No matter how you consume it, tobacco is dangerous to your health. There are no safe substances in any tobacco products, from acetone and tar to nicotine and carbon monoxide. The substances you inhale don’t just affect your lungs. They can affect your entire body.
While smoking can increase your risk of a variety of problems over several years, some of the bodily effects are immediate.
Let’s look at a few effects of smoking on the body below:
- Cancer Smoking causes most lung cancers and can cause cancer almost anywhere on the body. This includes the lips, tongue, mouth, nose, esophagus, throat, voice box, stomach, liver, kidney, pancreas, bladder, blood, cervix, vulva, penis, and anus.
- Breathing problems Smoking is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious, progressive, and disabling condition that limits airflow in the lungs.
- Heart disease, stroke, and blood circulation problems Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke.
- Diabetes Smoking causes type 2 diabetes, with the risk of developing diabetes 30 to 40% higher for active smokers than non-smokers.
- Hearing loss Smoking reduces blood flow to the inner ear. Smokers may also lose their hearing earlier than non-smoker.
- Fertility problems Smoking can make it more difficult to fall pregnant and affect sperm quality. Find out more about smoking and tobacco and pregnancy.
Stop smoking today!
