17,600 Cardiovascular Deaths Coronary heart disease and stroke are 2 to 4 times more common in smokers than non-smokers. Far more than all other risk factors, including air pollution and occupational exposure, it causes these conditions. Because cigarettes take about 20 years to kill most smokers, the impact of smoking on women's death rates is becoming more evident. The number of deaths among men remained relatively constant. As a result of the dramatic rise in female smokers in the 1960s and 1970s, it is expected that female smoking-related deaths will continue to rise until the turn of the century and may reach, or even exceed, male levels by the year 2005.
Lung cancer kills more women than breast cancer.
Women who smoke get more coughs, colds and minor illnesses. Women who smoke AND use birth control pills are at a much higher risk of stroke or heart disease. Death by stroke is five times higher in women who smoke. Smoking doubles the risk of cervical cancer. Heart disease kills 4 in 10 Canadian women.