Compilations of Smoking.

What are the potential complications of smoking?

There are many complications of smoking that are serious and even life threatening. Smoking causes or aggravates many diseases and damages almost every tissue and organ in the body. Cigarette smoking was responsible for one in five deaths in the United States during 2000 to 2004, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People who are physically close to a smoker on a frequent basis can also experience similar effects due to the inhalation of secondhand smoke. Smoking cigarettes also exposes you to over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic. Toxins found in cigarettes include formaldehyde and cyanide.

Smoking and cancer

Smoking causes many cancers and the vast majority of cases of lung cancer. Cancers caused by smoking include:

• Bladder cancer
• Cancer of the pharynx and larynx (voice box)
• Esophagus cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Lung cancer
• Oral cancers
• Pancreas cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Throat cancer
• Uterine cancer

Smoking and lung, heart, and vascular disease

Smoking causes life-threatening lung and cardiovascular diseases, such as:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis)
• Coronary heart disease

Smoking also exposes you to carbon monoxide, a gas that lowers the level of oxygen in the blood. This is further complicated by the fact that smoking constricts blood vessels, decreasing blood flow to vital organs, such as the brain and heart and large arteries of the arms and legs, which can lead to peripheral vascular disease. Smoking also thickens the blood and increases the risk of developing life-threatening blood clots and complications of blood clots including:

• Buerger’s disease (acute inflammation and clotting of arteries and veins)
• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the leg)
• Heart attack
• Higher risk of serious blood clots in women who take contraceptives containing hormones
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung)
• Stroke

Smoking and pregnancy

Smoking causes or increases the risk of serious complications with pregnancy and infections in infants including:

• Increased risk of ear infections in infants and toddlers exposed to secondhand smoke
• Infertility
• Low birth weight babies
• Premature delivery
• Stillbirth
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Other complications of smoking

Smoking worsens or increases the risk of many diseases and serious medical conditions including:

• Cardiovascular and heart diseases
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol and atherosclerosis
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Osteoporosis and hip fractures

Smoking also exposes you to nicotine, which is an addictive drug whose side effects include:

• Increased heart rate
• Blood vessel irritation and a higher risk of developing blood clots, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke