title: [Health damage caused by smoking].
abstract: This paper describes the detrimental effects of smoking. More than 30% of the male and female Dutch population still smokes cigarettes. This figure compares unfavorably in international perspective. The smoking habit is responsible for approximately one third of all deaths from cardiovascular, pulmonary and malignant disease. Cigarette smokers face a 50% chance of dying as a result of a smoking related disease. The morbidity associated with smoking is also very substantial. Subjects who discontinue smoking before being struck by disease, and patients who quit the habit once early symptoms develop, have a more favorable outcome. For these reasons, and also because most patients esteem the opinion of their doctor, smoking behavior should be discussed during regular patient doctor contacts, and followed by the advice to quit smoking.
authors.affiliation: Thoraxcentrum, afdeling Epidemiologie/Biostatistiek, Academisch Ziekenhuis Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Deckers
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: van Berkel
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D016540:Smoking Cessation
vernacular_title: Gezondheidsschade door roken.