Smokers' Life

Smkers' Life Smoking impacts every aspect of your life - your vision, your health, your happiness - from before you are born to your old age. Increased Risk Compared to Non-Smokers Optic Nerve Damage: Babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are 10% more likely to have undeveloped optic nerves. 10% Birth Defects: Babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are 20-50% more likely to have birth defects. 20-50% Children are 4 times more likely to develop asthma within 8 years due to 2nd hand smoke. 300% Asthma: Dating: 55% of young adults polled said they'd never date a smoker. 55% Injury: Smokers are twice as likely to suffer an injury during Basic Training. 100% Optic Nerve Damage: Smokers are 16 times as likely to develop optic neuropathies. 1600% Diabetic Eye Disease: Smokers are twice as likely to develop diabetic retinopathy. 100% Premature Birth: Smokers are twice as likely to give birth prematurely. Eye Inflammation: Smokers are 120% more likely to develop uveitis. 120% Women smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack as non-smokers. Men are even more at risk. Heart 100% + Disease Retinal Eye Smokers are far more likely to suffer macular degeneration; rate depends on quantity. 150-250% Disease: Cataract: Women are 63% more at risk. 63% 205% (1 pack/day) Men are 205% more at risk. Male smokers are 2300% more at risk. 2300% Lung Cancer: Female smokers are 1300% more at risk. Dry Eye Syndrome: Smokers are twice as likely to experience dry eye syndrome. 100% Alzheimer's: Smokers (1 pack/day) are 37% more likely to develop dementia. At 2 pack/day they are 100% more likely. 37-100% Lung 1200% Disease: Women are 1200% more likely to suffer emphysema. Men are 1300% more at risk. Sources: British Medical Journal, Mar., 2004; British Journal Ophthamology, Jan., 2006; American Journal Ophthamology, Jan,. 2010 Pediatrics, Apr., 2004; American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nov., 2006; Ophthamology, Apr., 2007; Investigative Ophthamology, Jan., 2005; WebMD; Center for Disease Control