Smoking causes or contributes to a wide variety of health problems to smokers, unborn babies and passive smokers. The Centers for Disease Control estimate nearly 20 percent of all deaths in the United States are directly or indirectly attributable to smoking. The longer you smoke, the more damage accumulates. Some, but not all, of this damage is reversible if you quit smoking.
Heart Problems
Smoking is one of the six major avoidable risk factors for coronary heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. When combined with other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, this risk is multiplied. Smoking also increases the risk of having a stroke. Women who take oral contraceptives and smoke multiply their risk of developing heart problems.
Lung Problems
Smoking dramatically increases the risk of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, according to the American Lung Association. At least 85 percent of deaths from these three conditions are caused by smoking. The risk for lung cancer is particularly great for men, and the risk for chronic bronchitis and emphysema is particularly great for women. These conditions, even when not fatal, can dramatically limit the ability of sufferers to work, socialize, sleep and exercise.
Other Diseases
In addition to lung cancer, smoking is also a major risk factor for cancers of the larynx, bladder, esophagus, mouth, throat, pancreas, cervix, uterus, breast, stomach and kidney, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's Office. It is also a cause of cataracts, pneumonia, leukemia and periodontitis. This list is not necessarily complete--researchers are still finding links between smoking and various diseases.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women who smoke risk not only their own health, but the health of their unborn baby. Despite this, approximately 10 percent of U.S. women smoke during pregnancy, reports the March of Dimes Foundation. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth, low infant birth weight, birth defects and premature birth. Even after the child is born, the effects of smoking can linger--children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy have higher rates of sudden infant death syndrome, asthma and learning disabilities.
Secondhand Smoke
Smoking harms not only smokers and unborn babies, but also makes passive smokers out of bystanders who inhale smoke from others. The National Cancer Institute reports that 3,000 non-smoking Americans die of lung cancer every year due to inhaling secondhand smoke. Overall, exposure to secondhand smoke increases a nonsmoker's lung cancer risk by 20 to 30 percent. Passive smokers are also susceptible to increased risk of every other health risk faced by smokers, although to a lesser degree.
References
- Centers for Disease Control: Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking
- American Lung Association: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Fact Sheet
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: New Surgeon General's Report Expands List of Diseases Caused by Smoking
- American Heart Association: Cigarette Smoking and Cardiovascular Diseases
- National Cancer Institute: Secondhand Smoke: Questions and Answers
