20,000 women died from a tobacco-related cause in 2019 in France. It’s a lot and it’s twice as many as 20 years ago. In question ? Women’s smoking is increasing, while at the same time it is decreasing among men. The way of life of women has gradually modeled itself on that of men: they have a social life, they work, they are more stressed… so they smoke more.
But the problem is thatwith equal smoking, tobacco is more harmful in women. These have a greater sensitivity to the harmful effects of tobacco, resulting in particular in a progression of cardiovascular pathologies (heart attack, stroke). Women also find it more difficult to quit smoking than men, mainly because they have fear of gaining weight.
Quit smoking to break free
Today, 1 in 5 women smoke daily, which alters his health until he takes his life, recalls thealliance against tobacco in a new “Free Women” campaign, deployed on the occasion of World Anti-Tobacco Day on May 31.
The campaign, broken down into TV spots, pleads for a better knowledge of smoking among women, both for better prevent their entry into this addiction and for their more effective support towards withdrawal.
With her partner, French Federation of Cardiology, they underline the specific health consequences of female smoking. More than 75% of women with a heart attack before the age of 50 are smokers. The damage of the combination of the pill and tobacco also remains poorly understood. However, after the age of 35, the combination of contraception containing synthetic estrogen with tobacco increases the risk of heart attack by 30. Finally, smoking has consequences on the health of women, even young ones. Thus, before the age of 65, one in five women dies from tobacco.
Between 2000 and 2015, lung cancer mortality also increased by more than 70% among women while it decreased by 15% among men. Severe bronchial complications, COPD, ultimately leading to death from respiratory failure, also doubled over the same period.
Carole Clair, epidemiologist (University Center for General Medicine and Public Health in Lausanne) notes that among young people, girls are more influenced by social pressure than boys. “In adolescence, the search for approval by peers, groups of friends or groups that one would like to integrate, would be stronger in girls. Similarly, a stronger identification with movie stars who smoke has also been observed in adolescent girls.
“The tobacco industry never wanted a free woman”, challenges the ACT-Alliance against tobacco on this occasion. The smoking woman as a symbol of the free woman has paradoxically locked women into a tobacco addiction. Indeed, for a century, the tobacco industry has targeted women, using the dictates that weigh on them, to sell its products. Sometimes a fashion accessory, a slimming ally or a symbol of female emancipation… The cigarette has gradually imposed itself in a positive way. But this false promise of freedom has locked them into a system of dependency.
Quitting smoking takes time
Finally, it should be noted that women have more difficulty quitting smoking than men, due to psychosocial and biological factors. “Nicotine metabolism is different due to their hormonal status, so on average they have more difficulty quitting smoking than men.” explains Pr Josseran, President of the ACT-Alliance against tobacco, doctor and researcher in public health (University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin).
Remember again that there are several methods for quitting smoking and that relapses are part of the quitting process. “You shouldn’t be afraid of relapses, each relapse is just another step towards the exitit is a step forward”, reassures Loïc Josseran.
