The Health Risks of Smoking

Smoking is a risk factor to many chronic disorders such as heart diseases, lung cancer, weakening of the immune system and impairment of vision. Smokers are at an increased rate of heart attack.

Chewing tobacco and smoking are risk factors for many chronic disorders. While they cause millions of premature deaths, heart disease holds the top slot in the list of diseases that kill smokers. Heart disease is the leading cause of death amongst smokers today, and it has caused around 1,690,000 premature deaths all over the world in the year 2000. Smoking has caused around 850,000 lung cancer deaths worldwide, during the same period.

Smoking affects the heart the most, but it is also responsible for a multitude of other diseases that ultimately impair your health or cause death. Cigarette smoke contains around 4000 chemical compounds, out of which 200 are extremely poisonous and 23 are carcinogens. This proves why the effects of smoking are dangerous. Cigarette smoke affects the body in various ways. Here are a few of them.

Brain and mental effects: Addiction causes many mental problems such as depression and anxiety. An individual who is trying to quit and started taking quit smoking pills has to face many withdrawal symptoms such as sleeplessness, loss of appetite and anxiety. Depression caused by smoking cessation can also take a toll on the individual’s health, if not treated on time.

Eyes: Excessive smoking causes mascular degeneration, and watering in the eyes. The problem of cataract is also likely to develop amongst smokers.

Nose: Smokers face a loss in the sense of smell, although not completely.

Skin: Smoking causes wrinkles and premature aging.

Teeth: Accumulation of plaque on the teeth, discoloration, and stains on teeth of smokers is common. In severe cases, gum diseases also develop.

Mouth and throat: Numerous diseases of the mouth and throat are caused by smoking, cancer topping the list. Various cancers such as cancer of the lips, esophagus, throat, mouth, and larynx develop.

Respiration and lungs: Cough, shortness of breath, flu, and cold are some of the many by excessive smoking.

Heart: The risk of coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease increases considerably amongst smokers.

Bones: Osteoporosis and increase in fractures is seen amongst smokers.

Reproductive system: Men suffer from impotence, deformity of sperm and infertility because of smoking, whereas women experience menstrual cramps, cancer of cervix and early menopause. Women, who smoke throughout their pregnancies, experience premature birth, spontaneous miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy. There are many risks to the fetus as well.

Immune system: The immune system becomes weak and this leads to many diseases.

Statistics tell that more than 50% of smokers will die of a smoking-related cause. The risks involved with smoking are many and it is better if you quit smoking.Smoking side-effects can be avoided, by dealing with the problem in a proper manner. You should quit smoking with the help of counseling. Various medications such as champix are available on the market, which are effective too. By taking these medications, you can gain control over your craving for cigarettes and gradually quit smoking.

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