The Dangers of Smoking: How it Can Affect Everyone Differently
It’s hard to believe, but smoking isn’t just harmful to the person who’s lighting up. Studies have shown that secondhand smoke (also known as passive smoke) can harm or even kill nonsmokers who are exposed to it over long periods of time. That’s why many countries have banned smoking in public buildings and on public transportation, and why many more are working toward a similar ban on smoking in outdoor spaces as well. If you don’t want your loved ones to experience any more harm from your bad habit, take steps today to quit smoking forever!
Who smokes?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, 15.1% of adults in the United States smoked cigarettes. This is down from 20.9% in 2005. Men have always been more likely to smoke than women, but the gap between the sexes has been narrowing over time. In 2015, 16.7% of men smoked, compared with 13.6% of women. The percentage of people who used other tobacco products decreased from 5.5% in 2005 to 3.4% in 2015 among all adults aged 18 years or older. Among young adults aged 18-24 years, about 1 out of 10 used a tobacco product other than cigarettes—most commonly chewing tobacco or snuff; cigars; pipe tobacco; or e-cigarettes or vaporizers—in the past month. For this post, we are going to focus on smoking cigarettes, because these are what most people think of when they hear smoking. We will talk about how this habit can affect children, teens, women and men. Why do people who smoke have smoker’s cough? As we mentioned before, according to the CDC in 2015 there were still 15.1% of adults in the United States that smoked cigarettes. When a person smokes, nicotine reaches their brain within seconds and starts changing their mood and behavior almost immediately. It also speeds up your heart rate and breathing while decreasing your appetite which can lead to weight loss over time if you don't eat more than usual. Nicotine stimulates the release of adrenaline, too. Your muscles tense up and your blood pressure rises, preparing you for physical activity. And after just five minutes without a cigarette, your body starts craving another one. That's why quitting is so hard! If a person doesn't want to quit cold turkey like I did by accident then their best bet would be to slowly decrease the amount they smoke each day until they eventually stop altogether. They can gradually lower the number of cigarettes they smoke each day, or use electronic cigarettes or patches. Quitting is never easy, but there are plenty of resources available to help someone kick the habit once and for all. Smokers should make an appointment with their doctor to find out about different treatments options that might work for them.
There are many side effects associated with smoking that vary depending on age group, gender, race/ethnicity etc., such as addiction and withdrawal symptoms (nausea and vomiting). But let's discuss what happens to smokers' lungs. Over time, inhaling the toxins in cigarettes causes chemical changes in the lungs. Eventually, the bronchial tubes constrict and create a permanent condition called emphysema. Emphysema is characterized by damage to alveoli, or air sacs, which form part of the lungs. Over time, emphysema causes difficulty in breathing and ultimately suffocation. Other respiratory problems caused by smoking include COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and pneumonia. These conditions may not show any symptoms until later in life or even death.
A smoker's cough may develop from a chronic irritation of the bronchi or prolonged exposure to irritants in tobacco smoke. Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to have a low-birth-weight baby, preterm delivery, and sudden infant death syndrome. Women who smoke during pregnancy often suffer from morning sickness and increase their risk of cervical cancer. Children of parents who smoke are more likely to start smoking themselves, which increases the risk for SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). People with asthma or other lung diseases are at greater risk for developing serious health problems due to tobacco smoke. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. Secondhand smoke causes coronary heart disease in nonsmoking adults and high blood pressure in children. Electronic cigarettes are marketed as a safer alternative to regular cigarettes, but there is no scientific evidence that they provide substantial benefits over the long term.
What happens to you when you smoke?
