Health Issues of Smoking
Almost 90% of all lung cancer and COPD deaths are directly caused by smoking. Despite anti-smoking campaigns, people continue to smoke. In addition to cancer, smoking damages airways and increases the risk of lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and COPD, which are both potentially fatal. As a result, many people who smoke are at high risk of developing these diseases. The list goes on. Read on to discover some of the health issues of smoking.
The short-term consequences of smoking are far more pronounced. The short-term physiologic consequences of smoking have been linked to biomarkers of physiologic disadvantage. Smokers are more prone to respiratory problems and acute illnesses, which are two of the most common reasons for missed school and work. Over time, smokers are more likely to develop smoking-related diseases, which are the leading causes of death in upper and middle-income countries.
Children whose parents smoke are at a higher risk for respiratory problems and infant death. The poor circulation in the hands and feet can cause gangrene. Even children who have never been exposed to smoking may develop this condition if their parents do. Chronic shortness of breath, chronic cough and a decreased ability to heal from cuts are all side effects of smoking. Lastly, smoking affects reproductive health, as women who smoke are more likely to develop respiratory problems later in life.
Smoking causes the body to produce more phlegm than people who do not smoke. These phlegm-producing muscles are affected, resulting in a decreased erection for men. Women who smoke are at a greater risk for peripheral artery disease, a condition in which the arteries in the arms and legs are narrowed. Women can also suffer from decreased fertility as the chemicals in cigarette smoke affect hormone levels.
Smoking affects nearly every organ in the body. Besides damaging all organs, smoking causes an array of diseases, including many types of cancer. In the US alone, smokers die ten years earlier than non-smokers. In addition, smoking is responsible for more cancers and heart attacks than all other causes combined. In addition, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in men and 80% of all deaths caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
There are also other health risks of smoking. In fact, smoking causes one-fifth of all cancer deaths globally, and women are particularly predisposed to many types of cancer. Despite this, there is a strong correlation between smoking and lung cancer, with the likelihood of dying from lung cancer increasing as the person smokes more frequently. While smoking may slow the progression of lung cancer, the risks of developing lung disease in women after quitting increases by 800%, and those of ex-smokers are still significantly higher than those of non-smokers.
Another danger of smoking is that pregnant women are more likely to contract lung diseases. Second-hand tobacco smoke is responsible for over 65 000 deaths per year worldwide and is one of the main causes of premature birth, miscarriage, and stillbirth. In addition, smoke-free laws are good for the health of non-smokers, without harming businesses. It is also a good way to encourage people to quit smoking if they are addicted to tobacco.
