Long Term Effect of Smoking

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When people began smoking, they probably never thought or knew about the long term effects of smoking on the body. Today, the information is more widely available in literature and on the Internet. Before lighting and smoking a cigarette, you should know some of the possible long-term effects that smoking can have on your entire body.

Lung Disease

Aside from lung cancer, smoking can cause emphysema, pneumonia and bronchitis. The Surgeon General reported that of the 118,000 deaths due to these lung diseases, ninety percent were people that had smoked. Lung cancer can mimic a bad cough from a cold that just will not go away.

Cancers

Thirty percent of cancer related deaths are related to smoking. Types of cancer caused by smoking are pancreas, stomach, cervix and kidney cancers as well as bladder, esophagus, larynx and mouth cancers. Lung cancer from smoking is reported in ninety percent of men that die and eighty percent of women that die from this form of cancer.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is responsible for more deaths related to smoking than cancer. About thirty-five percent of the deaths related to smoking are because of disease of the heart and arteries. Heart attacks and angina are risks that people take when they smoke.

Infections

Smoking lowers the immune systems ability to fight off infection and people that smoke are more prone to infections that linger even when antibiotics are being used.

Unborn and Children

An unborn fetus can have a lower birth weigh as the nicotine can stunt the growth of the fetus and slow down development. Smoking can cause stillborn and premature births. Chemicals in cigarettes can be passed on to a child if the mother breastfeeds.

Other Health Conditions

There are many long-term effects of smoking as mentioned. There is low sperm count, erectile disorder, premature aging, stroke and weakened bones and osteoporosis. Ulcers and circulatory problems are common with people that smoke cigarettes for years.