When you smoke, the nicotine immediately begins to affect your brain. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that can make it hard to quit smoking. Smokers often have a smoker’s cough because the tar in cigarettes irritates and damages the lungs. Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide, which reduces the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry. This can cause problems for people with heart conditions. Women who smoke are more likely to have problems with fertility and are at greater risk for certain types of cancer, including lung cancer. Men who smoke are also at greater risk for lung cancer. In addition, smokers are more likely to develop other health problems like bronchitis or emphysema than nonsmokers. In fact, smokers die about 10 years earlier than nonsmokers on average. However, quitting smoking has been shown to reduce the risks associated with this addiction. Quitting smoking helps improve the quality of life for both women and men by reducing their risks for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis and peptic ulcer disease. Quitting smoking may also help reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and resultant health effects from this. Secondhand smoke increases children's chances of getting asthma attacks, ear infections or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight babies as well as premature births. Exposure to secondhand smoke during childhood may increase a child's chances of developing asthma by age 14-15 years old. Secondhand smoke has also been linked to infertility in women smokers but not men smokers. It may also raise the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and atherosclerosis. What do people who have given up smoking say? Since I quit smoking, I don't feel out of breath anymore. I used to cough all the time when I was younger. Now my teeth aren't yellow anymore. My voice sounds different too. And I think my sense of smell got better. I didn't realize how bad smoking made me smell until after I quit. It seems like there's so much less garbage everywhere now. It feels good to be able to go outside without worrying about whether someone will come near me and start coughing.
Are there different kinds of smokers?
While there are different types of smokers, there are three main categories: social smokers, heavy smokers, and chain smokers. Social smokers only smoke in certain situations, like when they’re drinking alcohol. Heavy smokers smoke every day, often multiple times a day. Chain smokers can’t go more than a few hours without smoking. They'll typically smoke two packs a day or more. Not surprisingly, these smokers have the worst health outcomes. So, how does smoking affect children? Children who live with someone who smokes on average grow up to be 20% more likely to smoke themselves. Children whose parents smoked are six times as likely to die from cot death (SIDS). Adults who smoked around their children also doubled their risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Babies exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of ear infections, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, SIDS and other respiratory illnesses. Smoking is bad for everyone but the effects are worse for children because they haven't had decades to develop lung capacity and good circulation. Smokers need oxygen-rich blood to stay healthy; if your child has an illness that lowers his or her oxygen levels such as cystic fibrosis then he or she will get sicker faster. In general, kids born prematurely are more likely to smoke too. Quitting smoking early and completely significantly reduces the chance of heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis and cancers among women. People who quit before they're 40 years old can halve their chance of getting cancer compared to those who keep smoking into old age.
So what about teen girls? As we know by now, nicotine causes addiction by releasing dopamine which makes people feel pleasure or euphoria and keeps them coming back for more nicotine by causing withdrawal symptoms if they don't get enough at regular intervals - this cycle continues until the smoker becomes physically dependent on nicotine just as heroin addicts become physically dependent on heroin! Teens start out addicted to cigarettes while adults usually do not start out addicted. Teen girls, specifically, experience changes in brain chemistry after smoking cigarettes that make it hard for them to resist temptation. The reward centers of their brains light up every time they take a drag, triggering hormones that tell them something wonderful's happening. Girls who start smoking as teens are much more likely to become lifelong smokers than adults who start later in life! Nicotine takes control over the parts of the brain responsible for learning and memory processing so over time you may find it harder to concentrate or remember things. If a woman gets pregnant and continues to smoke, the baby could end up being smaller than average and may have behavioral or mental problems. Smoking during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirths, and ectopic pregnancies. But it’s not just pregnant women who are affected by smoking: anyone who lives with them is at risk of developing smoking-related diseases as well. If a man lives with a woman who smokes, he increases his chances of developing prostate cancer by 28%.
Is it possible to give up smoking?
