Side Effects of Smoking

In today's culture, smoking is considered cool, among the youth and adults alike. However, no one has paid much attention to the effects of smoking, that can lead to irreversible damage on the mind and the body. This damage is not only individual. It even affects our close ones, and our environment. As such, it is important to take a look at the side effects of smoking, and then proceed with a healthier and more suitable course of action.

Side Effects of Smoking Cigarettes

Lots of people already suffer from these side effects, yet sometimes, a fact sheet is required to open their eyes to their invitation to bad health.

• Smoking cigarettes not only stains the teeth but over time, can lead to the development of oral cancer. Not to mention its effect on the breath.
• Not only oral cancer, smokers are susceptible to the development of several other types of cancer, including lung cancer.
• Smokers are at an increased risk of developing heart problems and stroke.
• Smoking makes the smoker feel lethargic, and disturbs the metabolism of the body. This affects the immunity levels in the body, making it more prone to contracting diseases.
• The belief that smoking relieves stress is only psychological. It is a belief that is true to the withdrawal symptoms and not an actual cause of smoking.
• Smoking strips the skin of its natural glow, and ages the skin by causing the development of wrinkles, dark circles, and a gray skin pallor. It also leads to sudden weight gain.
• Smoking is sure to leave a dent in your pocket, and if you calculate the expenses just on cigarettes over a period of ten years, you will see the huge amount you have spent on it.
• Lastly, smoking reduces the average life span by almost 15-20 years.

Secondhand Smoke - The Greater Evil
The reason that the side effects of secondhand smoking are worse than the side effects of smoking itself, is because not only does it consist of all the toxins produced by a burning cigarette, but also the smoke that is inhaled and exhaled by the smoker. Thus, the degree of damage associated with secondhand smoke increases. It is important to keep away from secondhand smoke, and also, rid it from the environment in which you reside with regular cleaning, as it settles everywhere, from food, to clothes and furniture.

Hookah - A Healthier Alternative?
Many people believe that hookah has lesser amounts of nicotine than a cigarette. However, the truth is that hookah also has a variety of chemicals that may lead to cancer, and that the side effects of smoking hookah are similar to those of smoking cigarettes. Thus, it is definitely not 'healthy', and the only way it may be considered less dangerous is because hookah is only smoked socially, thereby reducing the exposure to dangerous toxins produced as a result of smoking.

Side Effects of Smoking while Pregnant

Smoking during pregnancy not only affects the mother but also the baby, in a manner that can prove fatal for the baby.

• Since smoking produces large amounts of carbon monoxide in the body, it reduces the oxygen supply to the fetus. This can lead to the impairment of the fetus leading to birth defects, such as brain damage and low birth weight.
• Smoking while pregnant will also increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• During pregnancy, exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to lowering the metabolism of the mother, and therefore, have an effect on the baby. It can even lead to a miscarriage.
• The risk of passing on hereditary diseases by the pregnant mother to the unborn baby, is higher among pregnant women who smoke.
• A pregnant woman suffering from the withdrawal symptoms of smoking can pass these on to the newborn baby.
• Moreover, smoking weed and marijuana during pregnancy can lead to problems such as miscarriage, premature labor, low birth weight, low intelligence levels in the baby, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and even nerve damage in the brain.

The bottom line here is, just to stop smoking. Nothing is more valuable that your own health and safety, which is so important for your loved ones. No one deserves to go through the trauma of dealing with the side effects of smoking, not even you.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.