Minority Women's Health

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Smoking

Minority Women's Health > Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians > Health Topics > Smoking

Women smoke for different reasons. Some women smoke to deal with stress or control their weight. Younger women may start smoking to rebel, be more independent, or be accepted by their friends. But there is never a good reason to smoke. Smoking causes serious health problems, including:

• cancer
• heart disease
• stroke
• lung disease
• gum disease
• eye problems that can lead to blindness

Women who smoke are at increased risk for cervical cancer. Women who take birth control pills and also smoke have a higher risk of stroke.

Smoking can make illnesses last longer and make it harder to get pregnant.

These are just a few of the health problems caused by smoking. Smoking also stains your teeth, fingers, and fingernails, gives you bad breath, and causes wrinkles.

Smoking rates for Asian American women are over 50 percent less than women in other groups. While Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders smoke less compared to other groups, it is still a cause of disease and death in this group.

Publications

1.   Smoking & How to Quit — 1. Womenshealth.gov created this page to help empower women and teens, and the people they love, to breathe clean! Gain independence from the stale world of smoking by using our information and resources. Learn about the specific effects of smoking on your health and how to quit for good.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/quit-smoking/index.cfm

2.     Filipinos Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Don't Burn Your Life Away — Be Good to Your Heart — This easy-to-read, bilingual Tagalog and English booklet discusses the harmful effects tobacco abuse can have on the body.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/filipino_facts/filipino-smoking.pdf...

3.   Heart Disease and Asians and Pacific Islanders — This Web page provides up to date statistics about Asian Americans and heart disease, obesity, hypertension, cholesterol, smoking, and more.

   http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3060

4.     Vietnamese Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Don't Burn Your Life Away — Be Good to Your Heart — This easy-to-read, bilingual Vietnamese and English booklet discusses the harmful effects tobacco abuse can have on the body.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/viet_facts/viet-smoking.pdf

5. Asian Language Materials (Copyright © American Cancer Society) — This Web site lists the American Cancer Society materials available in several Asian languages, including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

   http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ASN/ASN_0.asp

6.   Strength as a Survivor: Living After Cancer Treatment (Copyright © Lance Armstrong Foundation) — This brochure was written for Asian-American cancer survivors. It discusses the many physical, practical, and emotional concerns of cancer survivors. The brochure encourages survivors to seek support and lists organizations that can help them manage their concerns.

   http://www.livestrong.org/atf/cf/%7BFB6FFD43-0E4C-4414-8B37-0D001EFBDC49%7D/brochure_asa.pdf...

Organizations

1.   Office of Minority Health, OPHS, OS, HHS
2.   Smokefree.gov
3. American Cancer Society
4. American Lung Association
5. Asian & Pacific Islander Health Information Network
6. Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership
7. National Asian Women's Health Organization

= Indicates Federal Resources

Resources reviewed March 2008.