Side Effects of smoking on Different Organs

Global Adult Tobacco Survey India shows that nearly 267 million adults are tobacco users. Every year almost 1.35 million deaths and diseases are reported in India due to smoking and tobacco usage. Smoking is addictive due to the drug nicotine present in tobacco. While smoking, about 7000 other chemicals are inhaled by a smoker. These compounds affect every part of the body. About 90% of lung cancer is caused by smoking, and nearly 80% of lung disease deaths are reported due to smoking. 

Smoking impacts every organ, causing health issues and complications. Despite widespread warnings and awareness regarding its harmful effects, millions worldwide continue to smoke and risk their lives. Here in this blog, we will discuss the consequences and side effects of smoking on the body. 

How does smoking affect different organs of the body?

There are several reasons why smoking is bad for you, including it damages your lungs, causes severe health complications, and affects different organs of the body. Here is how smoking impacts different organs:

Brain

Smoking is a significant risk factor for strokes due to the damage it causes to blood vessels. Additionally, long-term smoking can contribute to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia in later life.

Smoking increases the risk of diseases:

• Stroke
• Cancer
• Dementia
• Cognitive Decline
• Loss of brain volume

Pro Tip: Regular exercise, quality sleep, and relaxation practices can help you quit smoking and stay healthy.

Eyes

Smoking can make your eyes cloudy and weaken your vision, and sometimes you may lose your eyesight completely.

Smoking increases the risk of diseases:

• Cataracts
• Age-related Macular degeneration
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Dry Eye Syndrome

Pro Tip: To keep healthy eyes and reduce the risk of eye diseases, quit smoking and practice healthy habits like eating healthy food, staying active, and visiting your eye care professional. 

Oral Health

Smoking impacts oral health and increases the risk of mouth cancer, gum problems, and decay problems. 

Smoking causes:

• Tooth decay
• Bad breath
• Dry mouth
• Gum Diseases
• Risk of oral cancer
• Gingivitis

Pro Tip: If you quit smoking, the risk of gum diseases and oral cancer will decrease. Practice oral hygiene like brushing twice daily, limiting alcohol usage, using dental floss, and visiting the dentist in 6 months. 

Skin

Skin absorbs the nicotine from cigarettes. This may cause adverse effects on the skin. Smoking accelerates skin aging, leading to premature wrinkles, an increased risk of skin cancer, and a dull complexion. 

Smoking increases the risk of diseases:

• Premature aging
• Wrinkles
• Dull complexion
• Skin Cancer
• Delayed wound healing
• Infections
• Eczema
• Acne

Pro Tip: When a person quits smoking, the body starts restoring collagen production. This helps to skin brighter, improves blood circulation, and reduces skin aging. On the other hand, quitting smoking enhances the quality of life and increases the person's life. 

Bones

The toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke hinder new bone tissue formation and slow natural healing, leading to extended recovery times and potential complications. Smoking can harm bone health, increasing the risk of various bone-related diseases and conditions. 

Smoking Increases the risk of diseases:

• Osteoporosis
• Delayed bone healing
• Increased fracture risk:
• Lower bone mass in adolescents
• Risk of avascular Necrosis

Pro tip: If you're a smoker, quitting is the best step to protect your bone health. This may improve bone density and reduce the risk of bone-related diseases. Leading a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and sufficient calcium and vitamin D intake will further support bone health.

Lungs

Smoking has harmful effects on the lungs. It damages the airways and sacs, leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, asthma, and chronic bronchitis. Long-term smokers have a high risk of lung cancer; even secondhand smoke can harm lung health.

Smoking increases the risk of diseases:

• Asthma
• Cold and lung infections
• Pneumonia
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Lung cancer

Pro Tip: When you quit, the risk of lung disease reduces over time, the lungs start restoring, and your overall health will improve. 

Also read: Does Smoking Cause Small Cell Lung Cancer?

Heart

Smoking is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage blood vessels, reduce blood flow, increase blood pressure, and strain the heart.

 This strains the heart, leading to various cardiovascular issues that can be life-threatening.

