| When most people think of the health related problems | | | | chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These lung |
| traced to smoking, what usually comes to mind are | | | | disorders cause airways in the body to become |
| lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchitis. Respiratory | | | | irritated and swollen, resulting in gradual loss of lung |
| illnesses are definitely a major area of problems linked | | | | function. Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, which |
| to smoking, but it is only one area. The truth is smoking | | | | include chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is the |
| is detrimental to nearly all aspects of health. | | | | country's 4th leading cause of death- 90% of the |
| You might think that lung cancer is probably the leading | | | | cases can be attributed to smoking. |
| killer of smokers. That is actually incorrect. Coronary | | | | So amongst the four top leading causes of death, |
| artery disease (Coronary heart disease) and stroke | | | | smoking can be attributed to more than half the cases |
| are the United States first and third leading cause of | | | | in each. Doesn't that itself tell you something? |
| death, and the main cardiovascular disease caused by | | | | People who smoke are much more likely to develop |
| smoking. Smoking has more than just a few negative | | | | cataracts, develop more wrinkles as they age, have |
| effects on the body's cardiovascular system. To begin | | | | paler unhealthier skin, because smoking restricts blood |
| with, it lowers the body's level of "good" cholesterol. It | | | | vessels, making it difficult for oxygen and nutrients to |
| increases the risk of developing blood clots by wearing | | | | reach the skin. |
| down the elasticity of the aorta. What this leads to is | | | | Due to the above listed reasons, smokers are much |
| obstructed blood flow which can lead to a heart | | | | more likely to suffer from rapid heartbeat, shortness of |
| attack or stroke. | | | | breath, and general fatigue during physical exertion. |
| Inflammation of artery walls also occurs due to the | | | | This means anything from playing a quick game of |
| many toxins existent in cigarette smoke, which leads | | | | basketball, to carry a heavy bag of groceries, and |
| to hardening of the arteries and further heart problems. | | | | even just walking up stairs. Though these diminished |
| By stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, | | | | athletic abilities are not nearly as serious, they are |
| smoking puts unnecessary stress on your body's | | | | significant signs of the terrible effects smoking has on |
| cardiovascular system, especially the heart and blood | | | | the body. |
| vessels. | | | | Because smokers generally have compromised |
| The second leading cause of death in American, fitting | | | | immune systems and reduced wound healing rates, |
| right in among coronary heart disease and stroke are | | | | they have lower survival rates following a surgery. As |
| cancer, with lung cancer being the most common. It's | | | | such, they are also more likely to suffer from |
| very tragic that cigarette smoking is responsible for | | | | complications following a surgery such as infections |
| nearly 85% of lung cancer cases in America. More | | | | and respiratory problems like pneumonia. |
| than 60% of cancers in the mouth, including cancers of | | | | It's obvious you need to quit. The question is how, and |
| the pharynx, larynx, and esophagus can be attributed | | | | what is the best method? |
| to cigarette smoking. People who smoke pipes, cigars, | | | | One of the most effective methods you can choose |
| or chew tobacco are at great risk for cancers of the | | | | in order to quit smoking for good is the stop smoking |
| mouth. Not surprisingly, higher incidences of leukemia | | | | shot. Scientists developed the stop smoking shot |
| and cancers of the bladder, kidney, pancreas, and | | | | primarily to lessen the severity of the terrible |
| stomach can be found in smokers. | | | | withdrawal symptoms that keep the majority of |
| Cigarette smoking by far presents the greatest risk for | | | | smokers from being able to quit. |