The Effects of Smoking on the Body

 What Are the Effects of Smoking?

It's a fact that smoking has a horrible effect on your health, and there are several things that you can do to combat these harmful effects. Some of the most important is to quit smoking, and you should definitely make this a goal if you want to enjoy a long and healthy life. However, there are several other adverse effects that you should also be aware of.

Cancer:

It is no secret that cigarette smoking is associated with several cancers, including lung, prostate, laryngeal, breast, and testicular cancers. However, the effects of smoking on cancer are not entirely understood. This article presents some more prominent clinical aspects of smoking after a cancer diagnosis.

First, it is worth noting that cancer risk has increased over time. For example, smoking is now a contributing factor to up to 30% of cancer deaths worldwide.

Smoking also reduces the effectiveness of treatment. For instance, in one study, patients who stopped smoking before cancer development had a 26% decrease in the risk of developing tobacco-related malignancies. Similarly, a review of a large sample of cancer survivors found that smoking cessation was associated with a lower mortality rate.

Breathing problems and chronic respiratory:

The best way to prevent breathing problems and the chronic respiratory effects of smoking is to stop smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema, asthma, lung cancer, and other health problems. As such, it is essential to understand the harm that tobacco smoke causes.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a collection of diseases affecting the lungs' airways. Symptoms include shortness of breath, a painful cough, and mucus production. If left untreated, COPD can cause severe complications and premature death. In the United States, it is the fourth leading cause of death.

COPD is usually associated with a change in the lining of the lungs, causing a loss of elasticity. This loss of elasticity, combined with cigarette smoke, leads to a painful cough and shortness of breath. Luckily, the symptoms of COPD are treatable. Treatments include pulmonary rehabilitation, medicines, and oxygen therapy.

Heart disease stroke and blood circulation:

Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading killers in the United States. Heart disease affects one in three adults. In 2013, cardiovascular diseases caused 17.3 million deaths worldwide. Smoking is a significant factor in these illnesses. The risk of developing them increases with age.

The risk of heart attacks increases with the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking also increases the risk of chronic bronchitis and airway infections. It is thought that smoking may also contribute to cardiovascular problems such as atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular heartbeat.

There is a strong link between smoking and stroke. Researchers have found that smokers have increased risks of ischaemic stroke and subarachnoid haemorrhage. Those who stop smoking are at reduced risk of these types of strokes.

Infections:

There is no denying that smoking has several harmful side effects. While there's no way to remove smoke from your lungs, you can at least do your part to help. Smoking is a proven contributor to several health conditions, from lung cancer to heart disease to a slew of respiratory ailments. Some studies suggest that smokers are four times more likely to develop warts on their genitals.

In fact, studies have shown that cigarette smoke can trigger asthmatic attacks. One study, in particular, found that smoking for at least five years increases the chances of someone acquiring an asthma condition by a whopping 40 per cent. This is a scary situation for the person with the disease and their family.

Vision loss:

Smoking is not only a significant cause of cancer, but it also has a severe impact on the eyes. It has been shown that smokers are at a significantly increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.

Eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and AMD can lead to permanent vision loss. Regular eye examinations can prevent visual impairment. However, they are not a cure. Some of the symptoms of these eye disorders are blurred vision, light sensitivity, decreased field of vision and a loss of central vision.

In addition, smoking increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when blood sugar levels are too high. The risk of developing these conditions can be reduced by quitting tobacco.

Vision loss is a significant health burden on families, communities and individuals. One effective way to reduce this burden is to increase awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco.

Author Bio:

Carmen Troy is a research-based content writer for Research Prospect, The UK's most trusted dissertation writing service. They provide Custom Dissertation writing service, Dissertation proposal writing Help and many more services to students of all levels, and their experts are all UK-qualified.  Mr Carmen holds a PhD degree in mass communication. He loves to express his views on various issues, including education, technology, and more.