Scientific studies also link secondhand smoke with heart disease. Women have seen the highest increase in smoking related diseases. In the 30 years from 1960-1990 lung cancer deaths in women have skyrocketed by 400 percent, moving past breast cancer as a killer of women. The American Cancer Society estimated that 62,000 women died of lung cancer and 46,000 died from breast cancer in 1995. And the health risks don't stop there.
Smoking is considered a trigger for asthma.
But the American Heart Association says the good news is that when you quit, your risk of heart disease diminishes rather quickly. Eventually your risk of heart disease will be about the same as that of someone who never smoked. It can help if you stop focusing on the past and start picturing yourself as a non-smoker. Remove all reminders of smoking from your house, such as ash trays and lighters. Set a date to stop.