Health effects of smoking
According to the world health organisation, smoking causes more deaths and disability than any other disease. The health effects of smoking tobacco are severe, and secondhand smoke also affects those around you. Most smokers are aware of the risks for lung disease and cardiovascular disease, but smoking affects nearly every organ in your body. Research has shown that smoking causes more than 25 different diseases.
Short term effects of smoking
If you decide to stop smoking, you will experience immediate improvement of your health. The body starts healing itself within 20 minutes after quitting and all of the below short term health effects of smoking will improve.
- Blood pressure increases
- Pulse rate increases
- Body temperature of hands and feet drops
- Chances of having a heart attack increases
- Decreased ability to taste and smell
- Decreased lung function
- Decreased circulation
- Coughs
- Colds
- Bronchitis
- Shortness of breath
- Smoking during pregnancy increases the chance for premature birth and respiratory illnesses.
Long term effects of smoking
The long term effects of smoking are severe. A number of diseases can be caused by smoking, they include:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Lung cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (chronic bronchitis, emphysema)
- Cancer of the mouth, throat, stomach, bladder, kidneys , pancreas, and cervix and other cancers.
Smoking cesstion will reduce the chances of obtaining long term effects of smoking and if disease caused by smoking is already present, there are still great short and long term health benefits.