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| Introduction to Outcomes |
| Poor Mental Health Days |
| Poor Physical Health Days |
| Infant Mortality |
| Cardiovascular Deaths |
| Cancer Deaths |
| Premature Death |
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Prevalence of Smoking Prevalence of Smoking measures the percent of the population over age 18 that smokes tobacco products regularly. The information is obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and measures the percentage of the population that has smoked at least 100 cigarettes and currently smokes regularly. The prevalence of smoking in the population has an adverse impact on overall health by causing increased cases of respiratory diseases, cancer and other illnesses. It is a lifestyle behavior that an individual can directly influence. Table 20 displays the 2006 ranks, based on 2005 data (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The national average is 20.6 percent of the population, a decrease of 0.2 percent from the rate last year. This means that over 45 million American adults smoke on a regular basis. The proportion of the population that smokes varies from a low of 11.5 percent in Utah to more than 25 percent in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Tennessee and Oklahoma. The prevalence of smoking decreased by 2.0 percent or more in Delaware, Ohio, Illinois, Arkansas and Kansas. It increased by more than 2.0 percent in Georgia and Indiana. If all states were to accomplish a smoking rate equal to the best state (Utah), there would be 20 million less smokers in the U.S. Since the 1990 Edition, the prevalence of smoking decreased in the United States by 8.9 percent. Rhode Island, Connecticut, Nevada, Kansas, Virginia and Michigan each lowered the prevalence of smoking since 1990 by 12 percent or more. Every state experienced a decrease since the 1990 Edition. Utah and Nebraska had the smallest decreases. Due to the limits of the BRFSS, caution must be used in comparing changes in prevalence of smoking in states with small populations.
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