Tobacco use has been known to cause lung and larynx cancer since the U.S. surgeon general released research proof in 1964. Since then, the list of diseases directly caused by or related to smoking cigarettes has grown. The addictive properties of the nicotine in tobacco puts smokers at risk for a host of diseases that can affect almost any part of the body. Knowing the potential health problems may prompt smokers to quit or prevent young people from lighting up and becoming addicted.
Cancer
Because the carcinogens in smoke are absorbed in the bloodstream and carried throughout the body, many organs are vulnerable to health problems. Cancerous growths in the lung, mouth and throat can spread to other areas of the body and cause fatal damage.
The surgeon general counts the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney and bladder as proven cancer targets. Smoking cigarettes also causes cancer of the uterus and cervix, and is a likely cause of cancers of the prostate, breast, liver and colon.
Heart Disease
Smoking cigarettes takes a toll on heart and vascular health, causing hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association, this raises smokers' risks for peripheral arterial disease and aortic aneurysm.
Cardiovascular impairment and blood clots reduce smokers' tolerance for exercise. Periodontitis, a serious gum disease created by tobacco use, more than doubles the risk for coronary heart disease, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These conditions also increase the likelihood of such catastrophic health problems as heart attack and stroke, which may lead to an early death.
Respiratory Disease
Besides causing cancer, tobacco use destroys lung tissue and obstructs the airways. Smoking is a proven cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
The American Lung Association and the CDC list pneumonia, asthma, sleep apnea and allergies as other breathing disorders that smoking may cause or exacerbate. Any disease that obstructs breathing and, therefore, oxygen flow to the brain is potentially fatal.
Other Risks
Smoking cigarettes has been determined to contribute to cataracts, low bone density, hip fractures and a number of reproductive complications. According to the CDC, smoking may contribute to infertility in males and females. Parental smoking also raises the risk for stillborn deliveries as well as sudden infant death syndrome in babies.
