In 2008, the American Lung Association (ALA) reported that approximately 20.6 percent of adults were current smokers. That adds up to about 46 million people actively smoking. Smoking affects the health of smokers and non-smokers alike. Cigarette smoke affects every organ in the body and is a significant factor in cardiovascular disease, many cancers, lung disease, and certain pregnancy related complications.
Death
An article in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" examined the results of the observational Nurses' Health Study conducted from 1980 to 2004. The lead author, Stacy A. Kenfield, Sc.D., found that of the study participants who died, 35.9 percent of the deaths were caused by smoking. Although the study participants were female, the results are applicable to both genders; smoking increases your risk of death and the risk is greater the more you smoke, and the longer you smoke.
Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in the United States. The ALA reports that smoking contributes to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80 percent in women. Furthermore, secondhand smoke is responsible for approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers every year.
Dr. Alfred Knight, CEO of Scott and White Hospital, actively warns employees, patients and visitors of smoking health risks. Through his organization's "Enuff of the Puff" campaign, Dr. Knight reports cigarette smoking is linked to cancers of the lip, oral cavity, throat and larynx (voice box) and esophagus. Furthermore, smoking increases the risk of developing cancer of the pancreas, the kidney and bladder, and in women, the uterus and cervix.
Lung Disease
Chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is an umbrella title for emphysema and chronic bronchitis, are a common complication of smoking. Among cigarette smokers, COPD accounts for 73 percent of smoking health problems. Smoking is responsible for approximately 80 to 90 percent of COPD deaths.
Cardiovascular Effects
Smoking negatively impacts cardiovascular health. The chemicals in cigarettes cause vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), which leads to impaired blood flow to the heart, brain and other organs. Cigarette smoking interferes with the body's natural clotting processes, making the blood more viscous and more likely to form clots. Together, these smoking effects increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs), heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung).
A study published in 2008 in the "American Journal of Hematology" examined the effects of smoking on deep vein thrombosis. The study compared female smokers and none smokers and found an increased incidence of DVT among the smokers. In addition, women who smoked while using oral contraceptives had an 8.8 fold higher risk of developing a DVT.
Pregnancy
Smoking during pregnancy can cause low-birth weight babies. Smoking during pregnancy also causes up to 14 percent of preterm deliveries, and approximately 10 percent of all infant deaths.
