Smoking cigarettes can cause a variety of ailments to the lungs, heart and other vital organs. When you smoke, harmful chemicals enter the lungs and penetrate the blood, eventually causing destruction to surrounding tissue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking can cause coronary heart disease, which is the number one cause of death in the United States. People who smoke are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than nonsmokers.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of diseases that are known to be caused by smoking. The Mayo Clinic explains that chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two primary diseases that make up COPD. COPD can also denote the damage caused by chronic asthmatic bronchitis. With each of these diseases, destruction to your airways will eventually interfere with the transfer of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your lungs. In most cases, the damage to the lungs that leads to COPD is caused by long-term smoking. Some risk factors that increase the chances of developing COPD are any kind of exposure to tobacco smoke, occupational exposure to dust and other chemicals, age, and genetics. Once damage is done by COPD, it cannot be reversed. Treatment may include medications, such as antibiotics, surgery and oxygen or pulmonary therapy.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is another smoking-related condition that is extremely life-threatening. The Mayo Clinic notes that the nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke constrict the vessels in your blood and can damage the lining inside, making them more prone to atherosclerosis--a clogging of the arteries. This is why heart attacks are more common in people who smoke than people who do not. Aside from smoking, other risk factors for heart disease depend on factors such as age, genetics, blood pressure, cholesterol and dietary habits. Because narrow arteries are often the result of heart disease, the goal of treatment is to open the arteries back up. Some treatment options for heart disease include medications to lessen symptoms, surgery and lifestyle changes.
Cancer
Cancer can develop as a result of long-term smoking. Although lung cancer is one of the more common smoking-related diseases, other vital organs and parts of the body may be affected with cancer, as well. The National Cancer Institute states that lung cancer is due to the progression of other smoking-related diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Lung cancer, like most cancers, develops as an aggravated mutation of tissue and cells that continues to grow uncontrollably. The cancer may spread, causing tumors, and can eventually damage and kill off vital organs. Treatment of cancers may include medication to lessen pain, chemotherapy and surgery to try and remove the cancerous cells.
