Smoking tobacco damages the airways and small air sacs in your lungs, as well as your heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular system). This damage starts soon after you start smoking, and worsens as long as you continue. Smoking tobacco can eventually lead to cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases and other chronic health conditions. In fact, it can harm nearly every organ system of your body.
Smoking tobacco:
• Increases your risk of gum disease and tooth loss
• Lowers your immune system function
• Increases your risk of type 2 diabetes
• Decreases your sense of smell and taste
• Causes premature aging of your skin
• Causes bad breath and stained teeth
• Lowers your bone density
• Increases your risk of rheumatoid arthritis
• Increases your risk of cataracts
• Increases your risk of age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness
• Causes wounds to take longer to heal
Please also be aware that, while there are many forms of tobacco, there is no safe option. E-cigarettes, hookahs, edibles, heat-not-burn cigarettes and smokeless tobacco (snuff and chew) contain some of the same chemicals as regular combustible cigarettes and can cause or worsen numerous diseases and conditions. Staying tobacco free is the best way to protect your health.
