smoking diseases
Is smoking bad for your health?
Smoking has been linked to lung cancer for at least the past 50 years. Recent research continues to show that tobacco harms your health in a variety of ways, including causing cancers and chronic (long-term) diseases.
Smoking is linked to a number of diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease, and COPD. Every year, approximately 30 people die from smoking-related illnesses for each person who dies from smoking.
Are other forms of tobacco safer?
Smoking a cigar is not safer than smoking a cigarette. Both cigar smokers and cigarette smokers face many of the same risks, including cancer. Chewing tobacco or smokeless tobacco products are just as dangerous as cigarettes. Cancer-causing chemicals are present in this material.
E-cigarettes are a newer form of nicotine delivery that differs from traditional tobacco products. Nicotine is delivered in a smokeless inhaled mist (vapor) rather than in smoke.There are many health risks associated with vape products, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer.
How does smoking affect your body?
Smoking tobacco harms every organ in your body. When you smoke, you are also exposing yourself to more than 5000 chemicals, many of which are carcinogens (cancer-causing substances).
Smoking can significantly shorten your lifespan. In fact, smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States.
Smoking while pregnant can also have harmful effects on an unborn baby. These can include:
- A ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition in which the embryo implants outside of the uterus.
- Miscarriages.
- Stillbirths.
- Birth defects, such as cleft palate.
- Low birth weight.
What are the health risks associated with chewing tobacco?
Chewing tobacco can cause nicotine addiction, cancer of the mouth esophagus and pancreas, and gum disease. Chewing tobacco also causes tooth decay and tooth loss.
Is vaping better for your health than smoking cigarettes?
There is still much unknown about the safety and dangers of e-cigarettes. Many e-cigarettes contain high levels of nicotine. And vaping may lead to using other forms of nicotine, like cigarettes or chewing tobacco.
E-cigarette vapors also contain harmful substances other than nicotine. Inhaling these substances can cause severe lung damage (called EVALI).
How is it possible to diagnose health problems caused by tobacco use?
Determining the cause of a particular illness depends on the symptoms you experience. For example, a person who swallows nicotine-containing juice may need different tests than someone who inhales tobacco smoke.
If you smoke, your healthcare provider will likely ask for more details about your tobacco use and may order tests to check for organ damage or heart problems.
What other conditions may be caused or worsened by tobacco use?
Smoking causes many other chronic health problems that need ongoing care. Examples of such problems include:
- A higher cholesterol level and increased blood pressure can increase the risks for heart attack and stroke.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Lowering oxygen levels in the body increases the risk for heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and diabetes.
- Children who live in homes with smokers are more likely to get colds.
- People who have poorer lung function are more likely to develop COPD, asthma, or emphysema.
How can smoking be treated, in order to prevent a disease caused by smoking?
Smoking can cause many diseases, some of which can be managed by a healthcare provider. You might need:
- If there is damage to your heart, a cardiologist can treat you.
- A doctor who specializes in treating breathing problems like COPD.
- If you develop cancer, there will be a team of doctors to treat you.
How can I avoid getting sick from smoking? Smoking can make you sick. You can avoid getting sick by not smoking.
Quit smoking as soon as possible to avoid health problems. Without smoking, you can:
- Live longer.
- Reduce your risk of heart disease.
- By following these guidelines, you may reduce your risk of developing other conditions.
- Feel healthier and have more energy.
- Look and feel better.
- Improve your sense of taste and smell.
- Save money.
How can I quit smoking?
There are many different ways to quit smoking. You have to find a plan that works for you and your personality. You need to be ready emotionally and mentally. You should want to quit smoking for yourself, not just for people who are exposed to your smoke.
If you want to quit these pointers, here are some helpful tips:
- Remove all cigarettes and any related items, like lighters and ashtrays.
- Do not live with a smoker. Ask them not to smoke near you, or try to convince them to quit smoking with you.
- When the cravings hit, don't focus on them. Cravings are temporary, so think about why you want to quit instead.
- To avoid smoking, try to stay occupied and do things with your hands - drawing or playing with a pencil or straw. Change any activities that are connected to smoking, such as taking a break to smoke. Take a walk or read a book instead.
- When you feel the urge to smoke, take a deep breath and hold it for ten seconds. Release it slowly several times, until the urge to smoke disappears. You may also find relief by practicing meditation, which can reduce your baseline stress levels.
- Avoid places where people smoke and situations that you associate with smoking. For example, hang out with people who don't smoke or go to places that don't allow smoking (like museums, shops, or libraries).
- Don't substitute foods or sugary products for cigarettes. These can cause weight gain. Instead, choose low-calorie healthy foods such as carrots or celery sticks. Try sugar-free hard candies or gum.
- Drink plenty of water but avoid drinking alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. These substances can make you want to smoke cigarettes.
- When you are trying not to smoke, remember that you are a nonsmoker.
- Exercise has health benefits and can help you relax.
Can I quit smoking if I have been smoking for a while?
Smoking cessation at any age will improve your health. The years of smoking damage can be reversed with time.
When you stop receiving benefits, almost immediately happens:
- After 20 minutesWhen you go into natural sleep mode, your blood pressure and heart rate decrease and the temperature of your hands and feet increases. Plus you stop polluting the air.
- After eight hours,Your blood will have lower levels of carbon monoxide and higher levels of oxygen.
- After 24 hours, your heart attack risk decreases.
- After 48 hours, Your nerve endings will eventually adjust to the lack of nicotine, and you will regain your ability to taste and smell.
- After two weeks to three months, When you decoupage leaves, your circulation improves and you are able to tolerate more exercise.
- After one to nine months, When you use this oil, your overall energy level increases, and you will cough less. Additionally, sinus congestion fatigue and shortness of breath will decrease.
- After one year,Smoking can increase your risk of heart disease, but quitting smoking halves that risk.
- After five to 15 years, If you never smoked, your risk of stroke is lower than that of people who do smoke.
- After 10 years,You have about the same chance of dying from lung cancer if you never smoke as if you have smoked for your entire life. Plus, you decrease your risk of other cancers by not smoking.
- After 15 years,Your risk of heart disease finally equals that of people who have never smoked.
What help is there to quit smoking?
When you want to quit smoking, there are many resources available to you. Local medical clinics, pharmacies, and support groups like Nicotine Anonymous are all available to help.Apps and websites can provide encouragement and accountability when you try to quit.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Quitting smoking is a big decision, but it’s the right thing to do for your health. It may feel like it’s impossible, but you can do it.