Smoking is injurious to health, but not all of us fully understand the harmful effects to face when smoking. Here is a summary of the top 10 harms caused by smoking to people
1. Cancer
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) smokers are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer. But if you think that smoking only leads to lung cancer, you are quite mistaken. Smoking leads to a multitude of cancers such as: nose, mouth, larynx, trachea, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix, bone marrow and blood… You wonder how but it can happen, the smoke only gets into the lungs, right? Well, when you smoke, in addition to causing local harm to parts of the respiratory organs such as the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, 41,000 chemicals are present in tobacco (there is a large percentage known to cause cancer) enters the body through the alveolar walls of the lungs, penetrating the body. These chemicals have the ability to create mutations in your body’s cells that cause them to multiply in an uncontrolled way, leading to cancer.
2. Formation of wrinkles and aging
We use a number of methods to combat the signs of aging, from creams to diet to surgery for wrinkles. So, if you quit smoking, can you slow down the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging? Of course you can. Smoking causes the appearance of wrinkles (especially around the eyes and lips), age spots, puffy eyes, dull, dry and lifeless skin. This is because the chemicals in cigarettes cause the capillaries under your skin to constrict, restricting the flow of blood to your skin. The lack of blood and oxygen makes your skin look dull and lifeless. In the long run, this leads to permanent damage to connective fibers, such as elastin and collagen, the structures that tighten and smooth the skin – resulting in permanent wrinkles and premature aging.
3. leads to heart failure, putting you at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke multiple times
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), smokers are two to four times more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease and stroke than non-smokers. The chemicals in cigarettes affect the entire circulatory system and the composition of blood-forming organs; thickening the walls of blood vessels and making it easier for blood clots to form. In addition, it causes blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure and leading to plaque formation – increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
4. Damage, causing lung damage and leading to respiratory failure
Smoking causes large amounts of chemicals to build up in your lungs, airways and throughout your body. All this residue clogs up your lungs in the long run, leading to breathing problems and impaired lung function. Decreased lung function leads to a lack of oxygen and fresh blood to different organs and parts of the body, making the body always tired and short of breath. Studies have shown that smoking causes COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, lung infections, asthma, and increases the risk of tuberculosis.
5. Causes premature ejaculation and decreased sex drive
A condition usually associated with older men is a decrease in libido, while premature ejaculation is quite common among young men who smoke. In the case of premature ejaculation, because the chemicals in cigarettes reduce blood flow, reduce sensation in the penis, cause cardiovascular disease and lack of stamina. All these factors together lead to a decrease in male potency and cause premature ejaculation. In addition, research at the University of Arizona has shown that smoking directly affects libido, stamina and sexual attraction. That’s not all; another study conducted at the University of Kentucky also found that smokers had a lower sex drive than nonsmokers.
6. Leading causes of erectile dysfunction
If you find it difficult to maintain a late erection, your smoking may be the culprit. According to an article published by the NHS on the link between smoking and erectile dysfunction, smoking causes blood vessels to constrict, which directly contributes to the inability to maintain an erection (because smoking reduces the risk of erectile dysfunction. blood flow to the penis). The chemicals in cigarettes also change the way the blood vessels around your penis expand; these chemicals create blockages in the arteries, reducing the flow of blood to the penis during stimulation… In addition, nicotine is known to directly affect the blood vessels that supply your penis, making it difficult to get and maintain.
7. Causes brittle bones
Numerous studies have found that smoking causes a decrease in bone density because it increases the mobilization of calcium from the bones to the bloodstream. This decrease in bone density leads to the early onset of osteoporosis (especially in women because smoking affects estrogen production), joint pain, and even tooth loss due to excessive bone loss in the jawbone. Osteoporosis also puts you at risk for more frequent fractures and slower healing.
8. Causes yellow stains on your teeth
Tobacco contains tar, a chemical that gives teeth a yellowish color. This type of tar is difficult to clean with regular brushing and often forms permanent stains on smokers’ teeth. In addition, when smoking, the smoke destroys beneficial bacteria in the mouth and increases saliva production, which is the main cause of tartar formation.
9. Causes bad breath
We are familiar with the concept of “bad breath” in smokers, and in some cases, smoking can cause very strong and persistent bad breath that is difficult to eliminate… In addition to killing the beneficial bacteria in the mouth, smoking causes digestive problems, sore throats and a buildup of chemicals in the mouth (lesions in the throat and stomach are one of the main causes of bad breath. Bad breath, in addition to poor oral hygiene). Smoking creates favorable conditions for fungal growth in the mouth, leading to signs of “smoker’s epiglottis”
