Question 1

Are any tobacco or tobacco-like products safe?

Accepted Answer

All tobacco and tobacco-like products are harmful. Tobacco is the only consumer product that will kill more than half of its regular users when it’s used as intended by the tobacco manufacturers.
Tobacco smoke has up to 7,000 different chemicals. Of those chemicals, at least 172 are toxic (poisonous), and about 70 are known to cause cancer.

Smokeless tobacco (moist snuff, dip or chew) and tobacco that’s used up the nose (dry snuff or snus) has over 3,000 chemicals. Of those, 28 are known to cause cancer. Snuff products have more nicotine than cigarettes. The average cigarette has 8.4 mg of nicotine; the average moist dip product has 14.5 mg of nicotine.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-powered vaporizers that use liquid vapour to deliver mist into the body (vaping). The mist is often a mixture of chemicals and sometimes contains nicotine. E-cigarettes contain at least 10 chemicals that are linked to cancer and birth defects. E-cigarettes could put you at risk of nicotine addiction and are not recommended as an aid to quitting tobacco.

Vaping can affect the people around you. The exhaled mist that comes from an e-cigarette or vaping device has a mixture of chemicals that are toxic. Although the toxins are lower than with tobacco smoke, it can still cause harm to you and your partner’s reproductive health.

To learn more about tobacco and tobacco-like products, go to AlbertaQuits.

Question 2

What are the harmful effects of tobacco use on my body?

Accepted Answer

Tobacco products can harm every part of your body.
Smoking is a major cause of heart disease. Heart disease affects how well your heart works and how well your blood moves through your body. Blood flow or heart problems can affect major organs like the kidneys or liver.

A woman who smokes as few as 4 cigarettes a day has 2 times the risk of heart disease as a woman who‘s never smoked.

Also, 8 out of 10 women who died of lung cancer were women who smoked.

People who have diabetes and smoke, risk death. Both diabetes and tobacco products affect the blood vessels, which can lead to problems getting oxygen into your body’s tissues.

Smoking tobacco damages the cells in the lungs. This can lead to developing conditions like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Other conditions such as asthma can get worse if someone smokes.

Women who smoke have higher rates of breast cancer.

They also are at higher risk for cancer of the:

	mouth and throat
	esophagus and voice box (larynx)
	bladder
	pancreas, liver and kidneys
	colon and rectum
	cervix

Smokeless tobacco increases the risk of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, lips, tongue and esophagus.

Smokeless tobacco also increases the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Question 3

What are the risks of second-hand smoke for my partner or others in my family?

Accepted Answer

Second-hand smoke, is the combination of smoke that comes from a burning tobacco product and smoke exhaled by a smoker. There is no safe amount of exposure to second hand smoke. It contains over 4000 chemicals and is known to cause cancer.
Adults exposed to second-hand smoke are at more risk of:

 	heart disease
 	stroke
 	lung and breast cancer
 	breathing problems and respiratory illness (e.g., asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis)

Second hand smoke in enclosed spaces such as a car, is very concentrated. To learn more about how to make your home and car smoke-free, click here.

Question 4

What‘s third-hand smoke? How can I reduce exposure to it?

Accepted Answer

Third-hand smoke is the residue and gases left behind after someone has smoked.
Third-hand smoke:

 	stays on surfaces after tobacco has been smoked
 	is found in the dust inside homes or buildings where people smoke
 	includes the gases that go back into the air
 	can include arsenic, lead and cyanide
 	can build up on surfaces, furniture, clothing, drapes and carpets

After someone smokes, third-hand smoke residue and gases may be on their clothes, skin and hair. Anyone touching these surfaces may get harmful chemicals on their skin. This can increase the risk of these chemicals causing harm to your health.

To reduce exposure to third-hand smoke:

 	keep your home and vehicle smoke free
 	replace or clean furniture, walls, carpets, curtains or clothing that has third-hand smoke residue. You can also paint walls or furniture that have third-hand smoke residue on their surfaces

To learn more, go to Make Your Car and Home Smoke-Free.

Question 5

Where can I get help?

Accepted Answer

Talk to your health care provider about the best options for you. There are many types of resources and supports available to help you cut down and quit.
Your tobacco reduction plan is as unique as you are. AlbertaQuits is an Alberta Health Services program that provides free help and support to reduce or quit using tobacco products and stay quit. If you or your partner use tobacco products, learn how to prepare to become tobacco free.

 	Online: Access learning tools, interactive quit plans, quizzes, videos and a supportive community of quitters to help you quit.
 	eQuit Tips: Personalized emails with information, tips and strategies based on your quit date.
 	Text: Receive supportive and helpful text messages tailored to your quit date.
 	Helpline: Trained Quit Counsellors provide one-on-one advice and guidance. 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.  Call 1-866-710-7848 (QUIT). Translation services provided.
 	Support Groups: QuitCore support groups, run by trained leaders. Get peer support, share experiences and learn strategies to help you quit.

Tobacco

Are any tobacco or tobacco-like products safe?

What are the harmful effects of tobacco use on my body?

What are the risks of second-hand smoke for my partner or others in my family?

What‘s third-hand smoke? How can I reduce exposure to it?

Where can I get help?

What is My To-Do List?