Smoking has been widespread in Britain since the 16th century, though its health risks were not firmly established until the 1950s. Currently, about 12 million British adults smoke, with rates highest among younger people and those from manual socioeconomic groups. Smoking causes over 100,000 deaths per year in the UK due to increased risks of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illness. While some believe there are benefits to smoking like stress relief, evidence shows smokers have higher stress levels and that smoking provides only temporary relief through addiction, not actual stress reduction.