Smoking, known to affect almost all parts of our body, can cause a myriad of ailments, ranging from breathing difficulties and heart attack to cancer. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke by two to four times and that of lung cancer by around 25 times.
Not just the one smoking, but those beside the smoker breathing in the smoke (passive smoking) are also prone to health issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other breathing disorders.
Why is smoking dangerous?
According to the National Cancer Institute, tobacco smoke consists of more than 7000 chemicals, out of which at least 250 chemicals (like hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide ammonia, etc.) are known to be harmful. It also contains cancer-causing chemicals like benzene, cadmium, arsenic, etc.
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How smoking affects your health
Smoking harms nearly every organ and organ system in an individual’s body. The longer one smokes, the higher is the risk of facing health issues. Smoking affects several bodily processes, which include:
1. Respiratory system:
The respiratory system is the first to get affected, as it is directly exposed to the toxic substances present in cigarette smoke. The harmful components can cause chronic inflammation, irritation in the airway and decline in lung function.
“Smoking is the primary cause of COPD, a progressive lung condition encompassing chronic bronchitis (inflammation and irritation of the bronchi) and emphysema (shortness of breath). It leads to irreversible airflow limitation, chronic cough, excessive mucus production, wheezing and shortness of breath,” says Dr Pavan Yadav, lead consultant, interventional pulmonology and lung transplantation, Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru.
He adds that it is also the leading cause of lung cancer. It exacerbates asthma symptoms and decreases the efficacy of asthma medications.
2. Cardiovascular system:
Smoking has significant detrimental effects on heart health and is affecting individuals globally.
It damages the lining of the blood vessels, leading to the formation of plaques and narrowing of the arteries (coronary artery disease). This increases the risk for strokes and promotes blood clots that can block blood supply to the brain. It can also cause peripheral artery disease (PAD), characterised by reduced blood flow to the limbs, resulting in pain, impaired wound healing and increased risk of amputation, says Dr Yadav.
3. Reproductive health:
Smoking can affect fertility in both men and women. It creates difficulty for women to get pregnant and increases the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, stillbirth and complications during pregnancy. It is also associated with decreased sperm quality in men, says Dr Yadav. People should not smoke in front of pregnant women as passive smoking can also affect the development of the baby.
4. Dental and oral health:
Smoking causes bad breath, stained teeth and contributes to gum diseases, tooth loss and oral cancer, says Dr Yadav.
5. Cancer:
Smoke released from burning tobacco contains harmful chemicals with carcinogenic properties. “Carcinogens directly target the delicate tissues of the respiratory system and disrupt normal cell function. This leads to uncontrolled cell growth and division, which is the basis for cancer development. Over time, accumulated genetic mutations caused by circulating carcinogens can lead to malignant tumors in the lungs and other organs,” says Dr Vishal Rao, group director, head and neck surgical oncology and robotic surgery, HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru.
He adds, “Smoking is also associated with an increased risk of various other cancers, such as those affecting the mouth [oral cancer], throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas and cervix.”
6. Diabetes:
Chemicals present in tobacco smoke have been found to disrupt blood glucose regulation. “Smoking exacerbates insulin resistance [impaired ability of the cells to effectively utilise insulin] and promotes the development of type 2 diabetes. This results in elevated blood glucose levels,” says Dr Rao.
He adds that smoking increases oxidative stress and inflammation within the body. This increases stress on the pancreas, disrupting glucose regulation and causing weight gain.
7. Immune system:
Smoking also weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to respiratory infections and exacerbating existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD.
The immune-compromising effects of smoking can further deteriorate health and hinder the body’s ability to fight off infections, says Dr Rao.
