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Home > A-Z Health Topics > Minority Women's Health > American Indians/Alaska Natives > Smoking

Health conditions common in
American Indian and Alaska Native women:

Accidents Alcoholism and drug abuse Breast cancer Cancer Cervical cancer Cirrhosis and liver disease Diabetes Gallstones Heart disease High blood pressure High cholesterol HIV/AIDS Infant death Lupus Mental health problems and suicide Overweight and obesity Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Smoking Stroke Tuberculosis (TB) Violence

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Smoking

• More information on smoking

Tobacco is an important part of American Indian and Alaska Native culture. Yet, cigarette smoking is not a traditional way to use tobacco. American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest smoking rates of any group in the United States. In fact, 29 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women smoke — more than any other minority. Smoking increases your risk of major health problems, including:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Lung disease
• Gum disease
• Eye problems that can lead to blindness

Smoking causes lung cancer. Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Women who smoke have a higher risk of 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.

Smoking during pregnancy can cause the baby to be born too early and other problems. Smoking is also a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In one study of pregnant mothers, American Indians and Alaska Natives reported higher rates of smoking during the last three months of pregnancy.

On top of all the health problems caused by smoking, it also stains your teeth, fingers, and fingernails, gives you bad breath, and causes wrinkles.

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More information on smoking

Read more from womenshealth.gov

• Smoking and How to Quit — These pages from womenshealth.gov empower women to quit smoking and all forms of tobacco use. Learn why quitting matters to your health, your quality of life, and the health of others. The site also offers strategies that can help you quit for good.
  http://www.womenshealth.gov/smoking-how-to-quit/

Explore other publications and websites

• American Indian and Alaskan Native People: Help Your Heart! — Although the use of tobacco has been a part of the American Indian and Alaska Native culture for many years, health concerns associated with tobacco have been brought to the forefront. This document discusses the harmful effects of tobacco, such as heart attack, cancer, and lung problems. It explains the dangers of tobacco use while providing suggestions for staying healthy.
  http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/FactSheets/helphrt.htm
• American Indian Health — This website is an information portal to information about the health of native peoples of the United States. The topics include cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and environmental health.
  http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/
• Fact Sheets and Prevention Tips (Copyright © NPAIHB) — This is a list of resources from the National Tribal Tobacco Prevention Network about secondhand smoke, smoking cessation, traditional tobacco, and more.
  http://www.npaihb.org/programs/project/nttpn_reports_publications_media_materials/
• Quit Guide — This online resource is designed to help you at any stage of the quitting process, whether you’re still thinking about quitting, have made the decision to quit, or have already taken steps to quit and just need help maintaining a smoke-free lifestyle. Both ex-smokers and experts have contributed to this guide.
  http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-guide.aspx
• Smokefree.gov — Smokefree.gov helps people quit smoking. It offers information and professional assistance that can support both your immediate and long-term needs as you become, and remain, a nonsmoker. Resources include telephone hotlines, print materials, and a text messaging service.
  http://www.smokefree.gov/
• Smoking & tabacco use: Quit tips — This publication gives tips on how to quit smoking and encourages smokers to take control with a plan of action that will ensure success. It also contains a list of resources to contact for help.
  http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/quit_tips/
• Traditional Tobacco (Copyright © NPAIHB) — This brochure lists facts about the uses of traditional tobacco in Native American culture and explains the difference between traditional tobacco and commercial tobacco.
  http://www.npaihb.org/images/projects_docs/NatTob/Docs/%3C..%3E/traditional%20tobacco_factsheet_06.pdf

Connect with other organizations

• American Cancer Society
  http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
• Indian Health Service
  http://www.ihs.gov/
• National Cancer Institute, NIH
  http://www.cancer.gov/
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm
• National Indian Women's Health Resource Center (NIWHRC)
  http://www.niwhrc.org/
• Smokefree.gov
  http://www.smokefree.gov/

Content last updated May 18, 2010.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

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