Health Effects of Smoking
Additional Risks of Smoking
Updated September 08, 2004
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Smokers have a harder time healing from surgeries, and have more overall health issues than do nonsmokers. This results in more time away from work, and more doctor and hospital visits. Smoking compromises a person's health in so many ways.
· Smokers are more likely to be absent from work than nonsmokers, and their illnesses last longer.
· Smokers tend to incur more medical costs, to see physicians more often in the outpatient setting, and to be admitted to the hospital more often and for longer periods than nonsmokers.
· Smokers have a lower survival rate after surgery compared to that of nonsmokers because of damage to the body's host defenses, delayed wound healing, and reduced immune response. Smokers are at greater risk for complications following surgery, including wound infections, postoperative pneumonia, and other respiratory complications.
· Periodontitis is a serious gum disease that can result in the loss of teeth and bone loss. Smoking is causally related to periodontitis. This may be because smoking affects the body's ability to fight infection and repair tissue.
· Peptic ulcers, which are located in the digestive tract (stomach and duodenum), usually occur in people with an infection caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. Among persons with this infection, smokers are more likely to develop peptic ulcers than nonsmokers. In severe cases, peptic ulcers can lead to death.
· Although only a small number of studies have looked at the relationship between smoking and erectile dysfunction, their findings suggest that smoking may be associated with an increased risk for this condition. More studies are needed, however, before researchers can conclude that smoking is causally related to erectile dysfunction.
The Health Risks Associated With Tobacco Use
Statistics tell us that tobacco steals approximately seven precious lives every minute of every day of the year, world-wide. From heart disease and many forms of cancer to lung diseases that steal our ability to breathe, tobacco is a vicious killer in sheep's clothing. An important step in the recovery process from nicotine addiction is to look closely at the damage smoking causes. As hard as that can be, it will help fuel your resolve to quit smoking, once and for all.
Cigarette Ingredients
The ingredients and additives in cigarettes when burned, create toxic, harmful chemical compounds. Those chemicals, which number 4000 or more, contain poisons and carcinogens that damage our bodies when inhaled directly or indirectly through secondhand smoke. Scientists have yet to identify all of the chemicals present in cigarette smoke, but the body of knowledge on the deadly effects of smoking continues to expand.
Smoking-Related Disease
Cigarette smoking is a loaded gun that can go off without warning. It is most often a slow killer, wearing us down over many years of habit, but not always. It has been known to steal the young and novice smoker as well. Inhaled cigarette smoke leaves toxic deposits in our lungs and other organs, impairing function and poisoning our health. And smokeless tobacco products have been linked to many forms of cancer. Learn about how smoking negatively affects your body and use that information to bolster your resolve to quit.
Teen Smoking
Worldwide, most people start smoking before the age of 18, with nearly one quarter of them trying tobacco for the first time before the age of 10. And, the younger a child is when he or she starts smoking, the stronger the odds are for long-term addiction. Educating our kids about the dangers of tobacco use needs to start at home. Talk to your kids early and often about smoking, and help them develop a healthy hatred for the habit.
Our Stories
Smoking-related disease is snatching our beloved family members and friends away from us at an alarming rate. According to the World Health Organization, smoking related-diseases kill one in 10 adults globally, causing four million deaths a year. While some of the accounts in this section are heartbreaking and difficult to read, they are stark reminders of what may well lie ahead of us if we don't stop smoking. My heartfelt thanks go out to all who have shared their very personal and often painful stories here with us in the effort to help save lives...your life, dear reader.
What Smoking Does to Your Guts
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It's not only the lungs that suffer from smoking.
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Cigarette smoking affects all parts of the body, including the digestive system. This is especially damaging because the digestive system processes the food we eat into substances that are needed for the body to function properly.
