ALMOST one-in-five Orange residents aged 18 and over is a smoker, according to the latest data from Australia's Health Tracker.
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The online resource published by the Australian Health Policy Collaboration found 18.2 per cent of adults in the Orange local government area are smokers, slightly above the national average of 16 per cent.
But Orange is faring better than some neighbouring LGAs, with smoking rates in Wellington (27.1 per cent), Mid Western (24.4), Cowra (24.4), Blayney (21.0), Lithgow (24.1), Oberon (21.3), Dubbo (19.3) and Bathurst (18) all above the state average.
As part of its World No Tobacco Day campaign on Friday, the Western NSW Local Health District marks wants to highlight the message that the single most important step you can take to improve your health is to live a smoke-free lifestyle.
You only get one set of lungs so why risk damaging them by breathing in tobacco smoke?
- Health promotion officer Siobahn Graham
"The 2019 WNTD theme highlights the impact of tobacco smoking on the health of our lungs, for example worsening of asthma symptoms, an increased risk of chronic respiratory disease and lung cancer," Ms Graham said.
"Inhaling tobacco smoke not only affects the lung health of smokers, but also the lungs of people breathing in second hand smoke. Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of second-hand smoke as their lungs are still developing.
"This really highlights the importance of making sure we all live, work and play in smoke free environments."
Ms Graham said many people in the community would relate to the message behind World No Tobacco Day, whether they were a smoker or not.
"You only get one set of lungs so why risk damaging them by breathing in tobacco smoke?" she said.
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