Ten health conditions caused by smoking

Smoking is one of the leading causes of not only lung cancer but many other diseases. The effects might not come immediately but slowly and gradually as it takes away one's ability to enjoy life.

These are some of the diseases that are caused by smoking:

Lung Cancer

The number of people who die from lung cancer is higher than that of those who die from any other type of cancer.

Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer and is responsible for 87% of lung cancer deaths.

The chances of one being alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer is less than 1 in every five positive diagnosis.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is an obstructive lung disease that makes it hard for one to breathe.

It causes a long term disability and also leads to early death. The disease starts by making it hard for one to be active then it gets worse gradually until climbing a short set of stairs becomes a problem.

About 80% of this disease is caused by smoking.

Heart Disease

Smoking causes harm to all the organs in your body, including your heart. Smoking causes blockages and the narrowing of your arteries which means that there will straining for blood and oxygen flow to and from your heart.

Stroke

Due to the fact that smoking affects your arteries, it can trigger a stroke. Stroke happens when the blood supply to your brain is temporarily blocked and you could lose mobility in one side of your body.

When brain cells are deprived of oxygen, they start to die. A stroke can also cause paralysis, slurred speech, altered brain function and even death.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease. It makes it harder to remove air in and out of the lungs, or in other words, makes it harder for one to breathe.

Cigarette smoke irritates air passages and can trigger sudden and severe asthma attacks. Smoking only makes the condition worse and in some instances can even lead to death.

Reproductive effects in women

Smoking causes ectopic pregnancies in women. This is when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. The egg cannot survive and if it does, and when it is left untreated it can be life threatening for the mother.

Smoking also reduces the fertility of a woman meaning a woman who smokes will have a more difficult time getting pregnant.

Premature and low birth-weight babies

Smoking, especially when pregnant is dangerous to both the mother and child.  Smoking causes babies to be born prematurely and with low birth weight.

Babies who are born too early or when they are too small have high risks of getting serious health complications and sometimes they can die.

Diabetes

People who smoke are at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes. The risk is usually 30 percent to 40 percent higher in smokers as opposed to people who do not smoke.

Once one has been diagnosed with diabetes, they are at a higher risk of getting other diseases such as kidney disease and heart disease.

They can also have poor blood flow to their legs and feet which can lead to amputation. 

Blindness, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration

Smoking damages eyes and can lead to the loss of sight. Macular degeneration, that is age related, is usually caused by smoking addiction. Macular degeneration is also the leading cause of blindness in adults aged 65 and above.

Colon, cervix, liver, stomach and pancreatic cancer

Smoking causes a number of cancers. Cancer patients and survivors who smoke have a higher risk of getting a second primary cancer. People who smoke also get liver cancer, colorectal cancer and smoking also reduces the survival rate for prostate cancer.  Smoking basically causes all the cancers.