Smoking is a very dangerous act that can damage many parts of your body. Many people pay no heed to the health dangers of smoking and many aren’t even aware of the fact that when you smoke, it isn’t just your lungs that you are damaging but many parts of your body as well.
According to American Lung Association, cigarettes contain about 600 ingredients and when they burn, they generate 7000 chemicals, of which many are very dangerous chemicals that can cause cancer.
Smoking is a huge cause of deaths and illnesses in many people, and these are some parts of the body cigarette smoking affects.
1. LUNGS
Many smokers are aware of the fact that smoking is bad for their lungs, but they are unaware of the damages smoking can cause to their lungs. Smoking causes inflammation of the airways and tissues of your lungs.
Smoking can also destroy the cilia; the cilia are tiny brush like hairs that helps keep the airway free from dirt and mucus, leading to a healthy lung. Smoking can destroy the cilia.
Smoking also destroy the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs that allow oxygen pass freely.
These effects of smoking can lead to chronic cough, respiratory infections and short breath which can lead to death. Not forgetting that long-term smoking can increase the risk of lung cancer.
2. FACE
Smoking can make you look older than you are. It can cause your skin to lose its elasticity, leading to wrinkles, puffy face and a dull skin.
3. YOUR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
Smoking restricts blood flow which increases the risk of erectile dysfunction in men, and the toxins from cigarettes can damage the genetic material in a man’s sperm.
Smoking can also affects a woman’s sexual experience, as it makes orgasm harder for a woman to experience and increases the risk of infertility. Smoking can also lead to complications in pregnancy and increase the risk of cervical cancer.
4. MUSCLE DETERIORATION AND WEAKENED BONE HEALTH
Cigarette smoking can restrict the flow of blood and oxygen to your muscles, making it harder to build strong muscles.
The toxins from cigarette smoking can lead to a weakened bone health. Long-term smoking can cause thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density, leading to weaker bones.
5. HEART AND KIDNEY
Smoking can lead to heart and kidney failure. Smokers are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, which can lead to heart disease and kidney failure.
Smoking also increases your blood pressure, which can weaken the heart and make it harder for it to pump blood to other parts of the body. Cigarette smoking also restricts oxygen flow, making it more difficult for the heart to function properly.
6. EYES
Smoking can also damage your eyesight on the long run. Nicotine restricts the production of a chemical that’s important for your eyesight at night. This can lead to blindness and night vision.
7. YOUR SKIN AND HAIR
Smoking can cause your fingernails to have yellowish stain and ruin your hair texture also.
The toxic substances in cigarette can damage the structure of your skin, leading to wrinkles, skin discolouration and premature ageing.
Smoking is rated as one of the leading causes of preventable death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the mortality rate for smokers is three times that of non-smokers.
S.O.Z