11 harmful effects of smoking
![What are 11 bad things about smoking](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/birth-defects-woman-holding-stomach-smoking-pregnancy.jpg?output-quality=75)
Smokingharms a person's health, financial well-being, personal life, and the health of those around them. According to surveys and clinical investigations,smokingcigarettes poses several health concerns to humans.
Eleven negative side effects ofsmokinginclude:
- Cancer:
- Tobacco use is one of the primary causes of mortality due tolung cancerworldwide. Carcinogenic particles in smoke increasesmokers' chance of getting malignancies of the:
- Lungs
- Head and neck
- Bladder
- Pancreas
- Kidney
- Uterus
- Cervix
- Tobacco use is one of the primary causes of mortality due tolung cancerworldwide. Carcinogenic particles in smoke increasesmokers' chance of getting malignancies of the:
- Autoimmune disorders:
- Smoking weakens the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections and illnesses. As a result, smokers are more susceptible to respiratory illnesses.
- It causes various autoimmune disorders, includingrheumatoid arthritisand Crohn's disease. It increases flare-ups in autoimmune diseases.
- Type IIdiabetes:
- Agingand skin:
- Smoking can affect your appearance. Many smokers claim that the effect on their appearance was one of the factors that led them toquit smoking.
- Smoking alters the structure of your skin, increasing your risk ofwrinkles.
- Smokers in their 40s may have the same number ofwrinklesas nonsmokers in their sixties. These are most noticeable around your eyes and mouth. Your skin may become pale and gray as a result of smoking.
- Smoking andfertility:
- Both men and women can becomeinfertile由于吸烟。Breathinginsecondhand smokefrom smokers around you may affect your ability to conceive.
- Men who smoke are more likely to have sperm that is damaged and incapable of fertilizing an egg.
- Men who smoke are at a higher risk oferectile dysfunctionthan those who don’t.
- Women who smoke take longer than nonsmokers to becomepregnant. They may experiencemenopauseearlier than nonsmokers.
- Smoking can affect the success of fertility treatments such as in-vitrofertilization.
- Lung diseases:
- Smoking can causechronic obstructive pulmonary disease,emphysema, andchronic bronchitisin addition tolung cancer.
- 心attackandstroke:
- Smoking constricts blood arteries, limiting blood flow to theheart, brain, and other vital organs.
- It increases the risk ofblood clotsin the legs and lungs.
- 吸烟者更容易患心脏病rstrokeas a result of their smoking habits.
- Complications for pregnant women:
- Pregnant women who smoke or are exposed tosecondhand smokeare more likely to have difficulties duringchildbirth.
- This may lead to various congenital diseases in their children.
- Premature deaths:
- Because of the related health hazards, such as respiratorycancerandvascular disease, smoking causes early death.
- The lifespan of smokers is cut by at least 10 years compared with that of nonsmokers.
- Cigarette smokingis responsible for more than five million deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization.
- Health dangers of secondhand smoke:
- 即使你不是a smoker, secondhand smoke contains hazardous metals, carcinogens, and dangerous chemicals that can harm you.
- People who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at a high risk of the majority of the diseases and health issues linked with firsthand smoking.
- Air pollution due to smoking:
- Secondhand smoke contains carbon dioxide, methane, and other unpleasant compounds, which contribute to air pollution.
- Although methane and carbon dioxide are not fatal to smokers, they do contribute to overall air pollution.
- Every year, smoking emits roughly 2.6 billion kilograms of CO2 and 5.2 billion kilograms of methane into the environment. This paints a clear picture of how smoking contributes to climate change on its own.
- As previously stated, secondhand smoke creates indirect health dangers such ascancerto other people and animals.
How smoking effects mental health?
When someone smokes, nicotine enters their brain in about 10 seconds. Initially, nicotine enhances mood and focus, reducesaggressionand tension, relaxes muscles, and reduces appetite.
- Regular nicotine doses cause changes in the brain, which cause nicotine withdrawal symptoms when the supply of nicotine is depleted.
- Smoking alleviates these withdrawal symptoms for a short time and might strengthen the habit.
- Most smokers become nicotine dependent through this cycle.
Smoking and stress
- Some people smoke as a form of “self-medication” to relievestress.
- However, studies have reported that smoking increasesanxietyand tension.
- Because nicotine produces an immediate sense of relaxation, individuals smoke in the mistaken notion that it reduces tension andanxiety.
- This sensation is fleeting and is quickly followed by withdrawal symptoms and increasing desires.
- Smoking alleviates withdrawal symptoms but does nothing to alleviateanxietyor address the underlying causes of such feelings.
Smoking and depression
- Adults who aredepressedare two times as likely to end up smoking. Because most people start smoking before they show signs of sadness, it's unclear if smoking causesdepressionordepressioncauses them to start smoking.
- Nicotine causes the neurotransmitterdopamineto be released in the brain. Dopamine is involved in the elicitation of happy emotions.
- Dopamine is frequently discovered to be low in people withdepression. Such people may then turn to cigarettes to temporarily increase their dopamine supply.
- However, smoking causes the brain to turn off its own process for producing dopamine, resulting in a decline in supply over time, prompting smokers to smoke more.
- People withdepressionmay have a harder time quitting smoking and experience more severe withdrawal symptoms.
- If you decide to quit, keep in mind that there is plenty of help available you don't have to go through it alone.
