Smoking is one of American women's greatest health risks.
The Pill, like all medications, has some side effects and poses some health risks, but to a much lesser degree than smoking. Pill users who smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day take very serious health risks. The older the woman and the more she smokes, the greater the danger. The risk of death is much higher for women over 35 who smoke and use the Pill than it is for nonsmokers. Women over 35 who take the Pill and smoke must give up one or the other.