Women Who Smoke

Lookbook Vol. 2

DEFINITION

The percent of women who identify as current smokers for the year 2019.3

OKLAHOMA

17.2 percent Data Highlight:

NATIONAL AVERAGE Smoking tobacco is taxed 80 percent of its factory list price in 13.5 percent Oklahoma. This tax has been proven to reduce the number of smokers, but is also criticized as disproportionately affecting lower-income smokers.80

Why We Care:

Smoking increases health issues and the likelihood someone who smokes will get certain diseases. Women who smoke are at greater risk of dying of heart disease, COPD, or an abdominal aortic aneurysm caused by a weakening of the blood vessels than men. Additionally, reproductive issues can plague women who smoke and they’re more likely to contract cervical cancer than their nonsmoking counterparts.81,82 In Oklahoma 17.2 percent of the adult female population currently smokes compared to 13.5 percent nationwide. When women stop smoking they lower their risk of stroke, cervical and lung cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. They see improvement in their immune system, ability to taste and smell, lung capacity, and blood pressure level.82

What We Can Do:

- Connect women with resources to help them quit smoking - Ensure community clinics in underserved communities are well-staffed and able to facilitate positive, culturally-competent, long-lasting relationships with their patients through culturally informed practices

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