delivery, miscarriage and fetal death. Studies have shown that chemicals in tobacco smoke passes through the placenta to the fetus.
Then, what can I do
QUIT SMOKING NOW!!

From the moment you quit smoking, your health will have the following improvements:

20 minutes: Blood pressure, heart rate and temperature of extremities resume normal.
8 hours: Plasma concentration of carbon monoxide and oxygen resume normal.
24 hours: Risk of heart attack decreases, taste and smell improve.
72 hours: Lung capacity increases.
SAY 'NO' TO PASSIVE SMOKING
Secondhand smoke also affects your health. Studies have shown that women with smoking spouse have 30% higher chance of developing lung cancer than those with non-smoking spouse.
Protect yourselves from secondhand smoke, you should:

	Choose smoke-free restaurants!
	Insist to dine in no smoking area!
	Request security guards to stop people smoking in shopping arcade!
	Advocate smoke-free workplace policy!
	Make your home a smoke-free place!	
	Encourage your family members & friends to quit smoking!
	Say
For Your Health and Beauty, Don't Smoke!
For more information, Call us at 2961 8823, Tobacco Control Office
 
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Last revision date: 01 September 2006