CAN SMOKING BE DANGEROUS TO HEALTH?

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Smoking is a dangerous habit that can cause a wide range of negative health effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, causes many diseases, and reduces the health of smokers in general. Here are some of the negative effects of smoking:

Increased risk of death: Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, causing more than 480,000 deaths each year. Smoking causes more deaths each year than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, and firearm-related incidents combined. Smoking causes about 90% of all lung cancer deaths and about 80% of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Increased risk of cardiovascular disease: Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease and stroke. Smoking damages blood vessels and can make them thicken and grow narrower. This makes your heart beat faster and your blood pressure go up. Even people who smoke fewer than five cigarettes a day can have early signs of cardiovascular disease.

Increased risk of respiratory disease: Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs (alveoli) found in your lungs. Lung diseases caused by smoking include COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Cigarette smoking causes most cases of lung cancer.

Other health risks: Smoking can also cause other health problems such as gum disease, vision problems, and diabetes.

If you are a smoker, quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health. Quitting smoking lowers your risk for smoking-related diseases and can add years to your life. There are many resources available to help you quit smoking such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), prescription medications, counseling services, and support groups.