Crohn's Disease
Smoking cigarettes has a negative effect on Crohn's Disease. People who smoke, or who have smoked in the past, have been shown to have a higher risk of developing Crohn's Disease than non-smokers. Crohn's Disease patients that smoke have an increased number of relapses, repeat surgeries, and aggressive and immunosuppressive treatment. No one knows why smoking is so damaging to Crohn's Disease. It is theorized that smoking may decrease blood flow to the intestines or trigger a response in the immune system. The risk of Crohn's Disease does not reverse when a person stops smoking.
Heartburn
Heartburn can also be caused by smoking. A valve at the end of the esophagus normally keeps stomach acids from coming back up into the esophagus. This valve is weakened by smoking, allowing stomach acids to enter the esophagus and cause heartburn. Smoking also seems to harm the esophagus directly, which hinders its ability to resist damage. Additionally, smoking interferes with the movement of bile salts. Bile salts move from the intestine to the stomach. When this does not occur, the stomach acid becomes more acidic, and can further damage the esophagus.
Liver
Another organ in the digestive tract that is adversely affected by smoking is the liver. The liver is an important organ which filters toxins from the body. These toxins include medications and other drugs, and alcoholic beverages. The function of the liver may be hindered by cigarette smoke. When this happens, more medication is needed to achieve the desired effect on an illness or disease. Smoking can also aggravate existing liver disease caused by alcoholism.
Peptic Ulcer
A relationship between smoking and peptic ulcers has also been found. An ulcer is more likely, takes longer to heal, and is more often fatal in smokers than in nonsmokers. No one is certain about why this is so, but it could be due to the variety of effects smoking has on the digestive tract. Smoking decreases the amount of sodium bicarbonate produced by the pancreas. Without the sodium bicarbonate, stomach acid is not neutralized the in duodenum (first part of the small intestine). This could contribute to ulcers forming in the duodenum. Also, smoking may cause an increase in the amount of stomach acid that is flowing into the duodenum.
Conclusions
Smoking causes serious, and in the case of Crohn's Disease, irreversible damage to the digestive tract. It's estimated that 400,000 people die each year as a result of smoking cigarettes. These deaths, and the suffering that preceded them, are completely preventable.
The Health Consequences of Smoking
The 2004 Report of the Surgeon General
Updated September 08, 2004
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The Surgeon General is appointed by the President of the United States to help promote and protect the health of our citizens. As the nation’s highest-ranking public health officer, the Surgeon General can direct studies on health risks—such as smoking.
The 2004 Surgeon General’s Report on the Health Consequences of Smoking was prepared by 19 of the country’s top scientists, doctors, and public health experts. The full report is nearly 1,000 pages long and took more than 3 years to complete.
From Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy G. Thompson:
Forty years have passed since the first landmark Surgeon General's report on smoking and health. Yet, smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in this country. It continues to cost our society too many lives, too many dollars, and too many tears.
This new Surgeon General's report illustrates the harmful impact of smoking on nearly every organ in the body. Its statistics and conclusions underscore the necessity of remaining vigilant in our smoking prevention efforts. We've made significant progress in our fight against smoking, but we still have much more work to do. Some of the important findings in this report include:
The 2004 Surgeon General’s Report on the Health Consequences of Smoking was prepared by 19 of the country’s top scientists, doctors, and public health experts. The full report is nearly 1,000 pages long and took more than 3 years to complete.
From Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy G. Thompson:
Forty years have passed since the first landmark Surgeon General's report on smoking and health. Yet, smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in this country. It continues to cost our society too many lives, too many dollars, and too many tears.
This new Surgeon General's report illustrates the harmful impact of smoking on nearly every organ in the body. Its statistics and conclusions underscore the necessity of remaining vigilant in our smoking prevention efforts. We've made significant progress in our fight against smoking, but we still have much more work to do. Some of the important findings in this report include:
· Smoking causes cancers in parts of the body (including the kidney, cervix, and bone marrow) that have not been previously linked to to smoking in this series of reports.
· Smoking diminishes health generally. Adverse health effects begin before birth and continue across the life span. Smoking also causes cataracts and contributes to the development of osteoporosis, thus increasing the risk for fracture in the elderly.
