Long Term Effects of Smoking

We all know the dangers of smoking and why it is advised not to smoke. However, most of us don't take the advice seriously as we see so many people smoking every day around us that it makes us feel the whole habit is absolutely normal. Then there are those people who know that smoking is dangerous but they unknowingly and ignorantly misjudge the intensity of this habit. Smoking is one of the most dangerous habits or addictions you can get hooked to. Another misconception I would like to clear is that if you smoke less, it doesn't lessen the dangers. You are still smoking something that is highly dangerous. This article not only deals with the long term effects of smoking cigarettes, but also tells you what a cigarette contains, and what those chemicals are capable of.

Problems Smoking May Lead to in The Long Run

Cancer
We all know that certain chemicals present in a cigarette are carcinogenic (cancer-causing agents). Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer are a result of smoking. Smoking also increases the chances of other cancers such as those of mouth, larynx, nose, pharynx, kidney, bladder, stomach, pancreas, liver, cervix, etc. There are also some types of leukemia that are caused due to smoking. Someone very smartly said that smokers never become old, because they die younger.

Impotence
Another long term effect of smoking is impotence. However, this does not mean that every smoker has a risk of being impotent, though the chances of the same are higher in habitual smokers. As many as 30 million Americans suffer from this. Certain chemicals in cigarette block the arteries and this leads to insufficient flow of blood to the pelvic region. The blood flow to the penile region is reduced to an extent that can either be acute or at times, chronic.

Effect on the Fetus
Smoking is a dangerous habit but it is more so when you are an expecting mother. If you continue smoking throughout your pregnancy, believe it or not, your baby is going to suffer from withdrawal symptoms after birth. Smoking regulates the flow of more than 200 neurochemicals to your baby's body and mind, in an unnatural way. Smoking can damage the baby's nervous system too. All these can affect your baby's growth and development. So it's best to refrain from smoking completely when you are pregnant, for the sake of your own health and your baby's.

Lung Diseases
The harmful chemicals in cigarette that enter the lungs due to smoking is detected by the body. The body is equipped with cells that try and defend this situation but the cigarette smoke kills these cells and these very dead cells cause more problems and lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). (COPD) includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. This is what happens when one experiences emphysema. There are air sacs present in our lungs and in between these sacs, are walls that break down or deteriorate due to smoking. As a result, the air sacs expand or grow abnormally in size. Elasticity of lung tissues is also affected to quite an extent. Contraction and expansion of lungs become a task and slowly, the patient becomes weaker. Some of the lung diseases are tuberculosis, lung cancer, sarcoidosis and occupation-related lung diseases.

Early Aging
Our tissues have cross linked bonds that hold them together. These bonds are affected due to a chemical present in cigarette smoke called acetaldehyde. This leads to aging of the skin. We require elastin and collagen to keep our skin firm. We need vitamin C for the synthesis of collagen and cigarette smoke reduces the vitamin C in our body. It also increases the breakdown pace of elastin and collagen. Smoking also reduces the flow of blood to your skin by restricting the blood vessels and also deprives your skin of other important nutrients and oxygen. Studies have shown that 30 cigarettes a day is equal to nearly 300 chest x-rays a year.

Cardiovascular Diseases
Cigarette smoke contains free radicals which react with cholesterol and cause a build up of substances on the walls of arteries. Another effect on the heart is that these radicals reduce the HDL in our body. This leads to improper flow of blood to the various parts of the body and especially to the heart. When there is not enough blood flow to the heart, there are chances of a heart attack, which is medically known as myocardial infarction. Cigarette smoking also increases the risk of blood clots to a great extent. Other effects of smoking include chest pain (angina), stroke - which is caused due to the blockage of arteries.

Short Term Effects of Smoking

Just like the long term effects of smoking, there are some short term effects of smoking too and those need a mention. Short term effects of smoking tell you that the rate at which you smoke is going to have more serious effects in the future. They indicate the dangers that lie ahead. Some of these short term effects of smoking are impaired sense of smell, wrinkles, stained teeth and lips and bad breath. You might blink a lot and your eyes might sting and water a lot. There are increased chances of developing cavities and gum diseases.

What a Cigarette Holds Inside It

Tar: Tar particles contain chemicals that are very dangerous to us. One of the main chemicals is carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene that is said to trigger the development of tumors. Tar stains teeth, lung tissues and fingernails even. It's brown in color and sticky in appearance.

Hydrogen Cyanide: The dangers of this chemical are more severe than we think. Hydrogen cyanide is a toxic substance present in cigarette smoke. Not only smokers, but non-smokers are also at a risk of breathing this poisonous gas when they are exposed to cigarette smoke.

Carbon Monoxide: We all know that red blood cells contain hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein that helps to transport oxygen to the various parts of the body. When a person smokes, the carbon monoxide in cigarette combines with hemoglobin, and blocks the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the body cells. So, less oxygen is transported to the body eventually.

Free Radicals: These are responsible for most of the heart problems and problems that lead to heart attacks and cholesterol issues. The radicals are reactive chemicals and they react with cholesterol to build fatty materials on the walls of the arteries.

Other chemicals present in cigarettes are metals such as cadmium, lead and arsenic. These metals are dangerous and most of them are carcinogenic. Cigarette also contains radioactive compounds such as polonium 210 and potassium 40. These compounds are also carcinogenic like the metals. Now that you know what cigarette contains, and the harmful effects of cigarette smoking, you should try to quit smoking at the earliest.

Sincere efforts are needed to get rid of this habit that might lead to many health issues in the long run. There are various ways in which you can motivate yourself to quit and I hope this article in a way, did the same. So, nip this habit in the bud and lead a healthy life!