Smoking

Cost of smoking

How much of your savings has been spent on cigarettes since you started smoking? It's an expensive habit; find out how much it's costing you.

Use the Smoking Cost Calculator.

Strategies for quitting smoking video

Dr Joe Kosterich talks about ways you can stop smoking. He also addresses concerns you may have about possible side effects, such as increased coughing and weight gain.

Watch a video about stragies for quitting smoking.

Nicotine addiction animation

The effect nicotine has on the brain and the body is complex. It is an addictive drug, making cigarette smoking the most prevalent form of nicotine addiction.

Watch an animation about nicotine addiction and smoking cessation.

Dangers of smoking

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 different chemical compounds. Many of these are toxic, and at least 43 are known carcinogens. In Australia, around 19,000 smokers die each year from diseases caused by their smoking. One in two smokers will die of a smoking related disease. Still, one in five Australians aged 14 or over smoke on a daily or weekly basis.

For more information, see the Dangers of Cigarette Smoking.

How smoking affects eye health

There is an increased risk of a number of eye disorders, not only in those who smoke, but also in those who are frequently exposed to tobacco smoke. Passive smoking can damage children's eyes, causing strabismus or allergic conjunctivitis. Adults who smoke can develop many eye conditions, including cataracts, uveitis, and thyroid eye disease.

For more information, see the Effect of Smoking on Eye Health.

How smoking affects skin health

In many cases, changes to skin due to smoking are not life threatening, though they can change the physical appearance of the smoker. For example, smoking is associated with premature ageing, wrinkles, dry skin and skin discolouration. Smoking is also associated with very serious skin conditions, including skin cancer and psoriasis.

For more information, see the Effect of Smoking on Skin Health.

How smoking affects sperm

Tobacco smoking is associated with male infertility and/or suboptimal sperm production. On average, sperm concentration for smokers is 13% lower than for non-smokers. Smoking men also have a lower average proportion of motile and morphologically normal sperm compared to non-smoking men.

For more information, see the Effect of Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs on Sperm.