Effects of smoking on the body
1. Lung damageSmoking cigarettes damages the lungs because a person inhales nicotine, among other chemicals.
2. Heart disease
Smoking cigarettes can damage the heart, blood vessels, and blood cells.
3. Fertility problemsSmoking cigarettes can damage a female’s reproductive system and make it more difficultTrusted Source to get pregnant. This may be because tobacco and the other chemicals in cigarettes affect hormone levels.
4. Risk of pregnancy complications
According to the CDCTrusted Source, smoking can affect pregnancy and the developing fetus in several ways, including:
increasing the risk of ectopic pregnancy
reducing the baby’s birth weight
increasing the risk of preterm delivery
damaging the fetus’s lungs, brain, and central nervous system
increasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
contributing to congenital abnormalities, such as cleft lip and cleft palate
5. Risk of type 2 diabetes
The CDC report that people who smoke regularly have a 30–40%Trusted Source higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who do not.
6. Weakened immune system
Smoking cigarettes can weakenTrusted Source a person’s immune system, making them more susceptible to illness.
It can also cause additional inflammation in the body.
7. Vision problems
Smoking cigarettes can cause eye problems, including a greater riskTrusted Source of cataracts and macular degeneration.
8. Poor oral hygiene
People who smoke have double the riskTrusted Source of gum disease. This risk increases with the number of cigarettes a person smokes.
9. Integumentary system
The integumentary system consists of a person’s skin, hair, and nails.
10. Risk of other cancers
In addition to the well-documented link with lung cancer, smoking cigarettes contributes to other cancers.
11. Digestive system
Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for a person developing intestinal disorders
12. Central nervous system
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, which control all physical and mental activities.
13. Secondhand smoke
The ill effects of smoking cigarettes do not only affect people who smoke.
Secondhand smoke can also significantly affect family members, friends, children, and coworkers.
