According to the American Lung Association (ALA), cigarette smoke contains more than 4,800 chemicals, and 69 of those are known to cause cancer. Smoking is associated with such illnesses as cancer, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nicotine is also an addictive drug and linking smoking to social activities makes it difficult to quit.
Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, smoking harms almost every organ in the human body. Statistics show that smoking causes at least 30 percent of all deaths related to cancer and that lung cancer is one of the hardest cancers in the body to treat. Smoking is also a known cause of cancers of the larynx, mouth, throat, bladder and esophagus, due to the direct irritation of the these areas when the smoke is inhaled into the body.
Heart Disease
Nicotine is a stimulant that increases blood pressure. Effects on the lungs decrease a person's tolerance for exercise. Smoking also increases the blood's tendency to clot. Overall, these factors increase the risk for heart disease and stroke. According to the American Heart Association, women who smoke and take birth control pills are at an increased risk for heart disease. Also, continuing to smoke after bypass surgery can cause the development of heart disease again.
COPD
Smoking causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, through damage to the lungs. Inhaled smoke irritates the lining of the airways and can cause them to swell. The tiny air sacs in the lungs lose their elastic ability. The sacs harden and the walls between them can be destroyed. These effects can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing and decreased oxygen in the blood. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD has no cure according to the Mayo Clinic.
Abdominal Arotic Aneurysm
The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines abdominal aortic aneurysm as the enlargement, or ballooning, of the aorta. The aorta is the blood vessel that serves the abdomen, pelvic region and legs. Smoking is one of the risk factors for developing an abdominal aneurysm. The aneurysm develops over time without the person knowing it and it can rupture suddenly. Symptoms of rupture include pain, increased heart rate, and enlarged, hard abdomen, anxiety and shock. Treatment requires a surgical repair of the rupture.
Dangers During Pregnancy
According to the March of Dimes, smoking slows fetal growth and increases the risk of preterm delivery. Babies born to women who smoked during the first trimester may suffer from congenital heart defects. Smoking may cause a condition called placenta previa where the placenta covers the uterus opening. Cigarettes can also cause placental abruption. In this condition, the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus. Women who smoke have a greater risk of their water breaking prematurely.
