How does smoking affect your health?

Smoking destroys health by attacking nearly every organ—causing cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung damage, weakened immunity, and even harming unborn children. It is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, responsible for millions of deaths each year. Smoking is deadly in every form—cigarettes, cigars, waterpipes, or bidis. It doesn’t just harm the smoker but also destroys the health of those around them through secondhand smoke.

• Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer in both men and women.
• Mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas, colon, rectum, and cervix cancers are all linked to smoking.
• Increases risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

• Smoking narrows blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and increases clotting risk.
• Smokers are 2–4 times more likely to suffer heart disease or stroke compared to non-smokers.

• Primary cause of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
• Worsens asthma, increases pneumonia and bronchitis risk.
• Damages lung tissue, reduces oxygen supply, and endurance.

• Weakens immunity, making infections more likely.
• Linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Nicotine addiction alters brain chemistry, reinforcing dependence.

• Smoking during pregnancy raises risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Reduces fertility in both men and women.

• Higher risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.
• Gum disease, tooth loss, and jawbone damage.
• Ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastrointestinal cancers.

• Among adults who do not smoke, secondhand smoke exposure increases coronary heart disease risk by about 25% to 30% and lung cancer risk by about 20% to 30%.
• Children face increased risks of asthma, ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

 Source: WHO and Medline Plus