Lung Damage: Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It damages the airways and alveoli in the lungs, reducing lung function over time.
Heart Disease: Smoking increases the risk of heart disease by damaging blood vessels, increasing blood pressure, and promoting the buildup of plaque in arteries (atherosclerosis). This can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular complications.
Respiratory Infections: Smokers are more prone to respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis due to weakened immune function and damaged respiratory tissues.
Cancer Risk: Besides lung cancer, smoking is associated with an increased risk of several other cancers, including throat, mouth, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, kidney, and cervix.
Reproductive Issues: Smoking can affect both male and female reproductive health. In men, it can cause erectile dysfunction and reduce sperm quality. In women, it can lead to complications during pregnancy, including miscarriage, preterm birth, and low birth weight.
Premature Aging: Smoking accelerates skin aging by damaging collagen and elastin fibers, leading to wrinkles, sagging skin, and a dull complexion.
Bone Health: Smoking weakens bones and increases the risk of osteoporosis, a condition characterized by reduced bone density and an increased risk of fractures.
Eye Diseases: Smoking is linked to an increased risk of eye diseases such as cataracts (clouding of the eye's lens) and age-related macular degeneration (damage to the macula, a part of the retina, leading to vision loss).