Smoking increases the risk of diseases:

• High blood pressure
• Atherosclerosis
• Arrhythmia
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Heart attack

Pro Tip: Quitting smoking requires hard work and effort. Try to stay motivated, practice a healthy lifestyle, manage stress, and, if needed, talk to healthcare professionals. This will improve your overall health, improve the blood flow of the heart and reduce the risk of stroke and other heart diseases. 

Digestive system

The stomach produces acidic juices to digest the food. If these juices go backward into the esophagus or food pipe, it may cause heartburn. 

Smoking increases the risk of diseases:

• Peptic ulcer
• Indigestion
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Esophageal cancer
• Crohn's disease
• GERD (Gastro-esophageal reflux disease)

Pro tip: Try to quit smoking to reduce digestive system cancer and other chronic diseases. Seek medical help to quit this addiction and improve the overall quality of life.

Liver 

While smoking is commonly linked with lung health, its impact on the liver is often overlooked. Smoking affects the liver's ability to detoxify the body and metabolize drugs effectively. This increases the risk of liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cirrhosis, which can result in irreversible damage and liver failure. Smoking can also worsen liver diseases in people who already have liver damage.

Smoking effects on lungs:

• Fatty liver disease
• Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
• Cirrhosis 
• Liver cancer

Pro Tip: When you quit smoking, great things come to you and improve your overall health. Add food rich in antioxidants, and take milk thistle and other herbal supplements to remove toxins from the body. 

Kidney

The kidneys are crucial for filtering waste and maintaining proper fluid balance. Smoking can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, impairing their ability to function efficiently. This increases the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and decreases the kidneys' ability to clear toxins from the bloodstream, possibly leading to kidney failure.

Smoking Increases the risk of diseases:

• Kidney Cancer
• Arteriosclerosis
• Kidney Failure

Pro Tip: Quitting smoking is not easy, but it helps to reduce kidney diseases and lower the risk of kidney cancer. Try to adopt alternative activities when you crave, such as exercising, reading, and meditation. 

Reproductive organs

Smoking affects both male and female fertility. It can reduce fertility, hormonal imbalances, and pregnancy complications like ectopic pregnancies and premature birth in women. In men, smoking can lower sperm count and motility, hindering conception. Pregnant women who smoke are at a higher risk of miscarriages and delivering babies with low birth weight and developmental issues. 

 Side effects of smoking in females and Males:

• Infertility
• Low sperm count
• Impacts Hormone production
• Ectopic Pregnancy
• Miscarriage
• Premature birth
• Cervical Cancer
• Prostate cancer

Pro tip: Quitting smoking can help to improve sperm count and quality and may lead to reducing the risk of impotence. This will also increase the chances of getting pregnant without any complications. Let's stay motivated and practice healthy lifestyles and hygienic activities to reduce the harmful effects. 

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking offers multiple benefits for both your immediate and long-term health. Here are some of the influential advantages of quitting smoking: 

• Improved Respiratory Health: Within just a few weeks of quitting smoking, your lung function improves, and your breathing becomes easier. Over time, the risk of chronic lung diseases like COPD and emphysema decreases significantly.
• Reduced Cardiovascular Risk: Quitting smoking lowers your risk of heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease. Blood pressure and heart rate normalize, and the risk of blood clots also decreases.
• Decreased Cancer Risk: When you quit smoking, you reduce the risk of various cancers, including lung, throat, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, and kidney. 

• Better Oral Health: Giving up smoking leads to healthier teeth and gums, reducing the risk of gum disease and tooth loss. 
• Improved Fertility and Pregnancy: Quitting smoking improves fertility in both men and women. For pregnant women, quitting smoking reduces the risk of complications such as premature birth, low birth weight, and congenital disabilities.
• Enhanced Physical Fitness: As your lung function improves, you will notice increased stamina and physical performance. 

Final Words

Smoking is a destructive habit with long-term consequences on organs. From the lungs and heart to the liver, kidneys, and reproductive organs, no part of the body is immune to its harmful effects. By quitting smoking, you protect your loved ones and others from exposure to secondhand smoke, reducing their risk of health problems.

If you or someone you know is struggling with smoking addiction, seeking medical help and support can be the first step toward a healthier, smoke-free life.  Prioritize your health and overall well-being by deciding to quit smoking today. Remember, it's never too late to quit and protect your organs from the harmful effects of cigarette smoking.