Smoking has the potential to cause enduring adverse impacts on the body, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Regardless of whether it’s smoked or chewed, tobacco poses significant health risks. Tobacco products contain hazardous substances ranging from acetone and tar to nicotine and carbon monoxide. The inhaled substances can detrimentally affect the lungs and other organs.
Smoking can result in persistent complications and enduring effects on bodily systems. Although smoking can escalate the risk of certain health conditions over time, such as glaucoma, cancer, and blood clotting issues, some bodily effects manifest immediately.
However, ceasing smoking can mitigate many of these effects on the body.
Tobacco smoke poses severe risks to your well-being, and there’s no safe method of smoking. Switching from cigarettes to cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, or hookahs doesn’t shield you from health hazards.
The American Lung Association reports that cigarettes contain approximately 600 ingredients, many of which are also found in cigars and hookahs. When ignited, they produce over 7,000 chemicals, a considerable portion of which are toxic. At least 69 of these substances are carcinogenic, meaning they can cause cancer.
In the United States, smokers have a mortality rate three times higher than that of non-smokers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight smoking as the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
Although not all smoking-related effects are immediate, the complications and harm can endure for years. The encouraging news is that quitting smoking can mitigate numerous risk factors associated with the conditions and diseases mentioned above.
Overall health and cancer risk
Smoking poses a threat to the organs in your body and can have detrimental effects on your overall health.
Smoking can trigger inflammation throughout your body and compromise your immune system, potentially increasing your vulnerability to infections.
Although the precise mechanism remains unclear, smoking is recognized as an environmental risk factor for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Extensive research has established a strong correlation between smoking and various forms of cancer. Smoking elevates the risk of developing cancer in nearly any part of your body, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney and uterine cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Liver cancer
- Oropharyngeal cancer (encompassing parts of the throat, tongue, tonsils, and soft palate)
- Pancreatic cancer
- Stomach or gastric cancer
- Tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancer
Quitting smoking can lead to a decrease in the risk of most of these cancer types within 10 to 20 years, depending on the specific cancer. However, your risk may remain higher compared to individuals who have never smoked.
Central nervous system
One of the components found in tobacco is the mood-altering substance nicotine, which is notorious for its habit-forming and highly addictive properties. Nicotine plays a significant role in why individuals struggle to quit smoking.
Once ingested, nicotine swiftly reaches the brain, providing a temporary boost in energy. However, as its effects diminish, individuals may experience fatigue and strong cravings for more nicotine. Physical withdrawal from nicotine can impair cognitive function and evoke negative emotions, including anxiety, irritability, and depression. Additionally, withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and sleep disturbances may occur.
Moreover, prolonged smoking can have adverse effects on vision and the optic nerve. It can predispose individuals to various eye conditions, including:
- Glaucoma: characterized by increased eye pressure, which can damage the optic nerve and result in vision loss.
- Cataracts: leading to cloudy vision.
- Age-related macular degeneration: causing damage to the central area of the retina and subsequent loss of central vision.
Respiratory system
Smoking causes harm to the airways, air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs, and cilia, which are minuscule hair-like structures responsible for preventing dirt and mucus from entering the lungs.
Lung damage
Smoking induces irreversible lung damage and tissue loss.
Compromised respiratory function can heighten susceptibility to specific lung infections such as tuberculosis and pneumonia, thereby elevating the risk of mortality from these illnesses.
Moreover, smoking can lead to the development of a persistent cough and exacerbate asthma attacks in individuals with asthma.
Cancer risk
Smoking-induced lung damage can precipitate lung disease or lung cancer. Smoking stands as the primary cause of lung cancer, with smokers being 20 times more likely than nonsmokers to receive a diagnosis of lung cancer.
Read Also: Enhancing Aromatherapy Practices with Elegant Inhalation Devices
Sexuality and reproductive system
Nicotine impacts blood flow to the genital areas in both men and women.
Fertility problems
Smoking might also play a role in fertility problems and reduced levels of sex hormones in both males and females, resulting in diminished sexual desire.
In people with vaginas
In individuals with vaginas, smoking can lead to sexual dissatisfaction due to reduced lubrication and difficulty achieving orgasm. Moreover, menopause may occur at an earlier stage in smokers compared to nonsmokers.
Smoking interferes with hormone production, making it more challenging for individuals with vaginas to conceive. Additionally, smoking increases the risk of:
- Early delivery
- Low birth weight
- Stillbirth
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Cleft palate and lip in infants
In people with penises
In individuals with penises, smoking can diminish sexual performance by impeding blood vessel function, thereby constraining the blood flow required for achieving an erection. This may culminate in erectile dysfunction (ED), which can further contribute to fertility issues.
Furthermore, smoking can harm the DNA in sperm, rendering conception difficult and heightening the risk of miscarriage and specific birth defects.
Cardiovascular system
According to the CDC, 1 in 4 deaths in the U.S. stems from cardiovascular disease caused by cigarette smoking.
Smoking can inflict damage on the cardiovascular system, affecting the:
- Heart
- Arteries
- Blood vessels
Nicotine induces blood vessels to constrict, thereby impeding blood flow. Smoking elevates blood pressure, weakens blood vessel walls, and augments the likelihood of blood clots.
These factors amplify the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which encompasses:
- Atherosclerosis
- Coronary heart disease, including heart attack and sudden cardiac death
- Stroke
- Peripheral artery disease
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Individuals who have undergone heart bypass surgery, experienced a heart attack, or had a stent placed in a blood vessel face an increased risk of exacerbating heart disease if they smoke.
Secondhand smoke
Smoking not only affects your cardiovascular health but also impacts the well-being of those around you who do not smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke poses similar risks to nonsmokers as active smoking does. These risks may include:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Heart disease
Conclusion
Smoking habits have profound and multifaceted effects on women’s health. From compromising fertility and sexual satisfaction to increasing the risk of various cancers and cardiovascular diseases, smoking exacts a heavy toll on women’s well-being. Additionally, smoking during pregnancy not only endangers the health of the mother but also poses serious risks to the developing fetus, leading to complications such as low birth weight and birth defects.
Furthermore, exposure to secondhand smoke further amplifies the health hazards for women and those around them. Given the comprehensive range of detrimental impacts, efforts to promote smoking cessation and prevent tobacco use are critical in safeguarding and improving women’s health outcomes. Through education, support, and policy interventions, we can strive towards a healthier future for women free from the burdens imposed by smoking-related diseases and complications.
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