Smoking and Your Health

According to the National Institutes of Health:

• Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the U.S.
• Smoking is responsible for one out of every five deaths in the U.S.

According to the World Health Organization, smokers have a higher risk for:

• Lung cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Lung disease
• Mouth cancer
• Heart disease
• Pancreas cancer
• High blood pressure
• Cervical cancer
• Stroke
• Pregnancy complications
• Kidney cancer
• Early menopause

Yes, for the following reasons:

• Smoking can affect medicines used to treat high blood pressure. Uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease.
• Smoking slows the blood flow to important organs like the kidneys and can make kidney disease worse.

Yes. People with high blood pressure should not smoke because:

• Smoking can affect some of the medicines used to treat high blood pressure.
• Smoking increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks in people with high blood pressure.

Yes. People with diabetes should not smoke because:

• Smoking slows blood flow to important organs and can worsen heart, blood vessel and kidney problems.
• Smoking slows blood flow to your feet, making sores and infections harder to heal.

Yes. Studies show that non-smokers who live with smokers have an increased risk of developing the health problems listed above.

• Quitting smoking can be difficult.
• Many programs are available to help smokers quit. Contact organizations like the American Cancer Society for information.
• Your doctor can also offer suggestions to help you quit.

• Speak to your doctor
• Call NKF Cares toll-free at 855.NKF.CARES (855.653.2273)
• Contact other organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.