Prevalence of Smoking

Overview
Visualizations (2)
Data

Description:

Each year close to half a million deaths are attributed to cigarette smoking, making it the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lung disease. Environmental tobacco smoke has been demonstrated to increase the risk of heart disease and cancer among nonsmokers. These data represent adults who self-reported their current smoking status. Data is based on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing, state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of non-institutionalized civilian adults aged 18 years and older.

Data Source:

U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.htm

Data Quality Comments:

These data do not convey the frequency of cigarette use over a lifetime nor the current amount of cigarettes smoked. Each of these factors may affect an individual's risk for chronic disease. Furthermore, this indicator does not measure intent or attempts to quit smoking among smokers nor does it measure exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among nonsmokers. Percentages are weighted to reflect population characteristics.