Smoking can produce all kinds of health problems, but two of the most common are emphysema and lung cancer, both of which have an impact on your lungs and capacity to breathe properly. This has a serious effect on your quality of life since you will become unable to walk a lot or exert yourself in any way.
Smoking also has an effect on the brain in that it creates psychological addiction to nicotine. Nicotine addiction is very powerful because it causes the release of opioids which results in a feeling of satisfaction and relaxation.
However, the chemical receptors that acquire the opioids lose their effectiveness by as far as 30% after a while which leads to smokers smoking more and more to achieve the same state of satisfaction. Addiction is nearby.
Smoking is not good for the eyes. The forty odd carcinogenic chemicals in cigarette smoke are not good for eyes, nor is the actual smoke itself as smoking tends to dehydrate the skin and the eyes. Cataracts may be the result in some cases.
Smoking has an effect on your sense of smell which many individuals confuse with the sense of taste. Therefore, smokers may not smell their food properly but put it down to damaged taste buds. This lost sense of smell normally returns a whileafter quitting smoking.
Smoking affects the thyroid because of the cyanide in the smoke. Smokers are more likely to develop hyperthyroidism which has an effect on all the body’s major organs including the skin because of the hormones that the thyroid produces to regulate them. Smokers are also more likely to get the bulging eyes associated with some thyroid issues particularly Graves’ Disease.
Smoking will result in premature aging particularly of the skin which will lose its elasticity early causing sagging and wrinkling. This is brought around by a restricted blood flow in the epidermis which means a restricted flow of oxygen to the upper skin. Collagen and elastin are damaged as a result.
It has been claimed that one cigarette a day kills all the germs in the mouth more effectively than toothpaste, but smokers smoke a lot more than this and that has a seriously deleterious impact on oral hygiene.
Tar from smoke is not healthy for teeth and leaves them yellow and deeply stained. Smokers are fur times more likely to suffer from periodontal disease than non-smokers.
Smoking will impede the flow of blood to the gums as elsewhere, but the impact here is to cause the gums to recede revealing delicate nerves and bone which will react to hot and cold food and drink. Receding gums also allow germs easier access to your blood and a way into your body.
Tooth decay follows more rapidly as food and germ get up behind the shrivelled gums. Smokers are six times more likely to develop cancer of the mouth and throat than usual.
Smoking results in poor circulation which affects the extremities especially the feet and calfs. As the body attempts to work more to deliver an adequate amount of blood to the feet, blood clots and varicose veins can be the result. In extreme cases gangrene may ensue leading to the amputation of toes, feet and even legs.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on numerous topics, is currently concerned with quitting smoking statistics. If you are interested in quitting, visit our web site now: Health Risks to Smoking