10 Deadly Diseases Caused By

Smoking

by CureJoy Editorial-Mar 6, 2017

Research today is conclusive that smoking is the cause of a host
of diseases and ailments that are not only chronic but also the
leading cause of death in the Unites States. Whether youre a
moderate smoker or a heavy smoker, in many cases, the risk of
developing smoking-related diseases remains the same. This list
will give you a picture of how dangerous smoking really is to your
health.
List Of Diseases Caused By Smoking
1. Emphysema
Smoking can cause a series of lung disorders known as Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD). Emphysema is caused
when a person has difficulty breathing due to the destruction of
air sacs in the lungs. Healthy lungs have millions of tiny air sacs
which fill with air every time you breathe in and help transfer
oxygen into the blood.
Smoking causes the walls between these sacs to break down
resulting is larger but fewer sacs reducing the quantity of oxygen
reaching the blood. As the break down progresses, you might
have to work hard to breathe, even when resting. This condition
can only be treated and slowed down by stopping smoking but
cannot be cured or reversed.
2. Chronic Bronchitis
Another common COPD among smokers is chronic bronchitis.
Smoking can cause the airways to be inflamed leading to chronic
coughing which can be seen in many heavy smokers. Chronic
Bronchitis is a disease where the airways secrete abnormally high
amount of mucous compelling the person to cough it out.
It is characterized by repeated bouts of incessant coughing which
eventually blocks the airways with scar tissue and mucus leading
to lung infections. While quitting smoking can help keep the
symptoms under control, chronic bronchitis cannot be reversed.
3. Asthma
According to the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and
Immunology, one in 12 people (about 25 million, or 8% of the U.S.
population) have asthma, a condition where airways become
narrow and inflamed, causing wheezing and hampering the ability
to exercise.1
Smoking causes irritation in the airways increasing the chances of
triggering a sudden and severe asthma attack. Pregnant women
need to be especially careful as studies have shown that prenatal
exposure is associated with three times the number of daily and
night-time asthma symptoms later in the childs life, as well as
nearly four times the number of asthma-related emergency room
visits.2
4. Cardiovascular Disease
Its not just your lungs that are at risk. Studies has shown
that smoking increases heart rate, tightens major arteries, and
can cause an irregular heart rhythm, all of which make your heart
work harder. Smoker causes your heart rate to increase when you
are at rest and increase when you exercise.3
Unfortunately, there is no safety limit when it comes to smoking.
Even light smokers are at risk of damaging their heart and blood
vessels. Approximately 20% of deaths caused by heart disease
have been liked directly to smoking. Also, women who smoke
while on birth control pills and diabetics are at greater risk of
heart attack.4
5. Cancer
Smoking can cause a variety of cancers in the body including lung
cancer, which is the leading cause of death among cancer
patients. Tobacco smoke is a toxic mix of more than 7,000
chemicals. The CDC links about 80% to 90% of lung cancers in the
United States to smoking, classifying it as a number one risk.5
Cigarette smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body
including cancer of the mouth and throat, esophagus, stomach,
colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, voicebox (larynx), trachea,
bronchus, kidney and renal pelvis, urinary bladder, and cervix.
6. Stroke
A stroke occurs when there is an obstruction to the blood supply
to your brain. This causes the brain cells to die due to the reduced
supply of oxygen. A stroke can cause disabilities such paralysis,
muscle weakness, trouble speaking, memory loss, and death. The
American Stroke Association states that stroke is the 5th leading
cause of death in the United States.6
Smoking lowers your good cholesterol (HDL), damages blood
vessels, and increases the build up of the buildup of plaque (fat,
cholesterol, calcium, and other substances) in blood vessels. It
also makes your blood more sticky and prone to clotting. Any of
these conditions can significantly increase the risk of a stroke.
7. Crohns Disease
Studies have confirmed that smokers are 2.7 times more likely to
develop crohns disease as compared to non-smokers.7 Crohns
disease is a condition marked by inflammation of the digestive
tract; the intestinal lining becomes swollen causing severe bouts
of diarrhea.
People who have Crohns and smoke experience more frequent
Crohns symptom flares, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Theyre also more likely to need medication and repeat surgeries
for their condition than nonsmokers with the condition.
Researchers suspect that cigarette smoke damages protective
mucous membranes in the digestive system, increasing the risk
for inflammation.8
8. Peptic Ulcers
Peptic ulcers are painful sores that develop on your stomach
lining. Smoking increases the acidity of the duodenum (the first
part of the small intestine immediately beyond the stomach) and
makes it more vulnerable to H.pylori infection, a bacterium that is
one of the causes of stomach ulcers.
Smoking also interferes in the upper gastrointestinal function
causing reflux of the duodenal contents back into the stomach
and reduction in the production of natural substances that protect
the stomach and duodenum from tissue damage; both of which
contribute to the formation of ulcers.9
9. Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is caused when cholesterol, cellular waste,
calcium and other fatty substances are deposited along the lining
of artery walls. These substances constrict or in extreme cases
block the flow of blood causing several issues including heart
attacks, strokes, and hypertension.
Smoking is one of the major causes of atherosclerosis. The toxins
in tobacco smoke lower the good cholesterol (HDL) while raising
levels of bad cholesterol (LDL). The nicotine and carbon monoxide
in cigarette smoke damage the endothelium, the inner surface of
blood vessels, which sets the stage for the build-up of plaque.
10. Diabetes
Research tells us that smokers are 3040% more likely to develop
type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers. And people with diabetes who
smoke are more likely than nonsmokers to have trouble with
insulin dosing and with controlling their disease.10
Diabetics who smoke are also more susceptible to serious
complications like kidney disease, retinopathy (an eye disease
that can cause blindness), and peripheral neuropathy (nerve
damage in arms and legs). Most of these complications can be
minimized by quitting smoking, following a healthy diet, and
moderate exercise.
Though most people smoke to relieve themselves of stress,
smoking puts an enormous amount of stress on your body. It
directly and indirectly becomes the cause for several fatal
illnesses and diseases which can severely compromise the quality
of your life. Its not easy to quit smoking but the effort is well
worth the returns.
Posted by Thavam