Breathing difficulties and coughing are typical problems for smokers. The problems can worsen as time goes on. The harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke can cause a variety of heart and lung disorders that can eventually prove fatal. Smoking can also affect other areas throughout the body. Smoking can become very addictive because of the nicotine found in tobacco, however the health risks involved often make smokers want to quit.
Heart Disease
Smoking can accelerate the narrowing of the arteries, according to Netdoctor. This increases the risk of clotting and cutting off the supply of blood to the heart, which can lead to a heart attack. Smoking causes coronary heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cancer
Lung cancer is largely due to smoking, Netdoctor reports. The longer you smoke and the more you smoke increases the risk of lung cancer. Smoking causes 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80 percent of all lung cancer deaths in women, according to the CDC. Smoking can also lead to cancers of the throat and mouth. It also causes cancers of the esophagus, bladder, pancreas, stomach, uterus and kidneys.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking remains the most common cause of COPD, according to Netdoctor. The CDC reports that smoking causes 90 percent of deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease. The late stage of COPD causes patients to feel as if they are gasping for breath or drowning, the American Cancer Society (ACS) explains. Lung problems begin early for smokers and the damage worsens as long as the person smokes.
Erectile Dysfunction
Smoking contributes to the damage of blood vessels throughout the body, including vessels to the penis. When blood flow to the penis becomes reduced it can cause erectile dysfunction, Netdoctor notes.
Reproductive Effects
Smoking can lead to birth defects and early childhood disorders, the CDC says. These health effects include stillbirth, infertility, preterm delivery, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Pregnant women who smoke decrease the vital nutrients and oxygen a baby needs for growth, the ACS says. If a mother smokes while breast-feeding the nicotine can cause a baby to have such symptoms as rapid heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea and restlessness.
Bone Loss
The CDC points out that postmenopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than women who have never smoked. This can increase the risk of the bone degenerating disease osteoporosis. Women who smoke have increased risks of suffering hip fractures.
About this Author
Jerry Shaw has spent more than 35 years in newspapers, magazines and book publishing. He has written on a variety of topics for various websites, magazines and newspapers, including “Florida Today,” “Daytona Beach News-Journal” and “Today in PT,” an online magazine for physical therapists. He lives in Florida.
