As of 2008, there were 46 million adult smokers in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That means 20.6 percent of people over 18 expose themselves to the disadvantages of smoking cigarettes. Some are just inconveniences, while others are serious health risks. Smokers face a host of diseases and an increased death risk.
Health Problems
The American Cancer Society (ACS) explains that smokers are more likely to develop cancer of the lungs, larynx, pharynx, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, kidneys, stomach, bladder and cervix. Cigarettes cause 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths. Smoking also boosts heart attack and stroke risk, and the ACS warns that it can trigger respiratory problems like bronchitis and emphysema. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gathered data from 1995 to 1999 that showed how cigarettes shorten life spans. Women smokers die 14.5 years earlier and male smokers die 13.2 earlier than their non-smoking peers.
Dental Problems
Smoking causes thick yellow plaque that is not removed by home brushing and flossing, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. It looks ugly and causes further problems if it is not removed professionally. Deep pockets grow between the smoker's teeth and gums, giving bacteria a place to grow and multiply. Gum disease develops, and it destroys tissue and bone if it is not treated. Eventually the teeth can loosen and fall out because they are not properly anchored due to the damage.
Smell
Smokers tend to have a distinctive smell because the tobacco odor clings to their hair and clothes. Their houses and vehicles also pick up the smell if they regularly smoke indoors at home or while driving. Nick Gromicko and Rob London of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors explain that tobacco odors often persist long after cigarette smokers move out of a house because it saturates the living areas and circulates through the ventilation system.
Cost
Cigarettes are expensive, but the product cost only represents a small part of the overall cost. Smokers face higher costs for many other things, like professional dental cleanings, dry cleaning and even life and health insurance, according to Hilary Smith of MSN Money. Uninsured smokers have a bigger risk of incurring major medical bills because cigarettes cause so many health problems. They face a harder time finding employment to get insurance or money to pay the bills, as Smith reports that 5 percent of companies prefer to hire non-smokers and 1 percent refuse to hire smokers.
