It's highest among persons living below the poverty level
In the United States, an estimated 25.1 million men (23.4 percent) and 20.9 million women (18.5 percent) are smokers. These people are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
The latest estimates for persons age 18 and older show:*
-
Among
non-Hispanic
whites:
24.1 percent of men and 20.4 percent of women smoke (2004). -
Among non-Hispanic
blacks:
23.9 percent of men and 17.2 percent of women smoke. -
Among Hispanics:
18.9 percent of men and 10.9 percent of women smoke. -
Among Asians
(only):
17.8 percent of men and 4.8 percent of women smoke. -
Among American
Indians/Alaska
Natives:
37.3 percent of men and 28.5 percent of women smoke. -
It's highest
among persons
living below the
poverty level:
(29.1 percent).
American Heart Association
* National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 2004, National Center for Health Statistics and NHLBI
Adults Cigarette Smoking Estimates:
| Highest: | ||
| - With a General Education Development (GED) diploma (46.0%) | ||
| - With 9–11 years of education (35.4%) | ||
| Lowest: | ||
| - With an undergraduate college degree (9.6%) | ||
| - With graduate college degree (6.6%).4 |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cigarette Smoking Among Adults—United States, 2006. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report [serial online]. 2007;56(44):1157–1161 [cited 2007 Nov 8]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5644a2.htm.
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