· During 1995-1999, smoking caused approximately 440,000 premature deaths in the United States annually, leading to 13.2 years of potential life lost for male smokers, and 14.5 years lost for female smokers.
· Changes in cigarettes that reduce machine yields of tar and nicotine have not had any clear benefits for public health.
The scientific evidence contained in this new report provides an even stronger reason for action at all levels of society. Measures to prevent smoking initiation need to be strong and enforced, especially among adolescents and young adults. We need to deny our youth access to cigarette purchases and prevent advertising from being directed at them. We need to motivate the millions of addicted smokers to quit and facilitate access to cessation programs and therapies that have evidence of effectiveness.
Four Major Conclusions of the 2004 Report:
Four Major Conclusions of the 2004 Report:
· Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and reducing the health of smokers in general.
· Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits, reducing risks for diseases caused by smoking and improving health in general.
· Smoking cigarettes with lower machine-measured yields of tar and nicotine provides no clear benefit to health.
· The list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, periodontitis, and stomach cancer. These are in addition to diseases previously known to be caused by smoking, including bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, and throat cancers, chronic lung diseases, coronary heart and cardiovascular diseases, as well as reproductive effects and sudden infant death syndrome.
The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General
Fact Sheets and Statistics:
Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy
Continuing to smoke during pregnancy carries risks for the unborn child.
Smoking and Reproductive Health
Smoking is toxic to the unborn child, and studies have shown that getting pregnant may be more difficult for smokers.
Smoking and Cancer: Statistics
Most cases of lung cancer death, close to 90% in men, and 80% in women are caused by cigarette smoking.
Coronary Heart Disease Statistics
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of death caused by smoking.
COPD Statistics
Respiratory disease is an all too common side effect of smoking. The occasional smoker's cough is often the first signal of trouble in the lungs. Chronic bronchitis usually follows, and if left unchecked, the end result can be emphysema.
Smoking and Senior Health
Seniors face increased risks associated with smoking which include hip fractures, cataracts, and COPD.
How Cigarette Smoking Harms Us
There are approximately 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, many of them toxic. The ingredients in cigarettes affect everything from the internal functioning of organs to the efficiency of the body's immune system.
Other Health Effects of Smoking Cigarettes
Smokers have a harder time healing from surgeries, and have more overall health issues than do nonsmokers. This results in more time away from work, and more doctor and hospital visits. Smoking compromises a person's health in so many ways.
Fact Sheets and Statistics:
Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy
Continuing to smoke during pregnancy carries risks for the unborn child.
Smoking and Reproductive Health
Smoking is toxic to the unborn child, and studies have shown that getting pregnant may be more difficult for smokers.
Smoking and Cancer: Statistics
Most cases of lung cancer death, close to 90% in men, and 80% in women are caused by cigarette smoking.
Coronary Heart Disease Statistics
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of death caused by smoking.
COPD Statistics
Respiratory disease is an all too common side effect of smoking. The occasional smoker's cough is often the first signal of trouble in the lungs. Chronic bronchitis usually follows, and if left unchecked, the end result can be emphysema.
Smoking and Senior Health
Seniors face increased risks associated with smoking which include hip fractures, cataracts, and COPD.
How Cigarette Smoking Harms Us
There are approximately 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, many of them toxic. The ingredients in cigarettes affect everything from the internal functioning of organs to the efficiency of the body's immune system.
Other Health Effects of Smoking Cigarettes
Smokers have a harder time healing from surgeries, and have more overall health issues than do nonsmokers. This results in more time away from work, and more doctor and hospital visits. Smoking compromises a person's health in so many ways.
The Effects of Smoking on Vision
There is growing evidence that the effects of smoking on vision may be significant. Cigarette smoke enhances oxidants, which are the chemical byproducts in the body that can damage cells, including those in the eyes. There are strong links between several diseases of the eye and smoking, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
The effects of smoking on human health are serious and in many cases, deadly. There are approximately 4000 chemicals in cigarettes, hundreds of which are toxic. The ingredients in cigarettes affect everything from the internal functioning of organs to the efficiency of the body's immune system. The effects of cigarette smoking are destructive and widespread.