According to the CDC, about 70% of smokers want to quit smoking. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health — smoking harms nearly every organ in your body, including your heart, lungs, blood vessels, and more. There are many ways to quitting smoking, and each person has to find what works best for them. However, it is possible to quit smoking and there are many resources available to help people who want to quit. People should know that they don't have to go through withdrawal symptoms because they will not experience a cigarette's full effects until nicotine gets into their system, which typically takes 5-10 minutes after someone smokes a cigarette. The common withdrawal symptoms include cravings, irritability, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, anxiety or depression. As soon as nicotine leaves the bloodstream (usually within 3 days), these symptoms usually disappear or decrease significantly. It may take up to 6 months before all of the damage from smoking cigarettes heals due to oxidative stress on cells that occurs from exposure to smoke over time. Smoking also increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, which is why it’s so important to quit smoking today. Studies show that children exposed to secondhand smoke at home have an increased risk of developing asthma, bronchitis, ear infections, pneumonia, and sudden infant death syndrome than those who are not exposed to tobacco smoke at home. Secondhand smoke also affects women during pregnancy by increasing the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight babies (less than 5 pounds 8 ounces), stillbirths and sudden infant death syndrome deaths while pregnant with twins or triplets. Women also face risks when they try to conceive after having smoked during pregnancy like ectopic pregnancies, ovarian cancer and reduced fertility rates. For men, smoking decreases sperm count and testosterone levels which can lead to erectile dysfunction and make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant. Some research suggests that both sexes could suffer infertility if they smoke less than 20 cigarettes per day but this remains unproven. A smoker’s cough develops when the mucus membranes in the throat become irritated by cigarette smoke containing thousands of chemicals. These chemicals cause swelling and dryness, making smokers cough or hack frequently because mucus accumulates and leads to postnasal drip down into the lungs, causing bacterial infections such as tuberculosis, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Furthermore, smoking also worsens the symptoms of respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking also causes a narrowing of the airways and reduces the ability to clear the airways, which makes it hard for the lungs to function properly. This is often called COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On top of that, smoking is linked to high blood pressure, which increases risk for cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Smoking also weakens bones and promotes osteoporosis (which means porous bones) by decreasing bone density, leaving bones fragile and susceptible to fractures. Doctors often advise patients with severe osteoporosis to quit smoking because it speeds up bone loss.
Do electronic cigarettes help you quit?
Although e-cigarettes may help some people quit smoking, there’s no evidence that they’re safe or effective. In fact, they may be as harmful as regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive and can harm the developing brain. They also contain other harmful chemicals, including metals like lead and cancer-causing chemicals. There are currently more than 7,000 different flavors available for purchase, such as cotton candy and fruit loops. The flavoring in these products contains diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.
E-cigarettes may not seem harmful at first glance but their popularity should still raise concern among parents because teens are particularly susceptible to advertising messages about these products. The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any e-cigarette product for use in helping smokers quit smoking. If you do decide to try an e-cigarette, keep in mind that many have nicotine levels up to six times higher than regular cigarettes.
If you want your teen to stop smoking, start by considering why he or she might be using tobacco. Teens who smoke often report feeling stress, anger, or boredom as reasons for taking up the habit. Helping your teen cope with his or her emotions might help him get past his urge to smoke; avoid yelling at him when he does something wrong and talk with him instead about how you feel when he does things like destroy your property or tells lies.
Another way to get your teen's attention is by becoming his hero - this will make him want to live up to the standards you set so he can impress you! For example, tell him he'll need to pay rent if he wants to stay living in your house. Offer plenty of praise when he behaves well, and provide incentives when possible.
If all else fails, consider quitting together - this will teach your child responsibility while giving you both time to heal from withdrawal symptoms together. You can support each other through counseling and even go through therapy with a therapist specialized in addiction recovery therapy. It's worth noting that the younger a person starts smoking, the more likely they are to become addicted to nicotine over time... and while adolescents are especially susceptible to smoking ads, they're also less able to recognize the dangers of addiction than adults are.
A person who smokes 20 cigarettes per day inhales 40 times the volume of tar, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and ammonia found in someone who doesn't smoke at all. These substances build up inside their body until they start having effects on organs like kidneys and lungs. And because women absorb more toxins during pregnancy due to changes in hormone levels, this population needs extra protection against harmful side effects caused by smoking. Nicotine can cross the placenta and enter the fetus, with pregnant mothers more at risk for miscarriage, preterm delivery, placental abruption, and infant death. Additionally, since nicotine stimulates the heart rate of a pregnant woman, there are risks to her unborn baby as well. Nicotine constricts blood vessels in the fetus’s growing brain, meaning less oxygen gets to the brain. Children who were exposed to nicotine in utero are more likely to develop ADHD and Tourette syndrome than those who weren't exposed. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not smoke because of the health risks to their babies. Women who smoked before they had children are also more likely to relapse after their kids are born. Mothers who smoke while breastfeeding pass nicotine and other harmful chemicals to their babies through breast milk, exposing them to toxic chemicals. This can increase the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome in babies as well as cause long-term effects on the brain, lungs, and heart.
