No matter how we look at it, smoking is dangerous. Smokers suffer from increased risk of developing certain illnesses, some of which we have outlined below.
Heart Diseases
Smoking significantly increases the risk of coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and stroke. Nicotine is addictive. It allows a certain boost of energy, giving a rush of adrenaline and providing a pleasant feeling. This chemical reaction damages the heart as adrenaline speeds up the heart and tightens the arteries up. This increases the blood pressure and strains the heart. Smoking has a damaging effect to the arteries, blood vessels and the heart itself. This is why smokers are more likely to suffer and die from heart-related diseases.
Lung Cancer
The rise of lung cancer as one of the most common causes of death can be directly attributed to cigarette smoking. Smoking cigarettes is responsible for over 90% of all lung cancer-related deaths. Cigarette smoke introduces about 40 toxic carcinogens to the body. The more a person smokes cigarettes, the more likely he or she is to have lung cancer.
Emphysema
Another one of the most common diseases that come with smoking is emphysema. It is a critical lung disease related with the degradation of the tiny air sacs located in the lungs due to exposure to tobacco smoke.
Other diseases linked to smoking are:
• Bronchitis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease
• Liver cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Erectile dysfunction in men
• Stomach cancer
• Bladder and kidney cance
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Cataracts
• Cervical cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Pancreatic cance
• Periodontitis
• Pneumonia
