Health Effects of Smoking

Following the edition of my recent post; 'how to stop smoking', I thought that I should put together a post about the heath effects that smoking can and does cause.

There are some really major health effects that smoking can cause, and even though smoking has reduced by about 80%, it's still single-handedly the biggest killer and cause of disability presently in the UK. Over 100,000 people die each year in the UK as a result of smoking.

So here are the health effects of smoking.

1. Cardiovascular disease

Smoking accelerates the hardening of the arteries by up to four times that of a non-smoker, this causes them to become narrowed and hardened. When arteries narrow, it can cause blood clots to form. Blood clots are also up to four times as likely to occur in smokers.

Cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer of smokers, and depending one which blood vessels are involved, will depend on what form cardiovascular disease will take.

There's coronary thrombosis, which is a blood clot in the arteries supplying the heart. And there's cerebral thrombosis, where the arteries to the brain are blocked, and diseases like strokes can occur.

Smokers make up 90% of heart-bypass patients, and on average develop coronary thrombosis 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

2. Toxins

As the cigarette is lit, the tobacco when burnt, produces various toxins, the residues of which are concentrated at the end of the butt. The toxins that are the most damaging are; nicotine (addictive and raises cholesterol), tar (substance that causes cancer), and carbon monoxide (reduction of oxygen).

Of course the more you smoke, the more toxins you will be ingesting, and ultimately putting your body at greater risk.

3. Cancer

A very well known health effect of smoking, is that of cancer. Smokers put themselves at greater risk to cancer through smoking. Some cancers that can be brought on by smoking are; lung cancer, throat cancer, mouth cancer, cancer of the kidneys, cancer of the oesophagus, cervical cancer, and bladder cancer. These tend to be the more common cancers that smoking can bring on.

4. COPD

COPD stands for 'Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease'. It is a condition that blocks airflow and makes breathing harder. An example would be chronic bronchitis; which causes the sufferer to cough a lot with mucus, which continues for a few months.

COPD is most commonly caused by smoking, with around 79% of COPD patients being smokers.

5. Increased blood pressure

Another health issue that is caused by smoking, is increased blood pressure, that in itself can have damaging effects when raised high enough to where it becomes hypertension, that can change your life.

6. Oral hygiene

As you are taking in the toxins and chemicals of the substances inside of the cigarette, through your mouth, it's not surprising that there will be damaging consequences to oral hygiene. It can cause periodontal disease that can make your teeth fall out, make your gums to become swollen, and cause bad breath.

Smoking will also stain your teeth and gums, and cause mouth ulcers to occur more frequently. 

7. Eye problems

Smokers also put their eyes at risk. Macular degeneration is twice as likely to affect a heavy smoker rather than a non-smoker, macular degeneration is the gradual loss of eye sight. 

Cataracts is another condition that affects the eyes, and is more likely to occur with smokers.

Bloodshot appearance and itchiness of the eyes can be as a result of smoking, as the sensitive blood vessels of the eye are easily damaged by the cigarette smoke.

8. Faster Ageing

Non-smokers do age as-well, but smokers will appear to age quicker. Smoking reduces levels of vitamin A and reduces blood supply the skin, giving a paler and more wrinkly appearance.

9. Additional problems

These aren't just the problems that smoking can cause. Some other things it can bring on are; erectile dysfunction, fertility problems, heart attacks, worsening of asthma, peripheral vascular disease (damaged blood vessels), emphysema (damage to the small airways in the lungs), pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs).

Don't forget that second-hand smoke is just as much of a problem, and has several of the same health risks. 
Family members who you're around or friends, people who maybe don't smoke, are being put at risk by second-hand smoke.