What Can Smoking Cause?

While cigarette packs now have warning labels prominently displayed cautioning users of the possible health problems they may encounter if they smoke, they aren’t large enough to site all the detrimental statistics. Think of this list as an expanded warning label answering the question, “What can smoking cause?”

Smoking Causes Cancer

According to Cancer.gov, smoking is, “a leading cause of cancer and death from cancer.” It is responsible for more than just lung cancer, it causes cancer of the, “esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and cervix,” according to the National Cancer Institute. Smoking also causes a type of blood cancer known as acute myeloid leukemia.

Smoking Causes Heart Disease

Heart disease and other circulatory system dysfunction can be attributed to the effect of nicotine and other chemicals on the body system. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it constricts the blood vessels. This increases blood pressure and can lead to stroke, heart attack, aneurysm of the aorta and other heart related issues.

Smoking Causes Lung Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD for short, is one of the main lung complications of smoking. It is also blamed for certain cases of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and a higher risk of pneumonia.

Smoking Causes Problems During and After Pregnancy

A woman who smokes puts herself at greater risk of pre-term labor and her baby at greater risk of low birth weight. The baby will also carry a greater risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Resources:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation
http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110630112853.htm

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