10 Most Significant Diseases Caused by Smoking / Tobacco

As per the WHO data, the tobacco is responsible for killing over 8 million individuals in a year globally, making it one of the biggest public health threats in the world. Over 7 million of these deaths are caused due to direct tobacco usage, while approximately 1.2 million are because of passive smoking.

Illustrated below is a detailed account related to diseases caused by smoking. Read on to know more!

Given below is a list of diseases caused by smoking and tobacco -

1. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is an obstructive lung ailment that makes it difficult for the patients to breathe. It leads to severe long-term disability and early death.

Initially, COPD patients find it hard to stay active in activities such as playing. The conditions usually worsen later on – patients find it almost impossible even to climb a short flight of stairs. Around 80% of all COPD occurs because of cigarette smoking. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the fourth leading reason of death in the United States.

COPD is one of the diseases caused by tobacco use and can lead to several complications in the body, such as -

• High blood pressure in lung arteries
• Respiratory infections
• Depression
• Heart problems

The various risk factors of COPD are listed below -

• Genetics
• Occupational exposure to chemicals and dust
• Exposure to fumes generated from burning of fuel
• Asthma
• Smoking

2. Cancer

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Read on to know about one of the life-threatening diseases caused by smoking!

Cigarette smoking is the top risk factor for lung cancer and is responsible for around 87% of deaths due to lung cancer. An individual diagnosed with lung cancer has a chance of lower than 1 in 5 to still stay alive five years after diagnosis.

Besides lung cancer, tobacco is responsible for causing several other types of cancer. These include cancer of the colon and rectum (colorectal), pancreas, stomach, bladder, larynx, liver, blood (acute myeloid leukaemia), cervix, oesophagus, oropharynx (includes parts of the soft palate, tonsils, throat, and tongue), ureter and kidney, bronchus, and trachea.

Cancer can lead to several complications in the body. Some of these are -

• Difficulty in breathing
• Chemical imbalances in the body like frequent urination, constipation, excessive thirst, and confusion
• Unusual immune system reactions in the body
• Nervous system and brain problems

Some factors increase the risk of cancer in an individual. These include -

• Family history
• Lifestyle habits of an individual
• Age of an individual
• Certain chronic health conditions like ulcerative colitis
• Harmful chemicals like benzene and asbestos present in the environment around an individual
• Smoking

3. Stroke

Since smoking affects the arteries, it can lead to a stroke. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to an individual’s brain gets temporarily blocked. As a result, the brain cells become deprived of oxygen and hence start dying. It is a leading cause of adult disability and the fifth leading reason of death in the United States.

There are several harmful effects of stroke. Some of these are  -

• Paralysis
• Altered brain function
• Slurred speech
• Balance issues
• Difficulty swallowing

The different risk factors of stroke include the following -

• Consuming oral contraceptives or birth control pills
• Diabetes
• High red blood cell count
• History of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Abnormal heart rhythm

4. Heart Disease

Are you wondering, “what diseases can smoking cause”?

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Smoking affects almost everybody's organs, including the heart. It can lead to blockage and narrowing in the arteries, implying less blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Heart disease is one of the diseases caused due to smoking and is still the number one reason for death in the United States.

Heart disease can lead to several complications, including -

• Heart valve problems
• Liver damage
• Kidney damage or failure
• Heart rhythm problems

The various risk factors for heart disease are:

• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• High cholesterol and low levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein or “good” cholesterol)

5. Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disorder that makes it difficult to move air in and out of an individual’s lungs. Cigarette smoke irritates the air passages, thereby triggering a severe and sudden asthma attack. Asthma is a severe disease caused by smoking and affects approximately 25 million Americans.

This disease caused by smoking further leads to several complications, including -

• Permanent narrowing of bronchial tubes
• Lingering cough spell
• Growth delay in children

A number of risk factors increase the chances of developing asthma for an individual. These include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Getting exposed to occupational triggers like chemicals used in hairdressing, manufacturing, and farming
• Having a blood relative (like a sibling or parent) with asthma

6. Premature Babies Having Low Birth Weight

Smoking affects the health of the mother and the baby. Smoking during pregnancy can lead to babies being born prematurely and/or with low birth weight. Babies born too small or too early have a higher risk of health complications and death.

