HEALTH RISKS
WARNING: SMOKING CIGARETTES IS HARMFUL TO EVERY SYSTEM AND FUNCTION IN YOUR BODY.
Smoking Causes Lung Cancer
Smoking Causes Strokes
Strokes can kill people or cause severe mental and physical disabilities.
Smoking Causes Mouth Cancer
Smoking also causes tongue, lip, nasal, and salivary gland cancer.
Smoking causes bad breath, teeth staining, plaque build-up, gum disease, and tooth loss.
Smoking Causes Gangrene
Chemicals in tobacco smoke reduce the flow of blood to your hands and feet. This can lead to tissue death.
Amputation is the only way to treat gangrene.
Smoking Causes Cancer of the Larynx
The larynx is the cavity in the throat that contains the vocal cords.
Smoking Causes Cataracts
Cataracts is a clouding of the eye's lens that may lead to blindness.
Smoking can also cause inflammation of the eye and abnormal movements of the eye.
Smoking Causes Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that leaves itchy, red, scaly patches on the skin.
Other Health Risks Associated With Smoking
- coronary heart disease
- chest pain
- heart attacks
- high blood pressure
- chronic bronchitis (painful cough and difficulty breathing)
- emphysema (damage to lung's air sacs that makes it very hard to breathe)
- aggravated asthma
- cancer of the oesophagus
- cancer of the bladder
- cancer of the kidney
- cancer of the pancreas
- cancer of the anus
- leukemia (white blood cell cancer)
- stomach cancer
- stomach and duodenal ulcers heart burn
- Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel condition)
- colon polyps (growths in large intestine that can become cancerous)
- impaired immune function (smokers more susceptible to infections and allergic reactions)
- wounds heal slower
- snoring
- hearing loss
- diabetes mellitus
- skin wrinkling
- back pain
- osteoporosis (weakening of bones that can lead to painful bone fractures)
"Quitting is short term pain for long term gain!" - Yussuf Saloojee
WARNING: SMOKING HARMS THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM.
Smoking Causes Impotence
Smoking causes the blood vessels in the penis to narrow.
Decreased blood flow to the penis makes it difficult or impossible to achieve and maintain an erection.
Smoking Also Causes:
- penile cancer
- prostate cancer
- decreased sperm count (fewer sperm are produced; conception is more difficult)
- deformed sperm (if fertilization occurs, may lead to miscarriage or birth defects)
- impaired sperm motility (sperm cannot "swim" as efficiently; conception is more difficult)
"When I was having trouble getting erections, my doctor said I should quit smoking. I'm so glad I listened!" – anonymous
WARNING: SMOKING HARMS THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM.
Smoking Causes Uterine Cancer
Uterine cancer is often treated by hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus).
Smoking Also Causes:
- infertility
- cancer of the vulva (external parts of vagina)
- cancer of the cervix ("neck" of the uterus)
- early menopause (increases risk of heart disease)
- increased risk of unsuccessful infertility treatments
"The doctor said that smoking damaged my eggs. I feel sad that I can't have a baby." – anonymous
WARNING: SMOKING DURING PREGNANCY HARMS YOUR UNBORN BABY.
Smoking Causes Premature Births & Low Birth Weight Babies
Premature and low birth weight babies are at high risk for neonatal health problems.
They also suffer more health complications later in infancy and childhood.
Smoking Causes Stillbirths & Spontaneous Abortions
A stillbirth is when a baby is born dead.
A spontaneous abortion is when the foetus dies and is shed from the uterus within seven months of conception.
Smoking During Pregnancy Also Causes:
- birth defects
- high foetal blood pressure
- intellectual impairment of the foetus
- entopic pregnancies (embryo implants in fallopian tube or other abnormal site outside the uterus)
- premature rupture of membranes ("water breaking" too early)
- attachment of placenta to uterus at an abnormal location (can cause maternal bleeding and foetal death)
- separation of placenta from the uterus too early (often results in foetal death)
- infant allergies
- maternal illness (women who smoke during pregnancy report "feeling awful" much more often than pregnant women who do not smoke)
- increased risk of transmitting HIV to the foetus
"When I got pregnant, my husband and I both quit smoking. It was hard, but we did it for the baby." – Anonymous
WARNING: SMOKING HARMS INFANTS AND CHILDREN.
Health Risks for Infants and Children Exposed to Tobacco Smoke
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- intellectual impairment
- behavioural difficulties
- bronchitis
- pneumonia
- trouble getting over colds
- chronic cough or phlegm production
- asthma
- middle ear diseases
- sore throats and stuffy noses
WARNING: CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS SMOKE ARE MORE LIKELY TO START SMOKING.
Set a Good Example for the Children in Your Life: Do Not Smoke!
"When my daughter started having bad asthma attacks, the doctor told me I had to quit smoking. I did, and my daughter hasn't had any trouble with asthma since." - Andries Stayn