Health Effects of Smoking

Smoking negatively affects almost every organ in the body. Its damage is both immediate and long-term, leading to chronic diseases, cancer, and reduced life expectancy.

1. Effects on the Respiratory System

Smoking damages the lungs early and progressively.

Chronic coughing and phlegm
Reduced lung function and breathlessness
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): chronic bronchitis & emphysema
Increased risk of pneumonia, bronchitis, and respiratory infections
High risk of lung cancer, the most common smoking-related cancer

2. Effects on the Cardiovascular System

Smoking forces the heart to work harder.

Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
Greater risk of heart attack and stroke
Reduced circulation and risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Higher likelihood of blood clots

3. Cancer Risks

Smoking is a leading cause of many cancers:

4. Effects on the Immune System

Smoking weakens the body's natural defenses.

increased risk of infections
slower wound healing
worsened autoimmune conditions
greater susceptibility to flu and respiratory illnesses

5. Effects on Reproductive Health

In Men

Reduced sperm count and quality
Erectile dysfunction due to damaged blood vessels

In Women

Reduced fertility
Irregular menstrual cycles
Higher risk of miscarriage and pregnancy complications

6. Effects on Skin, Hair, and Appearance

Smoking accelerates aging.

Wrinkles and fine lines
Dry, dull skin due to reduced blood flow
Premature gray hair and increased hair loss
Poor wound healing and increased scarring

7. Effects on the Mouth and Teeth

8. Effects on Mental Health

While nicotine may provide temporary relaxation, it worsens long-term mental well-being.

Addiction and withdrawal cycles
Increased stress and irritability
Higher risk of anxiety and depression
Stronger cravings that affect mood and focus

9. Secondhand Smoke Effects

Even non-smokers near cigarette smoke face health risks:

Asthma attacks
Lung cancer
Heart disease
Increased risks for pregnant women and infants

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Quitting has immediate and lifelong benefits:

Heart rate improves within minutes
Lung function improves in weeks
Stroke and heart attack risks drop in months
Cancer risks decrease over years
Longer life expectancy and improved quality of life

OTHER SOURCES

Smokers have a harder time healing from surgeries, and have more overall health issues than do nonsmokers. This results in more time away from work, and more doctor and hospital visits. Smoking compromises a person's health in so many ways.

* Smokers are more likely to be absent from work than nonsmokers, and their illnesses last longer.

* Smokers tend to incur more medical costs, to see physicians more often in the outpatient setting, and to be admitted to the hospital more often and for longer periods than nonsmokers.

* Smokers have a lower survival rate after surgery compared to that of nonsmokers because of damage to the body's host defenses, delayed wound healing, and reduced immune response. Smokers are at greater risk for complications following surgery, including wound infections, postoperative pneumonia, and other respiratory complications.

* Periodontitis is a serious gum disease that can result in the loss of teeth and bone loss. Smoking is causally related to periodontitis. This may be because smoking affects the body's
ability to fight infection and repair tissue.

* Peptic ulcers, which are located in the digestive tract (stomach and duodenum), usually occur in people with an infection caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. Among persons with this infection, smokers are more likely to develop peptic ulcers than nonsmokers. In severe cases, peptic ulcers can lead to death.

* Although only a small number of studies have looked at the relationship between smoking and erectile dysfunction, their findings suggest that smoking may be associated with an increased risk for this condition. More studies are needed, however, before researchers can conclude that the effect of smoking is causally related to erectile dysfunction.

lung-cancer.

VIDEO: