Smoking and other forms of tobacco use are detrimental to your entire body, from the inside out. You know you should quit smoking, and you know that it increases your risk of serious disease--even death. The effects of smoking are responsible for about 438,000 deaths in the United States every year--that's one out of every five deaths attributed to the effects of smoking, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Heart Attack and Stroke
Smoking and tobacco use cause heart disease, and make people between two and four times more likely to develop the condition than people who don't smoke, says the CDC. Smokers are also at twice the risk of having a stroke than nonsmokers. The risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the blood vessels beyond the brain and heart) is 10 times higher for smokers. Smoking causes the arteries to become more narrow, making it more difficult for blood to circulate through the body.
Respiratory Illness
Smoking also has a huge effect on the health of the respiratory system, causing a number of severe lung diseases. Chronic obstructive lung disease is a major health effect of smoking. Smokers are 10 times more likely to die from chronic obstructive lung disease, says the CDC, and smoking is responsible for 90 percent of fatalities from chronic obstructive lung disease. Emphysema and bronchitis are also linked to smoking.
Cancer
Tobacco use can cause a number of different cancers, including lung, stomach, pancreatic, kidney, bladder and larynx cancer. As many as 30 percent of all cancer fatalities are caused by smoking; 87 percent of lung cancer deaths are attributed to smoking, says the American Cancer Society.
Bone Health
Cigarette smoking also affects the bones and can reduce bone mass. Lower bone mass or bone density can lead to fractures and osteoporosis. Bone density in postmenopausal women is lower in smokers than nonsmokers, says the CDC.
Fertility and Pregnancy
Smoking can cause infertility and a number of problems with the fetus during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy can cause low birth weight babies, early delivery, miscarriage or stillbirth and may be a contributing factor to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) in babies.
Death
Nearly 50 percent of smokers in the U.S. will suffer a fatal complication because of their smoking, says the American Cancer Society. Smoking kills more people than drug and alcohol use, murders, suicide, AIDS and motor vehicle accidents combined.
Quit Smoking for Better Health
Many of these problems can be prevented or the risk reduced by not smoking. If you are a smoker, it's never too late to quit. Your body will immediately respond and your health improve immediately after quitting--even if you already have a smoking-related illness. Quitting can help you live longer--and healthier.
