How does Smoking affect the Smokers ?
Cancer
• Men who smoke are 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer than men who do not smoke, while women who smoke are about 13 times more likely.
• Smoking is responsible for about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and 80% in women.
• Smoking causes 30% of all cancer related deaths annually.
Bronchitis / Emphysema
• Chronic inflammatory condition in the lungs that causes coughing and breathlessness, which could worsen over the years.
Heart Diseases / Strokes
• Smokers are 2 to 6 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than the non-smokers.
• Increases their risk of getting stroke 3 times more than non-smokers.
Ulcer
• More likely to get stomach or duodenal ulcer than a non-smoker.
• The longer and more cigarettes you smoke, the chances of getting an ulcer are higher.
• About one-fifth of all ulcers are due to smoking.
• Smoking slows down the healing process of ulcer.
Sore Throats
• High frequency on getting sore throats and slow recovery.
• Causes discomfort and irritation to the throat.
• At extreme discomfort may render speech conversation not possible.
• Frequent toilet trip to clear throat phlegm.
Body Immunity System
• Lowers immune system of the body.
• Prone to illness and slow recovery.
• 4 times more likely get blood infections or meningitis than non-smokers.
Taste and Smell Disorders
• Poor sense of taste and ability to identify odors.
• Cuts down the sense of enjoyment of a meal.
• Affects appetite.
Sex and Fertility
• May cause impotency or penile erectile dysfunction to male smokers.
• It reduces the quality of semen, in which it contains a higher proportion of malformed sperm.
• The sperm count is also lower than non-smokers.
• Women smokers are less fertile and take longer to conceive.
• Women smokers who use oral contraceptives are liable to increased risk of heart attack by 20 times.
Pregnancy
• Babies born are lighter in weight.
• Preterm (premature) labour. Babies who are born preterm are at a higher risk of having long-term health problems and may require hospitalization. It may also lead to premature death.
• Higher complications of pregnancy and labour.
Physical Fitness
• Doing sports can be difficult since smoking causes shortness of breath and dizziness.
• Greatly affects the endurance and stamina.
• Makes you feel lethargic and tires easily.
Physical Appearance
• Strong foul smell from cigarette smoke makes appearance unpleasant.
• Smoke smell stenches not only the clothes but also every other physical parts it came contact with, such as the mouth, hair and fingers.
• The tar leaves brown/black stains to the teeth and finger nails.
• Blacken the gums.
• Dry your skin and cause wrinkles.
