Action on Smoking and Health A National Legal-Action Antismoking Organization Entirely Supported by Tax-Deductible Contributions    Search  | Info About  | ash.org | To Join |  Email Page To Comment or Read Other Members' Comments, Click Here

Excerpts from: Women unaware of smoking risks
 

By  BBC News   [09/27/01]

              The Smoking Cessation Action in Primary Care,
              (Scape) surveyed 1,757 men and women who
              were smokers or ex-smokers.

              Figures show that 14-year-old girls are twice
              as likely to smoke as their male peers.

              And last year, lung cancer overtook breast
              cancer as the biggest killer of women.

              But the Scape study showed 8% of women
              did not believe smoking was linked to increased
              risk of lung cancer.

              A quarter did not know smoking increases the
              risk of heart disease.

              And two thirds do not believe the habit
              increases the risk of miscarriage.

              Ageing

              To show women what might happen to them,
              two twins, aged 22, were made up to show
              how they would look at 40 if one smoked, and
              the other did not.

              The smoker had stained teeth and more
              wrinkles.

              Just under a third of women told the survey
              they did not want to stop smoking because
              they were worried about putting on weight.

              Another 12% were worried about dealing with
              stress - 26% said the most important thing
              about smoking was that it helped deal with
              stress.

              And a further 12% had concerns about
              cravings.

              Despite that, 37% of female smokers say they
              want to stop "very much", while the same
              number again want to stop "but not at the
              moment".

              But the survey showed many were unaware of
              how smoking could damage their health:

                   89% were unaware smoking is associated
                   with cervical cancer
                   42% did not believe it increased the risk
                   of stroke
                   88% did not believe it increased the risk
                   of osteoporosis

                   30% did not think smokers had an
                   increased risk of developing throat and
                   mouth cancer.

              They were also unaware of the risk to their
              children's health:

                   Only 10% wanted to stop because they
                   were worried about the effects on
                   pregnancy or their children
                   29% did not think smokers' children were
                   at increased risk of developing asthma
                   Two thirds did not think smoking
                   increased the risk of cot death.
 

              Compared to men, a quarter more women felt
              anxious or nervous at the thought or quitting.

              Two thirds of women think they would need
              help to stop, while men appeared to be more
              confident they could do it alone.

              'Alarming'

              Dr Alex Bobak, chairman of Scape, which is
              made up of health professionals who work in
              GP surgeries and other parts of primary care,
              said: "Women are still in the dark about many
              of the dangers of smoking.

              "Women need more information and advice,
              particularly as women may well be more prone
              to some of the dangers of smoking than men."

              She said women who wanted to stop should go
              to see their GP or practice nurse.

              Amanda Sandford, of Action on Smoking and
              Health, said: "This survey is very alarming.
              Despite all the reports, there are still women
              who are not getting the message about the
              dangers of smoking."

              She said the message about smoking's affect
              on appearance may help. "That's something
              women are more concerned about than men."