Women smokers face a much greater risk for health problems than men, with lung cancer being a major concern. Smokers' cough is an indication that there's damage happening to their respiratory system - mucus builds up in the throat or chest and irritates the vocal cords when inhaling deeply. This causes the individual to hack and cough, sometimes for hours at a time. People who smoke are also more likely to suffer from chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and emphysema. And not only does smoking affect the smoker's health, but passive smokers are just as vulnerable - secondhand smoke exposure is the leading cause of preventable death in non-smokers, according to the American Lung Association.
Nicotine is an addictive substance that gives smokers a brief burst of pleasure when they inhale. This high eventually diminishes over time and smokers will start feeling stressed or angry without their nicotine fix - this cycle can continue for years unless they break free.
This post was written by Melanie Smith on behalf of Charleston Cancer Institute
What’s so bad about secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke exhaled by a smoker. It’s dangerous because it contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including at least 70 that can cause cancer. Secondhand smoke exposure is especially harmful to children, who are more likely than adults to develop serious health problems from it. Even brief exposure can be harmful. Some people think that going outside or opening windows reduces their risk. But even then, most of the secondhand smoke stays inside because it doesn't travel far in open air. The only way to get rid of secondhand smoke is to leave the area where smoking is taking place. Quitting smoking will also help make your home and car safer for your family members-whether they're smokers or not-to breathe cleaner air. Smoking is never healthy and has many detrimental effects on the body. From damaging blood vessels to increasing blood pressure, smoking has many side effects. Tobacco use leads to numerous cancers and diseases like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). If you want to quit but need some extra motivation, here are some reasons why you should consider quitting now. You'll save money, avoid the smell of cigarettes and prevent breathing in any harmful substances. Your heart will thank you! You'll have better skin, too. Studies show that those who have ever smoked experience an increase in wrinkles around the mouth, wrinkles under the eyes, age spots and drooping eyelids than those who have never smoked before! One study found that if you stop smoking, you may actually grow taller as well. Other negative side effects include increased tooth decay, oral and throat cancer, sore throats and lungs as well as an increased risk of colds or other respiratory infections. Smokers are three times more likely to die prematurely from chronic bronchitis compared with non-smokers. Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ in the body: lungs, brain, heart and kidneys among them. There's also evidence linking lung cancer with obesity which may occur due to weight gain from nicotine addiction or perhaps a chemical change in fat cells caused by nicotine.. Finally there's smoker's cough which is when someone coughs up phlegm after inhaling smoke particles into their lungs. These particles irritate the throat and lungs which causes coughing. Coughing is a natural defense mechanism to remove these particles, but unfortunately this symptom can linger long after the person has stopped smoking. In addition, a person who smokes regularly is much more susceptible to common bacterial and viral illnesses such as the flu. When someone coughs, mucus moves up from the lungs to the upper part of the throat or nose and is coughed out. After years of smoking, a person's sense of smell or taste can diminish significantly, making food less pleasurable. Of course there are always risks associated with smoking such as getting pneumonia, having a stroke or developing cancer. Most people don't realize that while they're sitting down smoking they are poisoning themselves and anyone else nearby. Secondhand smoke is an invisible killer and in fact, some people who smoke have smoker's cough because of all the toxic particles they're inhaling. Smoking is never healthy and has many detrimental effects on the body. From damaging blood vessels to increasing blood pressure, smoking has many side effects. Smoking also increases a person's susceptibility to common bacteria and viral illnesses such as the flu. Smoking can also lead to increased tooth decay, oral and throat cancer, sore throats and lungs as well as an increased risk of colds or other respiratory infections. You'll have better skin, too. Studies show that those who have ever smoked experience an increase in wrinkles around the mouth, wrinkles under the eyes, age spots and drooping eyelids than those who have never smoked before! One study found that if you stop smoking, you may actually grow taller as well. Other negative side effects include increased tooth decay, oral and throat cancer, sore throats and lungs as well as an increased risk of colds or other respiratory infections. Smoking is never healthy and has many detrimental effects on the body. From damaging blood vessels to increasing blood pressure, smoking has many side effects. Smoking also increases a person's susceptibility to common bacteria and viral illnesses such as the flu.