Though all premature babies do not experience complications, there are possibilities of several long-term and short-term health issues. Some of these complications include -

• Brain problems
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Temperature control problems
• Cerebral palsy
• Impaired learning
• Dental problems

There are some known risk factors of a premature delivery like -

• Smoking
• Being overweight or underweight before pregnancy
• Multiple abortions or miscarriages
• Conceiving through in vitro fertilisation
• An interval of lower than 6 months between pregnancies

7. Reproductive Effects

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Smoking can lead to ectopic pregnancy in women. In an ectopic pregnancy, a fertilized egg implants at someplace else other than the uterus. In this condition, the egg cannot survive, and if it is left untreated, it can prove to be life-threatening for the mother. Smoking also leads to lowered fertility, thereby making it highly difficult to get pregnant. It also negatively affects the sperm quality in men, thereby again leading to fertility issues.

Some of the health effects of reproductive problems occurring due to smoking include -

• Increased rates of miscarriage
• Problems involving the fallopian tubes like blockages that prevent sperm and egg from meeting
• Cervical changes and an increased risk of developing cervical cancer

There are several risk factors of reproductive issues in men and women that include -

• Smoking
• Age of an individual
• Being underweight or overweight
• Excessive alcohol consumption

8. Eye Problems

Smoking damages an individual’s eyes and can lead to vision loss, thereby causing blindness – the leading reason for blindness in adults aged 65 years and more.

Besides blindness, problems in the eye because of smoking can lead to several other complicated conditions, such as -

• Cataracts
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Dry Eye Syndrome

The various risk factors of eye-related problems include:

• Smoking
• Age of an individual
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Family history

9. Diabetes

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is higher by 30% to 40% for smokers compared to non-smokers. Plus, smoking raises the risk of complications after an individual gets diagnosed with diabetes. Some of these complications include kidney disease, heart ailments, nerve damage, poor blood flow to feet and legs, resulting in infections and possible amputation, and blindness.

Diabetes can lead to a number of complications such as -

• Cardiovascular disease
• Kidney damage (nephropathy)
• Eye damage (retinopathy)
• Foot damage
• Hearing impairment

The different risk factors of diabetes are -

• Family history
• Age of an individual
• Smoking 
• Having prediabetes
• Being physically active for less than  3 times per week
• Being overweight

10. Dental Problems

Smoking raises the risk of tooth sensitivity, gum diseases, and tooth loss. After an individual develops gum damage, smoking further makes it harder for them to heal.

Wondering “what oral diseases are caused by tobacco”?

Bad oral health or dental problems can result in several health problems, such as -

• Dementia
• Oral cancer
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Some risk factors of dental issues include -

• Genetics
• Stress
• Age of an individual
• Tobacco usage 
• Obesity
• Poor nutrition

In order to control diseases caused by smoking and tobacco, individuals must stay away from smoking and tobacco. Some of the best preventive measures to do the same include the following -

1. Avoiding Triggers

Tobacco urges tend to be the strongest in situations or places where an individual has often chewed or smoked tobacco. These include parties, tea/coffee breaks or feeling stressed. Individuals must identify their triggers and have a plan to avoid them altogether.

2. Opting for Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy options include the following -

• Prescription non-nicotine medications to stop smoking like varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Zyban)
• Over-the-counter nicotine lozenges, patches, and gums
• Prescribed nicotine in the form of an inhaler or nasal spray

Short-acting therapies like nicotine lozenges, inhalers, gums, and nasal sprays can help overcome cravings and hence keep diseases caused by smoking away. Generally, these short-acting nicotine replacement therapies are safe to use along with long-acting nicotine patches or medications.

3. Doing Some Physical Activity

Physical activity helps distract tobacco users from cravings and lowers their intensity. Individuals can opt for a short burst of physical activity like taking the stairs a few times or going for a walk or jogging— these can keep a tobacco craving away.

From the above list of diseases caused by smoking, it is quite evident that tobacco usage leads to several health issues, and one should always refrain from using it. Individuals willing to quit using tobacco can look for other ways apart from the top ones mentioned above.