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The Harmful Effects of Tobacco Smoking

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It causes several diseases and conditions and generally reduces the health of the smoker. Furthermore, not only is smoking detrimental to the smoker, it can also have harmful effects on people exposed to secondhand smoke. Accordingly, consider the harmful effects of smoking before lighting your next cigarette.

  1. Cardiovascular & Respiratory Effects

    • Smoking damages the organs of the cardiovascular system. It causes coronary heart disease and narrows the bloods vessels, reducing blood circulation, says the CDC. Smokers are two to four times more likely to contract coronary heart disease or suffer a stroke than nonsmokers. Smoking is also a major cause of respiratory conditions including bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking can also make pneumonia and asthma worse.

    Cancer

    • Smoking causes a variety of cancers including cancer of the bladder, cervix, uterus, stomach, throat, mouth and kidney. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer by 23 times in men and 13 times in women, reports the CDC. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat. The risk of contracting smoke-related cancers depends on the person's level of exposure to cigarettes. The longer a person smokes and the more he smokes, the greater his cancer risk.

    Other Health Effects

    • Smokers often suffer the effects of premature aging including developing wrinkles, yellow teeth and loss of bone density, says the American Cancer Society. Smoking also causes fertility problems in both men and women. It increases the risk of preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking can also cause halitosis, gum disease and cataracts and increases the risk of contracting colds and the flu.

    Death

    • Nearly one of every five deaths in the United States is due to a smoking-related illness. That is more than the deaths from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, car injuries, suicides and murders combined, says the CDC. Smoking has been the major single cause of cancer deaths in the United States since 1982. It is linked to 30 percent of all cancer deaths and causes 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and 80 percent in women.

      While smoking is often attributed to cancer, cancer actually accounts for less than half of smoking-related deaths each year. Smoking increases the risk of dying from a disease such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema by 12 to 13 times as compared to nonsmokers.

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