RESEARCH ALERT
Some vapes use added chemicals to create a cold or icy feeling. New research has raised concerns about three of them: WS-23, WS-3 and WS-5. We do not yet know how common they are in Wales.
SMOKING & HEALTH CONDITIONS
If you already have a health condition, stopping smoking still matters.
Smoking can make existing health problems worse and raise the risk of further illness. These pages focus on the connection between smoking and specific conditions, and where to find trusted help.
The current Wales burden: Public Health Wales estimates an average 3,845 smoking-attributable deaths and 17,195 smoking-attributable hospital admissions a year among adults aged 35+ in 2020–22. An estimated 10.7% of deaths in this age group were attributable to smoking. These are modelled attributable-burden estimates, not a cause recorded on every individual death certificate or hospital admission. Public Health Wales source ↗
Explore by condition
Heart disease
How smoking affects the heart and what changes when you stop.
Lung cancer
The link between smoking and lung cancer, plus support to stop.
These pages are about smoking, not diagnosis.
ASH Wales explains how smoking affects health and why stopping can help. For symptoms, diagnosis, treatment or urgent medical advice, use NHS services or speak to a healthcare professional.
Want help to stop smoking?
You can get free support in Wales. Our Quit Smoking hub explains the options and where to start.