What are some other dangers related to smoking?
Smoking is not only harmful to your health, but it can also be harmful to the health of those around you. Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous as smoking, and can cause respiratory problems, cancer, and other health issues. Additionally, smoking can lead to gum disease, tooth loss, and wrinkles. Not to mention, smokers are also more likely to develop heart disease, stroke, and various types of cancer. One reason for this is because of how smoking causes inflammation in blood vessels which can increase the risk for these diseases. When a person smokes cigarettes, they inhale tar and carbon monoxide into their lungs. The tar then sticks to the walls of their lungs causing serious damage over time that makes it difficult for them to breathe deeply or cough up mucus like they would if they were healthy. Smokers also tend to have a smoker’s cough because they're constantly fighting against this chronic irritation in their throat and lungs. However, there are plenty of ways to stop smoking for good without too much trouble. For example, some people choose to use electronic cigarettes instead because they still provide the physical sensation of having something in their mouth and hand without the dangers of tobacco smoke. Other options include nicotine patches or gum, prescription medications such as Chantix, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis therapy, acupuncture therapy--the list goes on! Regardless of what type is chosen (or combination), quitting is never easy but it's definitely worth it!
Another idea is quitting cold turkey--quit all at once with no lapse. A lot of people do this because they feel like it's better than trying to quit halfway. However, cold turkey may be the hardest way to quit because the nicotine withdrawal symptoms can really take a toll on someone's mental state. Some effects that many experience during withdrawal include headaches, depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, increased appetite/weight gain and insomnia. These symptoms often keep people from succeeding in quitting so it's important to know that there are other options out there! For instance, gradually reducing the number of cigarettes one smokes per day can help lessen these withdrawal symptoms and make the process less overwhelming. Instead of going from 20-a-day to zero overnight, cut back by one cigarette every few days until eventually, you reach your goal. Also try switching to e-cigarettes; many people find that this easier because they still get their fix without most of the negative side effects. Lastly, try taking it one day at a time; when we focus on completing tasks one day at a time rather than months down the line it becomes easier to stay motivated and succeed in our goals. With the knowledge that everyone is different and will require a different approach to quitting, there are a plethora of methods that can work for anyone who decides to commit. Remember, smoking affects everyone differently so while one method might work for your friends it might not work for you. But, the great thing about this is that it leaves room for exploration and finding a healthier solution--one that works best for you. There are so many different ways to quit smoking because of how it affects people differently and knowing this allows us to find the right solution, tailored specifically to our needs. Hopefully, this blog post has helped you understand the many ways smoking can affect people and why it's so important to quit. If you or a loved one smokes, please talk to your doctor and explore different options for quitting. If you've tried quitting before and failed, don't give up! Keep exploring different ways of quitting and don't be afraid to ask for help. Quitting smoking is the healthiest decision you can make because not only are you protecting yourself but also those around you. It can be difficult to break away from a habit that’s been ingrained into society since childhood but if you have the will power, it is possible. Luckily, there are more resources available now then ever before which makes transitioning into life as a non-smoker even easier! It’s never too late to quit and getting rid of toxic substances from your body is always worth it.
Smoking cures everything. Really?
