Smoking and its harmful effects

Smoking and its harmful effects

Tobacco kills up to half of its users and kills a percentage of those exposed to secondhand smoke. It can cause early death due to smoking-related illnesses.

Smoking affects almost all organs in our body. It causes diseases affecting:

• Blood Circulation
  • Smoking makes your blood thicker which increases the chances of clot formation. It narrows your arteries affecting the amount of oxygen-rich blood reaching your organs. These changes increase the chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
• Heart
  • Smoking makes you heart work harder than normal which increases the risk of conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular disease.
• Digestive System
  • Smoking increases the risk of developing stomach cancer and esophageal cancer.
• Kidneys
  • Smoking is a significant risk factor in developing kidney cancer.
• Skin
  • Smoking ages your skin making it look dull and grey. It also causes more facial wrinkling and cellulites.
• Bones
  • Smoking can make your bones brittle and weak.
• Brain
  • Smoking increases your risk of having a stroke.
• Lungs
  • Smoking can cause cough, colds, wheezing and asthma. It can also cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.
• Mouth and Throat
  • Smoking may cause the following: bad breath; stained teeth; gum disease; damaged sense of taste; oral thrush; cancer on lips, tongue, throat, voice box and gullet; and oropharyngeal cancers.
• Reproduction and Fertility
  • Males
    • Smoking can damage sperms, reduce sperm count, cause impotence, and cause testicular cancer.
  • Women
    • Smoking can reduce fertility, increase the risk in acquiring HPV infection, and cause cervical cancer. If pregnant, it can cause miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and illness.

Quitting smoking will prevent premature death and can add years to your life. It will improve your health and the health of those around you.

Quit smoking now!

References:

1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention
   • https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/index.htm
2. World Health Organization
   • https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco
3. Medical News Today
   • https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324644#secondhand-smoke
4. National Health Service
   • https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/smoking-health-problems

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