Smoking Effects on the Human Body
· Toxic ingredients in cigarette smoke travel throughout the body, causing damage in several different ways.
· Nicotine reaches the brain within 10 seconds after smoke is inhaled. It has been found in every part of the body and in breast milk.
· Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing affected cells from carrying a full load of oxygen.
· Cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke damage important genes that control the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally or to reproduce too rapidly.
· The carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene binds to cells in the airways and major organs of smokers.
· Smoking affects the function of the immune system and may increase the risk for respiratory and other infections.
· There are several likely ways that cigarette smoke does its damage. One is oxidative stress that mutates DNA, promotes atherosclerosis, and leads to chronic lung injury. Oxidative stress is thought to be the general mechanism behind the aging process, contributing to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and COPD.
· The body produces antioxidants to help repair damaged cells. Smokers have lower levels of antioxidants in their blood than do nonsmokers.
· Smoking is associated with higher levels of chronic inflammation, another damaging process that may result in oxidative stress.
Don't Let The Beautiful New You Go Up in Smoke
Smoking & Plastic Surgery - Q & A With a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Updated: December 01, 2008
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Smokers & Plastic Surgery - Q & A with Adam Tattlebaum, MD
Who makes a good candidate for plastic surgery? (or any kind of surgery, for that matter). Ask the question, and time and again, part of the answer will be this: “non-smokers.” Of course, we all know that smoking is not good for our health or our personal appearance. We know that smoking greatly increases our risk of getting cancer, emphysema, and vascular disease. We know that smoking ages us by staining our teeth, gives us bad breath, and makes our clothes and hair smell.
Obviously, smoking is not going to lead anyone to the fountain of youth. So just in case you needed one more reason to quit smoking, I’m asking the question, “What is it that makes smoking such a no-no for patients undergoing cosmetic surgery?” Here is what Maryland-based board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Adam Tattelbaum, has to say about it.
Q: What specifically does smoking do to inhibit healing and recovery from surgery?
A: Nicotine closes the blood vessels responsible for bringing oxygenated blood to the tissues. In addition to its healing power, oxygen also fights infection and helps to keep tissue alive, as well as being instrumental in delivering important medications like antibiotics. Furthermore, smoking clogs the lungs, and thus increases risk of pulmonary infection such as pneumonia.
Q: What are the worst-case scenario consequences of smoking before and after surgery?
A: Smoking significantly increases the risk of severe infections, pneumonia, and tissue death.
Q: How specifically does smoking accelerate aging of the face and body?
A: Due to the constriction of blood flow and increase of free radicals, smoking decreases the skin’s elasticity (leading to earlier sagging and wrinkling of the skin), and the constant repeated “puckering” action involved in puffing on a cigarette can cause lines and wrinkles around the mouth.
Q: Are there specific surgeries that you will refuse to perform on a smoker?
A: Certain procedures which involve a lot of pulling or altering of blood supply would present more risk for a smoker. These procedures include face lifts, tummy tucks, and the use of tissue flaps as in reconstructive surgery.
Q: Aside from quitting entirely, how long do you recommend patients avoid smoking before and after surgery?
A: Ideally, the patient would quit altogether. However, this is obviously not going to happen with a lot of patients. Generally, it is recommended that a patient avoid smoking for at least 3 weeks before and after surgery.
Reason #999 to Quit
In short, if you are considering plastic surgery, you may also want to seriously consider the idea that this is the perfect time to quit smoking. Surgery always entails some level of risk to your health (even, in rare cases, to your life). Smoking greatly increases those risks. If you are going to go under the knife for the sake of ageless beauty, don’t compromise (or even negate) your results for an addiction which has mostly likely already cost you plenty.
Non-smokers enjoy better and longer lasting results, quicker recovery, and less risk. Sounds like a win-win to me.
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