The Effects Of Smoking

The effects of smoking are more serious than many people think. Everyone knows about how smoking contributes to many cases of lung cancer, but there are many other effects too.

Immediate Effects

- Smoking begins to have effects on the lungs immediately too. Even somebody who only smokes occasionally or has only smoked for a short time will find that they are more likely to develop coughs and sinus infections when they have a cold.

- The effect on the blood vessels means that you are more likely to suffer headaches if you smoke.

- The blood pressure and heart rate increase immediately, with the first inhalations on a cigarette.

- Smoking also has effects on the teeth. The cocktail of chemicals in cigarettes attacks the teeth, discoloring them and causing cavities.

- Smoking makes you smell bad to a non-smoker. Your breath, hair and clothes will smell the worst. You will not be pleasant for a non-smoker to kiss.

- Most people do not like having smoke in the air that they breathe, so many people may avoid your company when you are smoking.

Long Term Effects

Smoking contributes to many diseases that take years of pain and suffering, or repeated bouts of falling sick over many years.

- cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes

- erectile dysfunction in men

- lung cancer and many other cancers

- fertility problems

- less healthy babies

- emphysema

- chronic bronchitis

- bloodshot eyes, cataracts, and macular degeneration of the eyes leading to blindness

- wrinkles

The average person who smokes will be sick more often and have a bigger risk of developing any of these diseases than if they did not smoke.

The average life expectancy of a smoker is around 8 years less than a non-smoker. However, it does not work out this way in practice. This figure does not mean that an individual smoker will die 8 years sooner than if he did not smoke.

The truth behind the numbers is that some people are more affected by the toxins in cigarettes and other tobacco products than others. So while you hear of some smokers living to a good old age, the people who do develop serious smoking-related diseases die much younger, often in their 40s and 50s. These diseases can cut 30 or 40 years from a person’s life.

Hence, it is obvious that the effects of smoking can be very serious.