A smoker's risk of lung cancer is 23 times higher than that of a non-smoker, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who smoke double their risk of coronary heart disease and stroke as well. Considering such statistics, it's no surprise that smoking accounts for nearly one in every five deaths in the U.S. Tobacco is the most commonly smoked substance, but smoking other drugs, such as marijuana, also has significant health consequences.
Heart and Circulatory Damage
Inhaling the smoke from tobacco, marijuana or other drugs has been shown to cause coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke, and is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. says MayoClinic.com. Smoking also narrows blood vessels and increases the risk of peripheral vascular disease, a condition causing obstruction in the arteries in the arms and legs.
Respiratory Problems
The smoke from tobacco and other drugs damages the airways and the lungs, causing chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, or COPD, such as emphysema and bronchitis. Symptoms of these diseases don't appear until the advanced stages of the disease, and are characterized by shortness of breath, wheezing and tightness in the chest. MayoClinic.com estimates that symptoms of COPD usually appear after 10 years of smoking.
Cancer Risks
Smoking causes cancer by changing the genetic makeup of healthy cells; these changes cause the cell to grow and divide uncontrolled at a rapid rate. People who smoke have the greatest risk of developing lung cancer, which makes it the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. according to MayoClinic.com. Additionally, cancer in other parts of the body is a significant consequence of smoking cigarettes and other drugs. Smoking can cause cancer in the bladder, cervix, kidney, esophagus, mouth, throat, voice box, pancreas and stomach, says the CDC. While the effects of cancer depend on its location, common symptoms include fatigue, a previous undetected lump, unintended weight change and a persistent cough.
