Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacoo, is burned
and the smoke is tasted or inhaled.
Effects of smoking
- on the respiratory system
- Reduced lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the lung airways and excess mucus in the lung passages
- Impairment of the lungs’ clearance system, leading to the build-up of poisonous substances, which results in lung irritation and damage
- Increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
- Permanent damage to the air sacs of the lungs.
- on the
circulatory system
- Raised blood pressure and heart rate
- Damage to the lining of the arteries, which is thought to be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls)
- Reduced blood flow to extremities like fingers and toes
- Increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to blockages of the blood supply.
- on the immune system
- The person is more prone to infections such as pneumonia and influenza
- Illnesses are more severe and it takes longer to get over them.
- Lower levels of protective antioxidants (such as Vitamin C), in the blood.
- on the musculoskeletal system
- Tightening of certain muscles
- Reduced bone density.
- other effects on the body
- Irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
- Increased risk of painful ulcers along the digestive tract.
- Reduced ability to smell and taste.
- Premature wrinkling of the skin.
- Higher risk of blindness
- Gum disease (periodontitis).
- on the male body
- Lower sperm count
- Higher percentage of deformed sperm
- Genetic damage to sperm
- Impotence, which may be due to the effects of smoking on blood flow and damage to the blood vessels of the penis.
- on the female body
- Reduced fertility
- Menstrual cycle irregularities or absence of menstruation
- Menopause reached one or two years earlier
- Increased risk of cancer of the cervix
- Greatly increased risk of stroke and heart attack if the smoker is aged over 35 years and taking the oral contraceptive pill.
- on the unborn baby
- Increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth
- Low birth weight, which may have a lasting effect of the growth and development of children. Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, being overweight and diabetes in adulthood
- Increased risk of cleft palate and cleft lip
- Paternal smoking can also harm the fetus if the non-smoking mother is exposed to second-hand smoke.
If the mother or father continues to smoke during
their baby’s first year of life, the child has an increased risk of ear
infections, respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis, sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS) and meningococcal disease.
Diseases caused by long-term smoking
A lifetime smoker is at high risk of developing a range of potentially lethal diseases, including:
- Cancer of the lung, mouth, nose, voice box, tongue, nasal sinus, oesophagus, throat, pancreas, bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia), kidney, cervix, ovary, ureter, liver, bladder, bowel and stomach
- Lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema
- Coronary artery disease, heart disease, heart attack and stroke
- Ulcers of the digestive system
- Osteoporosis and hip fracture
- Poor blood circulation in feet and hands, which can lead to pain and, in severe cases, gangrene and amputation.
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