| We all know smoking is bad for us, yet those of us still | | | | impaired lung function. The long term damage will result |
| a slave to the habit are causing our body damage in a | | | | in increased breathlessness which will require |
| myriad of different ways. There are factors which | | | | hospitalisation and can result in death! |
| make the effects of smoking on the body vary from | | | | Those are all major reasons to give up smoking as |
| person to person. Such factors include the number of | | | | they can all lead to serious illness and even death, and |
| cigarettes a person smokes a day, how long they | | | | there is a very good chance of suffering from at least |
| have been a smoker, the age they took up the habit | | | | one of the above if you are a regular smoker. Other |
| and the individuals own level of vulnerability to the | | | | known effects of smoking include: |
| chemicals in cigarettes. | | | | - Impotence in men, and infertility in women. |
| That said, all smokers will suffer from the harmful | | | | - Worsening the effects of asthma, and counteracting |
| effects of smoking to some degree. And in all cases, | | | | asthma medication by inflaming the airwaves the |
| smoking will lower the life expectancy of everyone | | | | medication is supposed to clear. |
| who regularly lights up. Here are some of the ways | | | | - An increased risk of periodontal disease, which |
| smoking has a negative effect on the body: | | | | results in swollen gums and bad breath. It can also |
| - Increased heart rate and blood pressure, which can | | | | cause normally healthy teeth to fall out. |
| lead to hypertension. This greatens the smokers risk of | | | | - Can cause both stomach and mouth ulcers. |
| heart attack and stroke. | | | | - Premature ageing due to a restricted blood supply to |
| - The carbon monoxide in cigarettes will impair the | | | | the skin, causing it to become pale and wrinkled. It also |
| blood flow to the extremities like the hands and feet. In | | | | causes your teeth, gums and fingers to show |
| sever cases, some smokers end up having these | | | | yellowish stains. Smoking is seriously hazardous for |
| limbs amputated to prevent gangrene. | | | | your looks! |
| - Lung cancer caused by smoking is a major cause of | | | | - Your overall health will be worse if you smoke. You |
| death the world over, with 90% of lung cancer patients | | | | will suffer from chronic coughing, wheezing, shortness |
| being smokers. The tar in cigarettes is responsible for | | | | of breath, you will be more susceptible to catching a |
| causing this as well as other forms of cancer, including | | | | cold or flu and find it harder to recover from minor |
| throat, mouth, stomach and kidneys to mention a few. | | | | illnesses. In short, smoking not only reduces your life |
| - Emphysema and bronchitis are very common in | | | | expectancy, but also seriously effects the quality of life |
| smokers. These diseases are caused by damage | | | | you have left to enjoy. |
| made to the small airways in the lungs, resulting in | | | | |