Dangers of Smoking
Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body; causing many diseases and reducing the health of smokers in general. Nearly 1 of every 5 deaths each year in the
Diseases related to smoking
Cancer
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death and was among the first diseases casually linked to smoking.
- Smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer deaths in women and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in men. The risk of dying from lung cancer is more than 23 times higher among men who smoke cigarettes, and about 13 times higher among women who smoke cigarettes compared with never smokers.
- Smoking causes other kinds of cancer too: bladder, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx (voice box), esophagus, cervix, kidney, lung, pancreas, and stomach, and causes acute myeloid leukemia.
Cardiovascular Disease (Heart and Circulatory System)
- Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the
- Cigarette smoking approximately doubles a person’s risk for stroke.
- Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries). Smokers are more than 10 times as likely as nonsmokers to develop peripheral vascular disease.
Respiratory Disease and Other Effects
- Cigarette smoking is associated with a tenfold increase in the risk of dying from chronic obstructive lung disease. About 90% of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung diseases are caused by cigarette smoking.
- Cigarette smoking has many negative effects on pregnant mothers and their babies, including an increased risk for infertility, preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
(source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