If you ask a smoker why they continue to smoke, despite knowing the risks, you’ll likely get a response like it relaxes me, or I’ve been doing it for so long, I can’t quit now. But what smokers may not realize is that smoking doesn’t just affect their health – it affects the health of those around them as well. Children are especially vulnerable because they're still developing, and children who live with a smoker are more likely to develop bronchitis and asthma than those who don't. Teens and women also suffer from increased risk of heart disease when exposed to secondhand smoke. In fact, more than 50% of lung cancer deaths in nonsmoking adults were caused by exposure to secondhand smoke! Men face similar risks, but instead of lung cancer, they have an increased risk for throat cancer when exposed to secondhand smoke. And then there's smoker's cough, which happens when inhaling smoke causes irritation and inflammation in the lungs. Not only does this lead to coughing, sore throats, and trouble breathing; it also increases your chances of getting pneumonia. It's time to say goodbye to cigarettes once and for all! There are plenty of resources out there that can help you quit. The American Cancer Society has developed QuitGuide, a free online program designed to help people stop smoking through step-by-step guidance and personal tips from former smokers. Some people find quitting difficult at first, but gradually they begin to feel better both physically and mentally. There will be ups and downs along the way, but each day without nicotine feels better than before! Quitting isn't easy, but if someone really wants to quit, they will eventually succeed. With lots of determination and support from friends and family members, we can keep ourselves - and everyone around us - safe from the dangers of tobacco.
Tobacco contains chemicals called carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) such as arsenic, cyanide, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, lead and carbon monoxide. These carcinogens stay trapped inside our bodies for years after our last cigarette, making it much easier for cancers to grow later on down the road. When these carcinogens make contact with oxygen in our cells during normal body functions (like metabolism), a chemical reaction occurs that produces new compounds called nitrosamines. These nitrosamines are potent enough to cause cell mutations and damage DNA – eventually leading to tissue growths known as tumors. Tobacco also interferes with many crucial body processes over time by preventing blood vessels from properly transporting oxygen throughout our bodies – particularly harmful since even healthy tissues need oxygen to survive. This lack of oxygen prevents cells from functioning normally, and forces the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream to provide some energy. This high level of glucose leads to diabetes and cardiovascular problems, as well as strokes.
Some smokers may experience smoker's cough when they start smoking, but it usually goes away within two weeks. However, for those who smoke for a longer period of time, smoker's cough can become chronic and problematic in itself. Those with chronic smoker's cough are constantly struggling with chest pain, wheezing, and difficulty breathing – symptoms that never seem to go away no matter how hard they try. Many smokers think that smoking helps to relieve stress – but in reality it actually heightens stress levels in our bodies.
Is there any good news here?
No. There is no good news when it comes to smoking. It’s a very dangerous habit that can lead to all sorts of health problems, including cancer, emphysema, and heart disease. In fact, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Even people who don't smoke themselves are still at risk from secondhand smoke (also known as passive smoking). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), secondhand smoke causes 38,000 deaths per year from heart disease alone. Children exposed to tobacco smoke have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other respiratory infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. They also have more ear infections than children who are not exposed to cigarette smoke.
In women, smoking during pregnancy has been linked with low birth weight babies and other birth defects such as cleft lip or palate. Women smokers may also be more likely than nonsmokers to get certain types of cancers, such as lung cancer or uterine cancer; develop high blood pressure; or experience irregular menstrual periods.
Smoking during pregnancy can affect the fetus's growth and development in ways that may not show up until later on in life--or may not show up at all! The fetus of a smoker may be underweight and shorter than expected. Cigarette smoke contains nicotine, which can affect fetal brain development by crossing the placenta. The baby may grow too quickly and become fat, a condition called pyloric stenosis. Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy also seem to be more prone to childhood asthma and allergies like eczema. And because their lungs are developing earlier in life, they're susceptible to breathing disorders like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mothers-to-be who quit smoking before they conceive live longer than those who continue smoking while pregnant. Not only does this benefit the mother, but the child will also benefit from a healthier environment without exposure to cigarette smoke.
In men, smoking can contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED), decrease sperm count and motility, increase infertility, and cause many different kinds of oral health problems. For both sexes, cigarette smoking slows healing after surgery or injury because it reduces oxygen levels in tissues. People who smoke often develop what's called smoker's cough--a dry hacking cough caused by irritation of airways lining due to continued exposure to irritants in cigarettes. The most common of these irritants is a chemical called acetaldehyde, found in the smoky fumes of cigarettes. Acetaldehyde builds up in the body and eventually turns into acetic acid. This acid, combined with mucus and bile, dries out and soothes the throat. However, over time these chemicals damage cells and may lead to smoking-related diseases such as cancer or emphysema.
