Smoking quiz

Answers

1) If a person who has smoked for many years quit tomorrow, after another 15 smoke-free years their risk of heart attack would be…

1. exactly the same as when they quit smoking
2. the same risk as someone who had never smoked
3. 25% less than when they quit smoking
4. half the risk of a smoker

The right answer is B.

After giving up smoking for fifteen years, the risk of heart attack is the same as for a person who has never smoked.

2) Which of the following is the most effective way to give up smoking?

1. cold turkey - take a deep breath and stub out your last cigarette
2. cutting down gradually
3. by using a 'mind' method like hypnosis
4. with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or a nicotine desensitising drug (such as bupropion)

The answer is D.

Although some people manage to quit cold turkey, studies have shown that using either NRT or other medicines can roughly double your chances of quitting compared to no therapy. However, what matters most is a commitment to quitting.

3) What proportion of smokers say they would like to quit the habit?

1. 33 per cent
2. 53 per cent
3. 73 per cent
4. 93 per cent

The right answer is C.

Smokers who want to quit cite health concerns as their biggest worry, followed by financial reasons.

4) Across the world, the number of smoking-related deaths is currently set to…

1. decline rapidly
2. slowly decline
3. remain at a constant level
4. increase steadily

The right answer is D.

In most high-income countries, such as the USA, the UK and Northern Europe, rates of smoking are declining. However, in the developing world, more people are smoking. If cigarette consumption continues to rise at present rates, it is predicted that death rates from smoking will reach 10 million people a year in 2025.

5) Which of the following statements most accurately describes the dangers of passive smoking?

1. passive smoking has been proven to cause a wide range of illnesses
2. there have been lots of studies into passive smoking, but it isn't clear whether it really causes harm
3. passive smoking has been shown to harm children, but not adults
4. passive smoking has been shown to raise a person's risk of heart disease only

The best answer is usually A.

Many studies have now shown that breathing in other people's tobacco smoke can cause a wide range of short term and long term health problems, such as lung cancer.

6) Which disease does smoking NOT increase the risk of?

1. heart disease
2. peripheral vascular disease
3. bladder cancer
4. parkinson's disease

The right answer is D.

In fact, Parkinson's disease is one of the rare illnesses which smoking actually seems to provide some protection from. However, the protective effect from Parkinson's disease is tiny compared to the risk of getting a smoking related illness.

7) What percentage of deaths in the UK are caused by smoking?

1. 1 per cent
2. 5 per cent
3. 20 per cent
4. 50 per cent

The best answer is C.

Smoking kills around 114,000 people a year in the UK, or 300 people per day.

8) Which of the following smoking statements is false?

1. smoking causes at least 80 percent of lung cancer deaths
2. smoking makes the menopause happen earlier in women
3. smokers often lose their sense of smell
4. the richer you are in Britain, the more likely you are to smoke

The 'false' answer is D.

According to Government statistics, more people in lower income households tend to smoke than in higher income households.

9) Which of these age groups are most likely to be smokers?

1. 16-20
2. 20-24
3. 35-49
4. 60 or older

The right answer is B.

Studies show that people in this age group are most likely to smoke, with the over 60s age group least likely to indulge in cigarettes.

10) Which of these substances are found in cigarette smoke?

1. arsenic (found in rat poison)
2. acetone (found in nail polish remover)
3. ammonia (found in bathroom cleaners and dry cleaning fluid)
4. all of the above

The right answer is D.

And that is just the beginning of the 'As'. Hundreds of chemicals like these find their way into cigarettes.