Damon Mcknight
Smoking is one of the largest preventable causes of death in Australia. In 2018, almost 20,500 Australians died from smoking-related diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This figure equates to more than 50 preventable deaths every day. Since 2001, daily smoking rates for Australians aged 18 and over have dropped from 20% to 9% in 2022-23. However, despite these improvements, smoking continues to be a significant issue, with one in ten adults aged 18 and over being daily smokers in 2022. This paragraph introduces the topic of smoking-related deaths in Australia, highlighting the number of deaths, the types of diseases caused, and the efforts to reduce smoking rates in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people who died from smoking-related diseases in 2018 | 20,482 |
| Percentage of all deaths in Australia | 13% |
| Burden of disease in Australia in 2018 | 8.6% |
| Number of people who died from smoking-related diseases in 2022 | 24,000 |
| Number of deaths per day | 66 |
| Percentage of young people aged 18-24 who have never smoked | 79.2% |
| Percentage of young people aged 15-17 who have never smoked in 2022 | 94.1% |
| Percentage of people aged 18 and over who smoke daily | 10.6% |
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What You'll Learn
Smoking kills almost 20,500 Australians a year
Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death and illness in Australia. Research estimates that two in three lifetime smokers will die from a disease caused by their smoking habit. In 2018, almost 20,500 Australians died from smoking-related diseases, accounting for 13% of all deaths in the country. This figure equates to more than 50 preventable deaths every day.
Cancer is the primary cause of smoking-related deaths and illnesses in Australia, responsible for 56% of smoking-related deaths. Lung cancer is the most common cancer-related death, with smoking increasing the risk of lung cancer by 18 times. Other cancers caused by smoking include cancers of the throat, mouth, tongue, nose, nasal sinus, voice box, oesophagus, pancreas, stomach, liver, kidney, bladder, ureter, bowel, ovary, cervix, and bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia). Smoking is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women.
Smoking is a significant risk factor for heart disease, with around 30% of all cases of heart disease in those under 65 attributed to smoking. It also increases the risk of stroke, with smokers being twice as likely to suffer a stroke compared to non-smokers. The risk of heart attack and stroke is further elevated when smoking is combined with the use of contraceptive pills.
Smoking also leads to various respiratory conditions, including asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphysema is rare in non-smokers, while chronic bronchitis, characterised by a recurring cough and increased phlegm, occurs in about half of all heavy smokers. Smoking during pregnancy can also cause adverse outcomes such as restricted foetal growth, low birth weight, ectopic pregnancy, and an increased risk of bleeding and the need for caesarean section delivery.
The harmful effects of smoking extend beyond physical health. Smoking increases the risk of erectile dysfunction and reduces semen volume, sperm count, and quality in men. It also contributes to worsening asthma, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease. Smoking during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects such as clubfoot, heart defects, and gastroschisis.
The good news is that quitting smoking has immediate health benefits at any age. After 20 years of abstinence from smoking, the risk of heart disease and stroke reduces to levels close to that of a non-smoker. Within five years of quitting, the risk of stroke significantly drops. Additionally, quitting smoking reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases across all ages, and the number of people who have quit smoking now outnumbers those who currently smoke.
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Cancer is the leading cause of tobacco-related deaths
Smoking-related diseases killed almost 20,500 Australians in 2018, accounting for 13% of all deaths in the country. This equates to more than 50 preventable deaths every day. Cancer is the leading cause of tobacco-related deaths, responsible for 56% of smoking-related fatalities. Lung cancer is the most prevalent cancer caused by smoking, with an estimated 90% of lung cancer cases in Australian men and 65% in Australian women attributed to tobacco use.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified tobacco smoking as a Group 1 carcinogen, causing not only lung cancer but also cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, nasal cavity, larynx, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, colorectum, liver, kidney, ureter, urinary bladder, uterine cervix, ovary, and myeloid leukaemia. Additionally, the IARC has found a positive association between tobacco smoking and female breast cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies tobacco use as the single greatest avoidable risk factor for cancer mortality worldwide, estimating that tobacco consumption causes up to 1.5 million cancer deaths each year. In Australia, the percentage of daily smokers has been steadily declining, from 22.4% of adults in 2001 to 16.1% in 2011-2012. This decline is evident across most age groups, with the proportion of young people aged 18-24 who are daily smokers halving from 16.5% in 2011-2012 to 7.1% in 2021-2022.
Quitting smoking has significant health benefits and can dramatically reduce the risk of cancer and other smoking-related diseases. Within five years of quitting, the risk of mouth, throat, oesophageal, and bladder cancers is halved, and the risk of dying from lung cancer is reduced by half after 10 years. Additionally, quitting smoking improves overall health, including reducing blood levels of carbon monoxide, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, improving circulation and lung function, and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
While Australia has made progress in reducing smoking rates, it continues to be a significant issue, particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have higher smoking rates and are more likely to die from tobacco-caused diseases at a younger age.
