In the United States, smoking causes one out of every five deaths each year. That’s more than those caused by
HIV
, substance abuse, auto accidents, suicides, and murders combined. Smokers may work a lifetime only to see their retirement literally go up in smoke—taking 13 to 15 years off their lifespan.
Now it appears that even light smokers don’t escape unscathed: Norwegian researchers have found that smoking one to four cigarettes a day nearly triples the risk of dying from
lung cancer
or heart disease. Furthermore, smoking greatly increases the risk of dying from
all
causes. How does smoking have such a lethal impact? Take a look at the ways cigarettes attack the body and you’ll have a better idea. Smoking not only cuts lives short, but greatly decreases quality of life as well.
Most cigarettes contain around 4,000 chemicals, including “human-friendly” ones like cyanide and formaldehyde. Sixty of these chemicals are known to cause cancer. It’s little surprise, then, that smoking accounts for almost one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States. The list of smoking-related cancers keeps growing, and includes:
Blood carries cigarette poisons throughout the circulatory system. Among other effects, these poisons damage and narrow blood vessels, increasing the heart rate while decreasing the flow of oxygen to the rest of the body. These are a few of the cardiovascular conditions smoking contributes to:
Chemicals in cigarettes irritate air passages and lungs. They slow—and eventually stop—the cleansing action in the lungs, so poisons can remain there. Lungs become vulnerable to problems like these:
By reducing blood supply, smoking weakens both muscles and bones. It also slows the production of bone-forming cells and keeps your body from absorbing calcium. Here are some of the effects:
- Increased risk for bone fractures, which also take longer to heal.
- Higher complication rate after surgeries.
-
Increased risk of overuse injuries, such as
bursitis
; greater chance of
sprains
.
- Negative impact on sports performance—slower pace and shortness of breath.
-
Association with
low back pain
and
rheumatoid arthritis
—a progressive disease causing swelling in joints.
Smoking hurts the digestive system, which means the body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs. Smoking does this by:
-
Injuring the esophagus, allowing stomach acids to flow back (called
heartburn
) into the esophagus, and by making stomach acids more harmful.
-
Increasing acidity, increasing the risk for an infection that leads to open sores in the stomach or small intestine (called
peptic ulcers
).
-
Leading to inflammation in the lining of the intestine (called
Crohn’s disease
).
- Changing the way the liver handles drugs and alcohol.
Smokers notice the change in their brains almost the minute they light up. Smoking quickly changes brain chemistry, affecting mood and often leading to addiction. Brain chemistry changes, as well as decreased blood flow, increase the risk for:
Need to hear more? A five-year study found that smokers had twice the risk of developing the most common type of
diabetes
. These are a few of smoking’s
other
effects:
- Reduced sense of smell and taste
- Premature skin aging from reduced blood flow and vitamins
- Increased risk for gum disease
-
Increased risk for cloudy lens in the eye (called
cataract
)—a leading cause of blindness
-
Increased risk for
impotence
,
infertility
, and problems during pregnancy and delivery
-
In babies of smoking mothers—increased risk for low birth weight, reduced lung function, and
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Menopause
at an earlier age; increased number of menopausal symptoms
The benefits of quitting begin almost immediately. Heart rate drops within minutes. Circulation and breathing improve within months. And, among other improvements, your risk of
stroke
is the same as a nonsmoker after five years. Although it’s best to quit when you’re younger, you can benefit at
any
age.
