In 2004, the U.S. Surgeon General expanded the list of known diseases caused by smoking cigarettes. Researchers have determined that because smoke circulates throughout the body, tobacco use can damage almost any organ, not just the lungs. From cancer to cataracts to a higher susceptibility to colds, the health problems directly traceable to cigarette smoking are many. Potential complications from these illnesses, such as blindness and pneumonia, represent further risks. Smoking contributes to the three leading causes of death---coronary heart disease, cancer and stroke---in the United States.
Atherosclerosis
The American Heart Association reports that atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries, is a major catalyst for smoking-related health problems that end in death. Smoking cigarettes decreases beneficial HDL blood cholesterol as it increases blood pressure, raising the risk for vascular damage and blood clots. Blocked arteries can cause heart attack, stroke and aneurysm, all potentially life-threatening events.
Cancer
Tobacco use affects the immune system and the body's ability to produce antioxidants. The surgeon general notes that this leaves smokers vulnerable to genetic damage from carcinogens, which can give rise to many different types of cancer. Cancer can cause organs to shut down and interrupt vital body functions.
The American Institute for Cancer Research relates that smokers' risks for deadly cancers begin in the mouth when smoke is inhaled. Smoke contacts and can cause cancer in the larynx, or voice box, and airways to the lungs. The blood then carries cancer-causing chemicals throughout the body, putting individuals at risk for leukemia and cancers of the stomach, pancreas, kidney, cervix, uterus and bladder.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that represents long-term damage to the alveoli, or air sacs, of the lungs. Tobacco use gradually causes this condition. According to the Nemours Foundation, when emphysema develops, the lungs produce excess mucus and block the airways and normal lung function. Emphysema is an incurable illness that can eventually cause death by restricting the flow of oxygen throughout the body.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is another form of COPD that affects the bronchial tubes in particular. The Nemours Foundation notes that young smokers can develop this health problem, which arises more quickly than emphysema. When the larger bronchi become damaged from smoking cigarettes and produce excess mucus, a symptomatic cough attempts to clear the airways. This "smoker's cough" is a sign of chronic bronchitis.
Additional Respiratory Illnesses
Damage to the respiratory system caused by tobacco use can create or exacerbate related health problems, including asthma and sleep apnea. According to the National Institutes of Health and American Lung Association, both conditions can be brought on by smoking cigarettes.
References
- U.S. Surgeon General: List of Diseases Caused by Smoking
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Smoking Health Effects FAQs
- American Heart Association: Cigarette Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
- American Institute for Cancer Research: Organ Cancer
- Nemours Foundation: Lungs and Respiratory System
