You probably already know smoking increases your risk of developing lung cancer. While that alone should deter people from smoking, people continue to light up. Smoking is bad for plenty of reasons. Once you start smoking, it quickly becomes a habit and an addiction. People who smoke also have a stronger likelihood of developing a disease and dying younger than they would if they didn't smoke, according to MayoClinic.com.
Cancer
Smoking is the cancer risk factor that's the easiest to avoid, reports MedicalNewsToday.com. Smoking increases your risk of throat, mouth, kidney, bladder and cervical cancer, as well as esophageal and pancreatic cancer. Three cigarette ingredients--nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar--are responsible for health problems, according MedicalNewsToday.com. Nicotine is addictive, so smokers crave tobacco products regularly. Cigarette smoke releases carbon monoxide, which "is taken up by the bloodstream quickly and impairs the smoker's breathing," according to MedicalNewsToday.com. The tar in cigarettes contains chemicals that cause cancer. Smokers also inhale such dangerous chemicals as arsenic, ammonia, acetone, cadmium, formaldehyde and benzene.
Lung Capacity
Each time you take a puff from a cigarette, you destroy more of your alveoli--these are the air sacks in your lungs. If you keep smoking, you'll eventually kill off so many alveoli that your lungs won't function properly. Smoking also paralyzes the tiny hair-like cilia in your lungs, which filter out particles that fill your lungs. Since smoking reduces your lung capacity, it also hinders any physical activity that requires stamina, such as exercise, dancing and sports.
Appearance
Your outward appearance suffers when you smoke. Your skin probably will wrinkle early because you're decreasing the oxygen supply in your bloodstream. Smoking stains your teeth, making them look dirty and unattractive. Your risk of osteoporosis increases, which may make you hunch over. Smokers also have a higher risk of developing psoriasis.
Fertility
Smoking can damage fertility and cause sexual problems in men and women, according to KidsHealth.org. Women and teens who take birth control pills or have a birth control patch increase their risk of heart attacks if they smoke.
Odor
Smoking smells bad. It causes halitosis, which is ongoing bad breath. The smoke lingers on your clothing, hair and furniture, as well as on walls. The smell of cigarette smoke is difficult to remove from the interior of your car. Nonsmokers often avoid smokers or smoking areas.
Sickness
People who smoke tend to get sick more often--they're also more susceptible to the flu and colds. Secondary respiratory infections can develop and turn into bronchitis or pneumonia. Asthmatics who smoke experience more severe attacks. Children of smokers suffer the same health risks as people who light up.
