How Smoking is Injurious to health

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It is known to everyone that cigarette smoking is harmful and

addictive. But very few know the risks of cigarette addiction.

Smoking inflicts body with many irreversible damages and reduces the

human life span by 25 years.

 

Effects of Smoking on Body:

 

Heart : Smoking is the biggest risk factor for all heart diseases.

It accelerates the process of fat deposition in the inner walls of

arteries (atherosclerosis). It increases blood pressure and heart

rate. Not only these, smoking increases tendency for the blood to

clot. It reduces the capacity of a person to exercise. (Exercises

always keep heart healthy).

 

Lungs : Smoking destroys small hairs present in upper parts of

airways. In normal persons these hairs protect lungs from germs,

dust and other harmful particles. When this natural cleaning system

is damaged germs, dust, smoke and other harmful chemicals enter

lungs causing infection, cough and lung cancer. The air sacs of

lungs (alveoli) get permanently damaged causing difficulty in

breathing.

 

Digestive system: Smoking causes heart burn ,delays healing of

peptic ulcers, increases risk of crohn's disease and formation of

gall stones. It affects liver and increases chances of stomach

cancer.

 

Legs: Smoking affects blood vessels of legs causing chronic pain in

legs. This may further progress to cause gangrene of toes or feet.

 

Eyes: The sensitive blood vessels of eye are easily damaged by

smoking. This causes blood shot appearance of eyes and itching. In

heavy smokers it may lead to degeneration and loss of eyesight.

Smokers are at an increased risk of cataracts.

 

Skin : Due to smoking the skin is deprived of oxygen and it loses

its texture. An average smoker looks 5 years older than his healthy

non smoking counterparts. The skin loses its healthy glow and takes

on a yellowish-gray cast. The more cigarettes smoked, the worse skin

will look. Wrinkles start appearing very quickly as smoking affects

elastic tissues of skin.

 

Bones: It accelerates the process of osteoporosis

 

Cancer: Smoking causes cancer of lungs, larynx, oral cavity,

pharynx, oesophagus and bladder. Tobacco smoke contains more than 60

substances which cause cancer. 87% lung cancer death occurs due to

smoking.

 

Reproductive system: Smoking reduces fertility in both men and women.

 

In women: Smoking imbalances estrogen hormone in women. It causes

dryness of vagina and reduces blood flow to genital organs. Women

who smoke can get diseases of fallopian tubes and their egg

production is affected. Smoking can cause abortion. It accelerates

aging process and can cause early menopause.

 

The growth of baby retards when mother smokes in pregnancy. It

affects the brain development of baby and reduces IQ. This happens

even when mother is a passive smoker. The chances of miscarriage,

premature birth and fetal death increase.

 

In men: Smoking impairs erections and can become a reason for

erectile dysfunction. It affects semen and also reduces sperm count

and impairs sperm motility. But these are reversed after stopping

smoking.

 

Hence quit smoking. Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-

term benefits for you and your loved ones

 

 

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an

Ayurvedic Physician and web master of http://www.ayurhelp.com

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http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/smoking_injurious.htm