An overwhelming majority of cancers (around 90%) is caused by smoking, according to the Federal Supervision Service for Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor).
The federal service explained that smokers’ life expectancy is 20 to 25 years shorter than the average life expectancy of a healthy person. Many smokers develop cancer; at that, the earlier they start smoking the higher the risk of malignant tumors. The chance of cancer in people who have been smoking since 15 is five times higher than in those who tried their first cigarette after the age of 25.
Rospotrebnadzor claims that cigarette smoke is 4.5 times more toxic than car exhaust, reported Lenta.ru. One cigarette contains 3 mg of nicotine while the lethal dose is only 20 times higher (60 mg).
Fifty percent of smoking men have erectile dysfunction while smoking women develop varicose veins. Moreover, the risk of stroke in smokers is 20 times higher. The agency had some positive news to report as well: people who gave up smoking in their early 30s completely recover and have the same life expectancy as those who never touched a cigarette.