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Smoking: Health Risk for Family Members

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Topic Overview

The smoke from your cigarettes (secondhand smoke) puts your loved ones' health at risk.

Because of secondhand smoke, spouses and children of people who smoke have an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.
Babies whose parents smoke:
- Are more likely to have ear infections, pneumonia, and bronchitis in the first few years of their lives.
- Have a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Children of people who smoke are more likely to be smokers themselves.

When you quit smoking, you reduce all of these risk factors for health problems in your family. You also increase the chance that your children will not smoke or will quit if they already smoke.

Recommended Related to Smoking Cessation

Description of the Evidence

Background Incidence and mortality Over the period from 2004 to 2008, the estimated incidence of oral cancer in the United States was 10.6 cases per 100,000 persons per year. The most recent estimated mortality rate (from 2003-2007) was 2.5 per 100,000 persons per year. U.S. incidence and mortality rates are about 2.5 and 2.8 times higher, respectively, in men than women.[1] It is estimated that there will be 39,400 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2011 and...

Read the Description of the Evidence article > >

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: July 22, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.