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The Effects on Cigarette Smokers

The adverse effects of cigarette smoking on people have been extensively monitored by major health organizations such as the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. According to the 2010 United States Surgeon General's report, cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States. Smoking cigarettes has been shown to increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and emphysema.

  1. Cancer

    • Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow at an uncontrolled rate, often leading to death if left untreated. Cigarette smoking has been shown to increase the risk of several cancers, including cancer of the lung, pharynx, stomach, pancreas, bladder and kidneys. According to the American Cancer Society, cigarette smoking accounts for at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths in America. Smoking accounts for nearly nine out of 10 lung cancer deaths, and lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women and men, reports the American Cancer Society.

    Heart Disease

    • About 20 percent of all deaths from heart disease in the U.S. are caused by cigarette smoking, reports WebMD. Smoking cigarettes causes reduced circulation by narrowing a person's arteries, which can increase blood pressure and cause coronary heart disease, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have more than twice the risk of suffering from a heart attack as nonsmokers.

    Emphysema

    • Emphysema results from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is a common lung disease that comes from destruction of the lungs over time. Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema. Sufferers of emphysema are often short of breath, as they cannot supply an adequate amount of oxygen to their lungs. Severe cases of emphysema may require the use of a breathing apparatus or a lung transplant.

    Secondhand Smoke

    • Smoking can cause adverse health effects to nonsmokers who inhale smoke from other people's lit cigarettes or exhaled smoke from smokers. According to the American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke has high concentrations of cancer-causing agents and contains smaller particles that make their way into the body's cells more easily. The 2006 U.S. Surgeon General's report concluded that secondhand smoke causes premature death and smoking-related diseases in children and adults who do not smoke.

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