Incredible Side Effects of Smoking on the Body You Didn't Know

Incredible Side Effects of Smoking on the Body You Didn't Know

Smelling like smoke
There's no mistaking the smell of cigarette smoke, and it's not one many people describe favorably.

Steven Schroeder, MD, director of the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at the University of California at San Francisco, says that smokers are commonly self-conscious about the smell of smoke on their clothes and in their hair. And the smell of their breath is one of particular sensitivity to most smokers.

"Some of the media campaigns have compared kissing a smoker to licking an ashtray," Schroeder says. Enough said.

You're a danger to others
Secondhand smoke is estimated to cause 50,000 deaths every year. It's no wonder: More than 4,500 separate chemicals are found in a puff of tobacco smoke, and more than 40 of those are known carcinogens.
"It takes very little secondhand smoke to trigger a heart attack or stroke in someone who is predisposed to that condition," Schroeder says. The ingredients in smoke cause platelets, the material in our blood that helps it clot, become sticky. This increases the risk of heart attacks.

"There have been a number of studies to show that when a community goes smoke-free the proportion of heart attacks seen at the hospitals goes down by 20% or 30%," Schroeder says.

Sexuality and Reproductive System
Restricted blood flow can affect a man’s ability to get an erection. Both men and women who smoke may have difficulty achieving orgasm and are at higher risk of infertility. Women who smoke may experience menopause at an earlier age than nonsmoking women. Smoking increases a woman’s risk of cervical cancer.
Smokers experience more complications of pregnancy, including miscarriage, problems with the placenta, and premature delivery.
Pregnant mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are also more likely to have a baby with low birth weight. Babies born to mothers who smoke while pregnant are at greater risk of low birth weight, birth defects, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Newborns who breathe secondhand smoke suffer more ear infections and asthma attacks.

Digestive System
Smokers are at great risk of developing oral problems. Tobacco use can cause gum inflammation (gingivitis) or infection (periodontitis). These problems can lead to tooth decay, tooth loss, and bad breath.
Smoking also increases risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus. Smokers have higher rates of kidney cancer and pancreatic cancer. Even cigar smokers who don’t inhale are at increased risk of mouth cancer.
Smoking also has an effect on insulin, making it more likely that you’ll develop insulin resistance. That puts you at increased risk of type 2 diabetes. When it comes to diabetes, smokers tend to develop complications at a faster rate than nonsmokers.
Smoking also depresses appetite, so you may not be getting all the nutrients your body needs. Withdrawal from tobacco products can cause nausea.

Effects of smoking on the respiratory system

The effects of tobacco smoke on the respiratory system include:

irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box)
reduced lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the lung airways and excess mucus in the lung passages
impairment of the lungs’ clearance system, leading to the build-up of poisonous substances, which results in lung irritation and damage
increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
permanent damage to the air sacs of the lungs.

Effects of smoking on the circulatory system

The effects of tobacco smoke on the circulatory system include:
raised blood pressure and heart rate
constriction (tightening) of blood vessels in the skin, resulting in a drop in skin temperature
less oxygen carried by the blood during exercise
‘stickier’ blood, which is more prone to clotting
damage to the lining of the arteries, which is thought to be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls)
reduced blood flow to extremities (fingers and toes)
increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to blockages of the blood supply.

Effects of smoking on the immune system

The effects of tobacco smoke on the immune system include:

greater susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and influenza
more severe and longer-lasting illnesses
lower levels of protective antioxidants (such as vitamin C), in the blood.

The smokers cough
If you have smoked for any length of time you will have the smokers cough. You may think this is an inconvenience if your a smoker, and most smokers try to hide it. This cough is actually your body trying to get rid of the poisonous fumes you are inhaling on a daily basis. It is the sound of your lungs expelling all the chemicals in tobacco smoke. This is a good thing for your body all though you may not think so.

Stained teeth
After smoking for so long I was well aware of my yellow stained teeth. I got into the habit of smiling with my mouth closed, a lot of smokers do this. Sure, you can go and get your teeth whitened these days, but sooner or later the stains will be back if you continue to smoke.

Yellow fingers
This is basically the same problem as stained teeth. I used to rotate my finger when smoking so one would not get stained too much. If you smoke roll ups this problem will be even worse. No amount of scrubbing will get rid of it, the only solution is to stop using the same finger.

Brain
If you smoke, you are more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn't smoke.
In fact, smoking increases your risk of having a stroke by at least 50%, which can cause brain damage and death. And, by smoking, you double your risk of dying from a stroke.
One way that smoking can increase your risk of a stroke is by increasing your chances of developing a brain aneurysm. This is a bulge in a blood vessel caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall. This can rupture or burst which will lead to an extremely serious condition known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage, which is a type of stroke, and can cause extensive brain damage and death.
The good news is that within two years of stopping smoking, your risk of stroke is reduced to half that of a non-smoker and within five years it will be the same as a non-smoker.

Bones
Smoking can cause your bones to become weak and brittle. Women need to be especially careful as they are more likely to suffer from brittle bones (osteoporosis) than non-smokers.