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Smoking increases the risk of dying from 23 common causes
Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death and illness in Australia. In 2018, it was estimated that almost 20,500 Australians died from smoking-related diseases, accounting for about 13% of all deaths in the country. This figure translates to more than 50 preventable deaths every day. The number of deaths from tobacco-caused diseases is even higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are more likely to die from these diseases at a younger age.
Cancer is the primary cause of smoking-related deaths in Australia, responsible for 56% of the total burden of disease. Lung cancer, in particular, causes the most cancer deaths in the country, and this is predominantly due to smoking. Other major tobacco-related diseases include heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung disease).
Smoking significantly increases the risk of dying from various causes, not just cancer. For example, men who smoke increase their risk of dying from bronchitis and emphysema by 17 times and from cancer of the trachea, lung, and bronchus by more than 23 times. Smoking also nearly quadruples the risk of dying from coronary heart disease among middle-aged men. Similarly, women who smoke increase their chances of dying from bronchitis and emphysema by 12 times and from cancer of the trachea, lung, and bronchus by over 12 times. Smoking during pregnancy can also have detrimental effects on the fetus, as nicotine exposure can negatively impact brain development.
The harmful effects of smoking extend beyond the smoker. Exposure to second-hand smoke causes thousands of deaths each year, including from lung cancer. Additionally, vaping rates among Australian secondary school students are a growing concern, as vaping is often a gateway to smoking.
Quitting smoking has immediate health benefits and significantly reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases, regardless of age. Within five years of quitting, the risk of stroke decreases substantially. After 20 years of abstinence, the risk of heart disease and stroke returns to levels comparable to those who have never smoked.
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Quitting smoking reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases
Smoking is one of the largest preventable causes of death and disease in Australia. It is estimated that tobacco smoking kills almost 20,500 Australians a year, which equates to more than 50 preventable deaths every day. This figure includes deaths from cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions a person can take to reduce their risk of developing smoking-related diseases. The benefits of quitting are significant and far-reaching, and they apply to people of all ages, whatever their previous smoking history.
Within five years of quitting, a person's risk of stroke drops considerably. After 20 years of not smoking, the risk of heart disease and stroke is similar to that of a non-smoker. The risk of coronary heart disease falls sharply 1-2 years after quitting and continues to decline over time. Quitting smoking also reduces the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, with the risk decreasing the longer a person refrains from smoking. It may also lower the risk of atrial fibrillation, sudden cardiac death, heart failure, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
For those diagnosed with coronary heart disease, quitting smoking brings a range of benefits, including a reduced risk of premature death, heart disease-related death, and heart attacks. Quitting also lowers the risk of respiratory diseases, including COPD. It slows the progression of COPD, reduces respiratory symptoms, and lowers the incidence of respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Quitting smoking may also improve lung function and reduce symptoms for people with asthma.
In addition to the reduced risk of smoking-related diseases, quitting smoking during pregnancy or before becoming pregnant can reduce the risk of delivering a low birth-weight baby and a small-for-gestational-age baby. It can also eliminate the adverse effects of smoking on fetal growth and may reduce the risk of preterm delivery.
Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term health benefits, including mental health advantages. It can lead to reduced anxiety, depression, and stress, with improvements in mood. It also has economic benefits, with the average smoker saving a significant amount of money annually.
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Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Australia
Cancer is the number one cause of smoking-related death and illness in Australia, responsible for 56% of smoking-related deaths. Lung cancer is the most common cancer caused by smoking, but it also increases the risk of breast cancer in women and cancers of the throat, mouth, tongue, nose, nasal sinus, voice box, oesophagus, pancreas, stomach, liver, kidney, bladder, ureter, bowel, ovary, cervix, and bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia). Smoking causes 1 in 8 cancer cases in Australia.
Heart disease is another major cause of smoking-related death. Around 30% of all cases of heart disease in those under 65 are due to smoking, and people who smoke are twice as likely to die from a stroke or heart disease. Smoking also increases a woman's risk of heart attack and stroke, especially over the age of 35. It is also linked to diabetes, kidney disease, eye disease, and respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis.
Smoking during pregnancy can cause serious complications, including restricted foetal growth, low birth weight, ectopic pregnancy, bleeding, the need for caesarean section, and preterm delivery. It also increases the risk of death in early infancy, particularly from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and can cause reduced lung function in childhood and oral clefts.
The good news is that quitting smoking has immediate health benefits and dramatically reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases, regardless of age. After 20 years of not smoking, your risk of heart disease and stroke returns to almost that of a non-smoker. Within 5 years of quitting, there is a large drop in your risk of stroke. The daily smoking rate for Australians aged 18 and over has dropped from 20% in 2001 to 9% in 2022-23, and 70% of people who have ever smoked have quit.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that tobacco smoking kills almost 20,500 Australians a year, which is around 13% of all deaths.
Smoking is associated with an increased risk of various health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, kidney disease, and respiratory conditions. The main causes of smoking-related deaths include cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Yes, smoking causes around a quarter of deaths in the 45-74 age group in Australia.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and illness in Australia, causing more deaths than alcohol-related causes.
Yes, death rates from tobacco-caused diseases are higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are more likely to die from these diseases at a younger age.
