How Smoking Affects Your Body: 7 Health Risks Every Smoker Should Know
Quitting smoking can be difficult, especially because nicotine is highly addictive. However, understanding how smoking affects your body may help you take the risks more seriously.
Smoking does not only damage the lungs. Tobacco use can affect almost every organ in the body and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, cancer, reduced fertility, and many other health problems.
The good news is that quitting smoking can improve your health at any age. Here are seven important health effects that every smoker should know.
1. How Smoking Affects the Brain and Nervous System
Tobacco contains nicotine, an addictive substance that reaches the brain quickly after cigarette smoke is inhaled. Nicotine changes the brain's reward system, which can make people dependent on smoking and cause strong cravings.
When nicotine levels fall, smokers may experience withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Irritability and nervousness
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Strong cravings for cigarettes
- Sleep problems
- Increased appetite
These symptoms can make quitting difficult, even when a person understands the health risks of smoking.
2. How Smoking Damages the Lungs and Respiratory System
The lungs are among the organs most directly exposed to cigarette smoke. Over time, the chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage lung tissue and the airways, making breathing more difficult.
Smoking is a major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD can cause persistent coughing, excess mucus, shortness of breath, and reduced lung function.
Smoking also greatly increases the risk of lung cancer, which is one of the most serious consequences of long-term tobacco use.
The damage is not limited to smokers. Exposure to secondhand smoke can also harm the respiratory system, particularly in children. Children exposed to tobacco smoke have a higher risk of respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma-related problems.
3. Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
Smoking can seriously damage the heart and blood vessels. It contributes to inflammation, damage to blood vessels, atherosclerosis, and changes that make blood more likely to clot.
As a result, smoking increases the risk of:
- Coronary heart disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Peripheral artery disease
- Other cardiovascular problems
Secondhand smoke can also increase the risk of heart disease and stroke in people who do not smoke.
4. The Effects of Smoking on the Skin and Mouth
Smoking can affect more than your internal organs. It can also harm the health and appearance of your skin and mouth.
Smoking can contribute to:
- Premature skin aging
- Slower wound healing
- Gum disease
- Tooth loss
- Cancers of the mouth and throat
Tobacco use is also strongly associated with periodontal disease, which can damage the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.
5. Smoking, Cancer, and the Digestive System
Smoking is an important risk factor for many types of cancer. The risk is not limited to lung cancer.
Tobacco use can increase the risk of cancers affecting several parts of the body, including:
- Mouth and throat
- Larynx
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Colon and rectum
- Kidneys
- Lungs
Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, and at least 69 of them are known to cause cancer. Smoking can cause cancer in many parts of the body.
Smoking is also linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, people who smoke have a 30% to 40% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who do not smoke. Nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco can interfere with the body's ability to regulate blood sugar.
6. Smoking and Reproductive Health
Smoking can affect reproductive health in both men and women.
In men:
Smoking is associated with fertility problems and can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction. It may also negatively affect sperm health.
In women:
Smoking can make it more difficult to become pregnant and can increase the risk of pregnancy complications.
Smoking during pregnancy can seriously affect both the mother and baby. Quitting before pregnancy is ideal, but quitting at any point during pregnancy can still provide important health benefits.
7. Secondhand Smoke: The Harm Does Not Stop With the Smoker
Smoking can affect people who do not smoke as well.
Secondhand smoke is the smoke that other people breathe when they are around someone who is smoking. According to the World Health Organization, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.
Secondhand smoke can cause serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including heart disease and lung cancer. Children exposed to tobacco smoke are particularly vulnerable to respiratory problems and other health complications.
Quitting Smoking Can Improve Your Health
Quitting smoking may be challenging, but it is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your health.
The benefits begin after you stop smoking and continue over time. Quitting reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, COPD, and several types of cancer. It can also improve reproductive health and help protect the health of people around you.
No matter how long you have smoked or how many cigarettes you smoke, quitting can benefit your health. If you are struggling to quit, healthcare professionals can help you find an appropriate plan and support you through the process.