The Devastating Consequences of Smoking

Newsroom Oct 31 2 min read

This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.

The Devastating Consequences of Smoking ¶

Smoking is a leading cause of numerous diseases, affecting not only the lungs but also the heart, brain, and other vital organs. According to statistics, the number of people who die from lung cancer is higher than that of those who die from any other type of cancer.

Published on October 31, 2019, a study revealed that smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer and is responsible for 87% of lung cancer deaths. The chances of one being alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer is less than 1 in every five positive diagnosis.

Lung Cancer: The leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with smoking responsible for 87% of lung cancer deaths.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): An obstructive lung disease that makes it hard for one to breathe, with about 80% of cases caused by smoking.
Heart Disease: Smoking causes harm to all the organs in your body, including your heart, leading to blockages and the narrowing of your arteries.
Stroke: Smoking affects your arteries, triggering a stroke, which can cause paralysis, slurred speech, altered brain function, and even death.
Asthma: A chronic lung disease that makes it harder to remove air in and out of the lungs, with cigarette smoke irritating air passages and triggering sudden and severe asthma attacks.
Reproductive effects in women: Smoking causes ectopic pregnancies, reduces fertility, and increases the risk of premature and low birth-weight babies.
Diabetes: People who smoke are at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes, with a 30-40% higher risk compared to non-smokers.
Blindness, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration: Smoking damages eyes and can lead to the loss of sight, with macular degeneration being the leading cause of blindness in adults aged 65 and above.
Colon, cervix, liver, stomach, and pancreatic cancer: Smoking causes a range of cancers, including liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and reduces the survival rate for prostate cancer.