Thursday, October 09, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nevada tops U.S. in female smokers

Nevada babies might suffer greater health problems than infants from many other states because of its high rate of women smokers and those who continue to smoke while pregnant, according to local health officials.

Nevada has the highest percentage of female smokers in the country, with more than one in four partaking in the habit, according to a new report from the National Women's Law Center and Oregon Health Science University. About 20 percent of adult women smoke nationwide, while just over 12 percent continue the habit during pregnancy, according to the study. In Nevada, 28.5 percent of women smoke and 23 percent smoke while pregnant.

"I'm not shocked by the numbers but it definitely shows us we have a serious women's health problem in Nevada," said Larry Matheis, executive director of the Nevada State Medical Association. "Smoking is one of the major contributors of unhealthy newborns. There's certainly a relationship between our high rates of female smokers and our rates of low birth weights and infant mortality."

Nevada has less-than-stellar rates of low birthweight babies and infant mortality, but the state still ranks slightly better than the national average in both categories, according to the latest Nevada Kids Count report. Local health officials, however, expect things to get worse if more than a quarter of the state's women continue to smoke.

In 2000, 7.2 percent of Nevada babies were born with a low birth weight, meaning they weighed less than five pounds. The national average was 7.6 percent. The state's infant mortality rate was 6.5 babies for every 1,000 live births. The national average is 6.9.

"Smoking is one of the worst things you can do during pregnancy. It's right up there with using heroin. Actually, heroin probably isn't even as bad," said Las Vegas perinatologist Brian Iriye. "There's also an increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in families that smoke, both during and after pregnancy."

Iriye said that women who smoke have a greater chance of miscarriage, early delivery, low birth weight babies and other pregnancy complications that can cause hemorrhaging and death to both the infant and the mother. Evidence also suggests that babies born to mothers who smoke are at higher risk for asthma, recurring bronchitis, breathing problems and even behavioral and developmental problems, Iriye said.

"If I have a patient who smokes I'll also do a toxicology screen on them because 35 percent of the time, they are also using other drugs," he said. "If the drug screen is positive, it helps me prepare for an even higher risk baby."

Local obstetrician John Nowins said he passes out pamphlets to his patients regarding smoking dangers. He said he also refers them to local resources to help them quit.

"Many of them come in and say, 'I know I smoke, I know it's bad for the baby and I'm trying to quit,' " he said. "If they don't quit smoking, it's nothing short of child abuse. It's intolerable. They are knowingly placing their baby in harm's way."

Nowins said it can be even more difficult for pregnant women to kick the tobacco habit because they can't use nicotine patches or gum.

The nicotine that the products deliver into the system can also harm the baby, he said.

Health officials blame the state's high rate of female smokers on weak smoking regulations and lack of a public anti-tobacco campaign targeting women.

They say smoking is not considered taboo in Las Vegas, unlike in many other cities.

"Smoking is still a socially acceptable part of life in Nevada and we haven't made a serious effort at tobacco counter-marketing to women," said Dan Geary, spokesman for the Nevada Tobacco Prevention Coalition. "Our clean indoor air laws are loose at best in Nevada."

Health officials also say that women often don't understand that smoking can cause heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Nevada women have high rates of heart disease and the highest rate of obstructive pulmonary disease in the country. In the Silver State, 171 women per 100,000 suffer from obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the study. The national average is 103.5.

"Historically, men have always known they are at great risk for heart disease and have been the targets of anti-tobacco advertising," said Dr. Sean Ameli, president of the American Heart Association of Southern Nevada. "Women are still under the pretense that they are not as susceptible to heart disease when really, by the time they find out they have it, they are worse off than men. Their arteries are smaller so it takes less blockage to result in the same problem."

The heart association, the coalition and other public health agencies, pushed for tougher smoking laws during the legislative session this year.

Lawmakers did not pass the legislation, which would have banned smoking in restaurants, grocery stores and public buildings.