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There are many negatives when it comes to our health and smoking. Many people smoke because it helps relieve stress and other people do it for social interaction. If you do smoke then it is very important to know the health risks that come with it so you can make an informed decision.
Can Cause Cancer
Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. Not only does it cause cancer in your lungs but it can affect many other areas of the human body as well. These are the mouth, throat, voice box, oesophagus, bladder, bowel, cervix, kidney, breast, liver, stomach and pancreas. There are many different causes of cancer, however smoking is the main reason for lung cancer so stopping should be considered.
Blood Circulation Issues
Not only does smoking cause cancer but it also damages your heart as well as your blood circulation. It increases the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, damaged blood vessels (also known as peripheral vascular disease) and cerebrovascular disease.
Smoking can also cause breathing difficulties and shortness of breath. It can also continue the symptoms of any potential breathing conditions you already have. These can be asthma and respiratory tract infections like the common cold.
Smoking is also believed to be linked with impotence because it limits the blood supply to the male genitalia. Not to mention it can also reduce the fertility of both men and women. There are far more issues to smoking than just bad lungs and it is important you know what you are doing to your body.
Smoking Can Also Affect The Outside of Your Body
Smoking does not only affect you internally, but it also affects you externally as well. Many people do not know this but tobacco smoke can stick to your hair just like it can with your clothes. Even secondhand smokers will get this. You probably already know that tobacco can smell so make sure you are not around it if you are a non-smoker.
It can also affect your teeth giving a yellow or brown colour which nobody wants. This only really happens if you are a heavy smoker and have been smoking for a long time. Oral health is extremely important anyways, especially when you get older so you should search for tips to keep your mouth healthy.
Smoking will give you bad breath straight away after a cigarette which could deter people off. Additionally, smoking can lead to gum disease and later down the line, so your teeth could start falling out. You may need dental implants or other dental practices to repair those damaged teeth.
Wrinkly skin is also common with long term smokers. Smoking reduces your blood flow which means your skin will get fewer nutrients from your food, making you age quicker than usual. Finally, holding cigarettes or other tobacco products can stain your fingers and your fingernails yellow, not to mention that it also leaves an unpleasant smell on your hand.
Smoking Impacts Your Weight
Smoking is proven to suppress your appetite meaning you will not want to eat as much. It decreases your sense of taste which means you won’t enjoy your food as much as normal. Not only this, but it can also dull your sense of smell which is another factor in losing your appetite. However, your taste buds do eventually come back once you fully quit smoking, allowing you to be able to taste food properly again.
Other Organs That Are Affected From Smoking
Smoking affects many of the organs in our body due to the carbon monoxide, tar and other toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke. Respiratory problems are very common in smokers for many reasons. It raises the chances of you having bronchitis and even secondhand smoking (also known as passive smoking) can raise the chances of you having bronchitis. If you have other respiratory problems such as tuberculosis and pneumonia then these can also worsen when smoking.
Smoking can not only increase the chances of lung cancer but also gives you a persistent cough. This is also known as a smokers cough and it is caused by the airways being damaged. Finally, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, is a lung condition when the airways have become narrowed. A study found that 8 out of 10 people who had COPD were also smokers which shows the effect cigarette smoke can have on the lungs.
Tobacco is known to lower the good cholesterol in your body which is also known as HDL. Not only this, but it also increases the bad cholesterol in your body which is known as LDL. It can also increase the fats in your blood. Smoking is scientifically proven to contribute to heart disease as well as people becoming more likely to suffer from a heart attack.
How It Affects The Male and Female Reproduction
In women, the chances of cervical cancer are also increased if they are regular smokers. Fertility can also be affected by smoking, as it is likely that over the long-term, the reproductive organs could be affected. Infertility is also likely in men if they smoke plenty of cigarettes.
Women can also suffer problems with the pregnancy if they continue to smoke whilst they are pregnant. These can be miscarriage, asthma and ear infections. For the baby, it can lead to many things such as oxygen deprivation, growth problems, and sudden infant death syndrome. It is best if a pregnant woman cuts out smoking during pregnancy and alcohol completely.
To Conclude
Smoking can cause many problems for all areas of health, from cardiovascular to reproductive. It can have an impact on health whether you are a short term or long term smoker, with the impact of long term smoking being more severe and life threatening. If you just smoke one or two cigarettes now and again then it will not do much harm to your body, however it is a bad habit to have so should be stopped with the support of professionals if necessary!