Smoking affects nearly every organ in your body. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals. When you breathe them in, they travel all over your body and make you very sick.
For people who smoke regularly, the risks can grow over time. But quitting at any age can reduce the chance of major illness.
Breaking the habit of smoking is tough because of nicotine’s addictive capabilities.
Mercy Recovery Center provides customized outpatient therapy for those who want to stop nicotine and other chemical addictions.
Here are 10 diseases caused by smoking that everyone should know about and why quitting matters.
- Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most well-known and most dangerous consequences of smoking.
How it happens:
- Tobacco smoke contains chemicals that damage DNA in lung cells
- Over time, damaged cells grow out of control
- This leads to difficulty breathing and persistent coughing
The facts:
- Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer
- The National Cancer Institute confirms cigarette smoking causes lung cancer and several other cancers
The greatest approach to keep your lungs safe and healthy is to quit today.
- Heart Disease
Your heart works hard to pump blood throughout your body. Smoking makes that job much harder.
What smoking does to your heart:
- Narrows and stiffens blood vessels
- Makes it difficult for blood to flow properly
- Increases risk of heart attack and heart disease
Stopping smoking helps your heart rest and become strong again.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
There is a bad sickness called COPD. When you have this sickness, you will feel out of breath very often.
Smoking destroys the tiny air sacs in the lungs. Once these air sacs are broken, they do not grow back. This makes walking or playing very hard. Quitting helps stop the damage from getting worse.
- Brain Strokes
A stroke happens when blood cannot reach your brain. Your brain needs blood to work right. Smoking damages your blood vessels and causes small blocks called clots. If a clot stops blood from going to your brain, you can have a stroke.
The CDC reports that smokers have a substantially higher risk of stroke than people who do not smoke.
A stroke can cause:
- Sudden weakness
- Difficulty speaking
- Vision problems
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
A suspected stroke requires emergency medical care.
- Asthma Problems
Asthma is a sickness that makes your breathing tubes swell up. People with asthma already have a hard time breathing. When someone with asthma smokes, it makes their problem much worse.
The smoke bothers the breathing tubes and causes bad asthma attacks. Breathing clean and fresh air is the very best thing you can do for asthma.
- Type 2 Diabetes
Smoking makes it harder for your body to use insulin. Insulin is what keeps your blood sugar safe. When your body cannot use insulin well, you can get Type 2 Diabetes.
People who smoke are much more likely to get this sickness. Diabetes can hurt your eyes and kidneys. Putting out the cigarettes helps your body work the right way.
- Gum Disease and Tooth Loss
A bright smile is a great sign of health. Smoking ruins your smile. It hurts the soft gums that hold your teeth in place. The smoke brings bad germs into your mouth. This leads to gum disease.
If the gums get too weak, your teeth can become loose and fall out. Quitting helps your mouth heal and keeps your smile strong.
- Eye Problems and Vision Loss
You need your eyes to see the beautiful world. Smoking can make you go blind as you get older.
It causes sicknesses in the eyes that slowly take away your clear vision. The bad chemicals hurt the tiny blood vessels inside your eyes.
Stopping smoking protects your eyes and helps you keep your good vision.
- Painful Joint Sickness
There is a sickness called rheumatoid arthritis that makes your joints hurt. Your knees, elbows, and fingers are all joints. This illness causes significant swelling and pain.
Smoking makes your body confused, so it attacks your own healthy joints. The medicine for this sickness does not work well if you smoke. Quitting helps stop the pain.
- Throat and Mouth Cancer
When you smoke, harmful chemicals pass through your mouth and throat with every puff.
This can cause cancer in:
- Lips
- Tongue
- Throat
This type of cancer makes it hard to eat or talk to your friends. It is a very scary sickness. Giving up cigarettes is the smartest way to protect your throat and mouth.
Finding Real Help for Addiction Today
Smoking is a strong addiction. The brain starts to think it needs nicotine to survive.
Sometimes, people who struggle with smoking also struggle with other addictions. You might have a hard time with alcohol, painkillers, or drugs. This strong pull is why quitting feels so hard. But no one has to fight this tough battle alone.
Mercy Recovery Center helps people overcome big addictions. We treat problems with alcohol, opioids, painkillers and other drugs. Our doctors offer private and safe care.
We use helpful medicines and talking sessions to stop cravings. You can talk to the doctors from home using a phone. Our goal is to help you get your happiness back.
Contact us today for addiction treatment for you or a loved one. You deserve a life without addiction.
FAQs
Is vaping safer than smoking?
No. Vaping still contains nicotine and harmful chemicals that damage your lungs and heart. Quitting all forms of smoking is the healthiest choice.
Can my lungs heal if I stop smoking?
Yes, your lungs can start to heal. Just a few weeks after you stop, your breathing will get better. Over the years, your risk of lung cancer and heart disease drops a lot.