Smoking is one of the major health hazards facing young people today. Tobacco in cigarettes contains the drug nicotine which is very easy to get addicted to and very difficult to quit. It is very harmful for one’s health, causes many health problems that may eventually lead to a most painful death. According to the World Health organization, tobacco kills half its users. India has 12% of the world’s smokers and 10 million people die each year due to tobacco usage. The death rate is increasing every year and the major cause of death is cancer. Smoking damages your lungs, skin, immune system, heart, and adversely affects your entire body, sometimes leading to complete paralysis.
Health effects caused by smoking are:
1. Lungs: COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and lung cancer
2. Brain : mood stimulation, anxiety, irritation
3. Heart diseases, increased risk of heart failure
4. Weaker immune system
5. Affects oral health, causes foul odor, leading to mouth cancer
6. Skin and nails: Faster ageing, yellow-stained nails
7. Vision problems: loss of vision, cataracts, Dry Eye syndrome
8. Blood cancer
9. Loss of appetite
10. Infertility and reproductive issues with men and women
1. Lungs: respiratory diseases and lung cancer
The body part which is most affected due to smoking are the lungs. Regular smokers or chain smokers have more chances of getting lung cancer and it is the main cause of death caused by smoking. When you intake cigarette smoke or consume tobacco, the TAR and NICOTINE damages your lungs. This leads to various types of health issues. A person may suffer from chronic bronchitis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, etc. There may be respiratory problems or breathing difficulties. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to be prey to asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing, etc.
2. Brain: mood stimulation, anxiety, irritation
A lesser known fact about smoking is that it affects your brain in the long run. The nicotine present in it makes one addicted and crave cigarettes frequently. When your brain does not get the doses of nicotine it has been accustomed to, you experience nicotine withdrawal. If you do not smoke for a few hours, you become irritated. Smoking gives you temporary joy, puts you in a good mood but in the long run, it does more harm than good. It becomes the main cause of anxiety, mood swings and irritability as your brain constantly craves nicotine. The risk of a stroke is doubled, besides other health risks like dementia- the condition that affects your thinking ability, memory, decision making power, and much more.
3. Heart diseases
Smoking can adversely affect your cardiovascular system. There is a greater risk of Peripheral Artery Disease. This occurs when blood vessels start to get narrow. Nicotine tightens the blood vessels which leads to a restricted inflow of blood in your body. Smoking increases blood pressure, weakens the blood vessel walls, blood starts to clot. People with a history of heart-related issues like heart bypass surgery, heart attack, etc. are all the more at risk from smoking.
4. Weaker Immune system
Smoking weakens the immune system by lowering your body’s capability to fight against any disease. If there is none or very slow growth and repair of cells, or fewer white blood cells in the body, then one is very susceptible to diseases and infections. This is due to a weak immune system. The food you eat and the vitamins you consume, provide little benefits if you are a chain smoker. It lowers the good cholesterol in the body and increases the level of bad cholesterol.
Type 2 diabetes tends to develop faster in those who smoke. It increases the amount of insulin resistance in the body. If a patient of diabetes smokes, they are at higher risk of kidney-related problems as well.
5. Worsening oral health and Mouth Cancer
Smoking increases the risk of mouth, throat, and larynx cancer.
People who only smoke but do not inhale have higher chances of getting mouth cancer.
There is a high rate of pancreatic cancers caused due to smoking. It also damages the airways which causes coughing. The smell sticks to your hair and your clothes. The foul odor that emanates from a person affects how people perceive you personality.
6. Skin and nails
Another side-effect of smoking is unhealthy skin. Skin starts to wrinkle prematurely. It makes your skin dry and causes premature ageing. Skin cancer is among one of the side effects caused by smoking. It leads to fungal nail infections. Your nails become yellow. Smoking slows the body circulation which also causes your body to derive less nutrition.
7. Vision problems
Smoking makes your vision poor. It can cause eye-related problems such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. You can also lose your vision completely due to smoking. Heavy smokers who consume 15 cigarettes per day are at great risk. They have more chances of getting cataracts. Smoking increases blood pressure and causes diabetes which in turn leads to glaucoma. Dry Eye syndrome is also one of the causes of smoking.
8. Blood cancer
There is a higher risk of blood cancer in the body of a smoker than those who do not smoke. Due to a weak immune system, the body lacks the cells that help to kill its cause. Leukemia is one of the most common blood cancers and it occurs when there is a large number of abnormal white blood cells which prevent the growth of platelets and red blood cells. It is lethal to one’s health.
9. Loss of appetite
Smoking can decrease a person’s appetite below usual. It decreases their perception of taste. Thus, you may not eat the food you don’t like. This causes weakness and smoking instead of providing your body with the required nutrition will soon have a serious effect.
10. Infertility and reproductive issues with men and women
People who smoke may face both long and short term fertility issues. Women who smoke have more chances of an early menopause than those who don’t smoke. There is an increased risk of cervical cancer. Nicotine affects the genital areas of both men and women. It may lower the sex hormone level. Men may experience a decrease in their sexual performance and women a lack of sexual satisfaction. Those women who smoke during pregnancy increase the possibility of miscarriage or diseases like asthma. It also puts the newborn baby in serious danger, like oxygen deprivation, physical deformities, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Once addicted, smoking is one of the hardest habits to quit. However, quitting smoking has many benefits that can make you consider it. It will be difficult, yes. But you will be rewarded with a long, fulfilling and healthy life. If you are addicted to cigarettes, go and consult your doctor today and take their advice to heart. There are exercises and yoga that will help relax your mind and provide you peace. All the hideous diseases that thrive from smoking will not be around you anymore. You may live a long, healthy and happier life.
