Using tobacco products has been linked to a variety of illnesses, including:
lung cancer
throat cancer
pancreatic cancer
stomach cancer
kidney and bladder cancers
acute chest illnesses and diseases
chronic chest illnesses and diseases
lung illnesses and diseases
stomach ulcers.
Women who use tobacco products during pregnancy expose their children to the risk of serious respiratory illnesses. Non-users, particularly children, can also suffer serious illness if they are exposed to second-hand smoke. Children exposed to second-hand smoke also have an increased risk of these illnesses, including:
reduced lung function, especially for infants
an increase in lower respiratory tract infections during infancy
impaired lung growth
the risk of developing more serious respiratory diseases in later life.