Smoking and schizophrenia
- People withschizophreniaare three times more likely than the general population to smoke, and they tend to smoke more heavily.
- This is most likely because people withschizophreniause smoking to control or manage some of the symptoms of their condition and to lessen some of the negative effects of their medication.
- According to a recent study, smoking may increase the risk ofschizophrenia. However, more research is required to completely comprehend how the two are related.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/quiz/opioid-dependence/opioid-dependence-s1.jpg)
QUESTION
What are opioids used to treat?See AnswerWhat happens when you quit smoking?
You might notice the benefits of better health sooner than you think:
- After 20 minutes, your heart rate andblood pressurewill begin to return to normal.
- After two to three days, your sense of smell and taste will begin to improve.
- After 2 to 12 weeks, breathing will begin to improve, andexercisemay become easier.
- After one year, the risk of a heart attack is half compared with that of a smoker.
Quitting smoking has other benefits such as:
- Fresher breath andwhiter teeth
- Younger-looking skin
- More energy and lessfatigueandheadache
- The immune system will find it easier to fight off colds andflu
- Sex drive may increase, and it can improve your fertility
- You will protect the health of your children, family, and friends
It is never too late to reap the benefits of quitting smoking. If a man quits smoking before the age of 30 years, he will live an additional 10 years. Many people will gain three years of life if they stop smoking before the age of 60 years. Being a nonsmoker can increase your chances of remaining physically active and healthy as you age.
Health Effects: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/index.htm#:
Health Risks of Smoking Tobacco: https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/health-risks-of-tobacco/health-risks-of-smoking-tobacco.html
10 Health Effects Caused by Smoking You Didn't Know About: https://www.lung.org/research/sotc/by-the-numbers/10-health-effects-caused-by-smoking
吸烟的危害和健康的好处Quitting: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/cessation-fact-sheet
More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco: https://www.paho.org/en/more-100-reasons-quit-tobacco
Top What Are 11 Bad Things About Smoking Related Articles
Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. It can cause myriad health problems, including cirrhosis of the liver, birth defects, heart disease, stroke, psychological problems, and dementia. Counseling and a few medications can be effective for alcoholism treatment.Can the Lungs Heal After Quitting Smoking?
Your lungs start to heal immediately after you quit smoking, which is why quitting as soon as possible is best for your health.Does Weight Gain Stop After Quitting Smoking?
People may generally gain some extra weight after they quit smoking. Gaining weight is considered to be a common side effect of smoking cessation. Usually, an individual may gain up to 10 pounds during the first few months.Drug Abuse and Addiction
Drug abuse and addiction is a chronic disease that causes drug-seeking behavior and drug use despite negative consequences to the user and those around him. Though the initial decision to use drugs is voluntary, changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person's self-control and ability to make the right decisions and increase the urge to take drugs. Drug abuse and addiction are preventable.Hookahs vs. Cigarette Smoking (Addiction and Health Dangers)
A hookah is a water pipe that's used to smoke flavored tobacco like watermelon, licorice, coconut, chocolate, cherry, mint, apple, and cappuccino. The use of this type of tobacco smoking began in ancient India and Persia centuries ago. You can find hookah cafes all over the world, for example, the U.S., France, Russia, Britain, and the Middle East. New forms of electronic hookah are now available. Some people who smoke tobacco think that hookahs are less dangerous to their health because the smoke is filtered through water, but the smoke from hookahs contain the same cancer-causing chemicals that cigarette smoke does. Smoking tobacco via cigarettes or hookah are both dangerous to your health.How Long Does Smoking Withdrawal Last?
After quitting smoking, many people find that withdrawal symptoms last for about 2-4 weeks, although they may last longer for some people.How to Quit Smoking: 13 Tips to End Addiction
Quitting smoking is a great way to improve your health. Learn tips and techniques to quit smoking and kick the cigarette habit for good. Learn about smoking cessation products, benefits, medications and other tools.Smoking and Heart Disease
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease in women and men. Nicotine in cigarettes decrease oxygen to the heart, increases blood pressure, blood clots, and damages coronary arteries. Learn how to quit smoking today, to prolong your life.Smoking (How to Quit Smoking)
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.Smoking During Pregnancy
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, premature birth and more. Secondhand smoke also increases your baby's risk of developing lung cancer, heart diseases, emphysema, asthma, allergies and SIDS.Smoking: How E-cigarettes and Vaping Affect Your Body
You may think that vaping and e-cigarettes are safer than tobacco use, but that doesn't mean they're without risk. Find out how vaping and e-cigarettes affect your body.Smoking Quiz
You know it's time you quit smoking. Learn the myths and facts about quitting smoking with the Smoking Quiz. When it comes to smoking, quitters always win!Smoking: See What Happens to Your Body When You Quit
You know that smoking is bad for your health. But did you know that your health starts to improve within a half hour of quitting? And it typically improves more with every passing day, month, and year.How to Quit Smoking Without Weight Gain
When you quit smoking, weight gain is a concern. You can quit smoking without weight gain when you understand how your body works and what it needs during this time.What Can I Drink to Stop Smoking?
For most smokers and tobacco users, tobacco cravings are overpowering, making quitting difficult. Certain foods and drinks can help when trying to quit smoking, but this alone may not help you quit completely. Fresh juices and ginseng tea may help reduce tobacco cravings.