10 Major Diseases Caused by Smoking

Cigarette smoking has multiple severe consequences when it comes to health. It is often seen as the leading cause of various preventable diseases across the globe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it kills more than 4,80,000 people in large countries like the US, being the direct cause of 90% of lung cancer and COPD deaths.

Are you wondering about the diseases caused by smoking? Then, keep reading this article until the end to learn more about it!

Many diseases come from smoking cigarettes which means sucking in harmful substances. When you light a cigarette, you release over 7,000 other toxic compounds where, at least 70 of them cause cancer or are carcinogenic. One of the chemicals found in cigarettes is nicotine, which affects the part of the brain that releases dopamine.

Tar is another dangerous ingredient found in cigarettes. When inhaled, tar forms a lining on the lungs and air passages, leading to lung injury and chronic respiratory diseases. When breathed in, carbon monoxide has a higher affinity for haemoglobin than oxygen, reducing the amount of oxygen available for transport to all body parts.

As much as cigarette smoking can be addictive and fun, there is no denying the fact about its negative consequences. Smoking causes various kinds of diseases, most of which can be life-threatening. Let us see a list of infections caused by smoking in the following section.

1. Heart Diseases

Now, you must be wondering how smoking affects the heart. Extreme cigarette smoking often causes heart blockages, consequently narrowing your arteries. As a result, blood and oxygen flow to the core reduces. Smoking also increases the formation of plaque in blood vessels. It causes coronary heart disease as arteries are blocked by plaque, causing clots.

Significant symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, chest pressure, pain in the neck, etc. About 80% of adult smokers are at risk of sudden deaths because of heart diseases. The survival rate for heart diseases is 12%-75%.

2. Stroke

While considering various smoking-related diseases, one cannot neglect stroke. As smoking majorly affects your arteries, strokes can be a common health concern with a survival rate of 24%-60%. Smoking causes carbon monoxide, which reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood. On the other hand, nicotine makes your heart beat faster while raising your blood pressure.

Furthermore, smoking can also trigger atrial fibrillation, thereby increasing the chances of stroke. Patients can face symptoms like numbness in the face, arms or legs, sudden confusion, visionary issues, dizziness and loss of balance.

3. Lung Cancer

Lung cancer from smoking is a common health concern. A, Excessive cigarette smoking damages the cells lining your lungs. Furthermore, when you inhale cigarette smoke, it includes cancer-causing substances. Your lung tissues react negatively to these substances.

Smoking is the leading cause behind 90% of lung cancer cases. The common symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and unintentional weight loss. The survival rate for lung cancer is 26%-64%.

4. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

COPD is a common lung disease caused by smoking. It can cause a long-term disability and even early death by making it difficult for patients to breathe. When a cigarette burns, it creates harmful toxins. These toxins weaken your lungs and prevent them from fighting against infections, narrowing the air passages.

Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness, chronic cough, respiratory infections and lack of energy. Quitting cigarettes is a primary way of treating COPD. It has a survival rate of 40%-70%.

5. Cancer

Excessive cigarette smoking can cause cancer in any part of the body. Cancer in the throat, oesophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, etc., are common because of smoking. Cigarette smoke releases more than 5000 chemicals, which can cause cancer. These can also damage your DNA, making it difficult for your cells to repair your DNA.

Cancer has a survival rate of 50%-80%.

6. Visual Impairment and Cataracts

Another significant consequence of smoking is visual impairment with a survival rate of 79%-86%. Tobacco addiction has chances of increasing the risks of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and glaucoma.

Moreover, it can also trigger diabetic retinopathy and Dry Eye Syndrome. Extreme cigarette smoking causes a constriction of your retinal blood vessels. It increases your blood pressure, and AMD's dry and wet forms increase your risks of developing permanent visual impairment.

7. Diabetes

People addicted to smoking are 30%-40% more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes than non-smokers. The high levels of nicotine present in cigarettes make it more challenging to manage and regulate insulin levels in the blood. Moreover, it can reduce the effectiveness of insulin, which makes it difficult for smokers to control their blood sugar levels.

As a result, patients face symptoms like frequent urination, frequent thirst and hunger, unintentional weight loss, blurry vision, fatigue and others. In other words, diabetes has rightfully earned its place in this list of diseases caused by smoking with survival rates of 79%-98%.

8. Asthma

While considering diseases due to smoking, one can mention asthma in this list. It is a chronic lung disease, making it difficult for your lungs to take air in and out. Smoking cigarettes irritates the airways of your lungs, causing their swelling or narrowing. As a result, asthma patients find it difficult to breathe.

The symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing while exhaling, trouble sleeping and flu attacks. As such, doctors often advise asthma patients to quit smoking. However, asthma has a survival rate of up to 99%.

9. Pregnancy Complications

Now that smoking causes heart problems, you should also know about its other consequences. It can cause pregnancy complications, including reproductive effects and premature birth. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg is implanted somewhere other than the uterus. Moreover, it can also reduce fertility in women.

Women smoking during pregnancy often face miscarriage and premature birth. Babies born too early or too small naturally have higher risks of life.

10. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Peripheral artery disease denotes the blockage or narrowing of peripheral arteries that deliver blood to the lower extremities, particularly the legs. This is caused mainly by a disease process known as atherosclerosis, whereby fatty deposits or plaque block an artery. 

Therefore, nicotine causes blood vessels to narrow, restricting blood flow and forming a buildup of plaques, resulting in clotting. Such a reduced vascular system may be manifested in the form of pains and cramps in the legs.

Smoking can cause numerous diseases accompanied by their signs and symptoms. The following is a summary of some of the major smoking-related diseases with their corresponding signs and symptoms:

• Heart Diseases: Chest pain or discomfort, tiredness, irregular heartbeat, swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet, pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or back
• Stroke: One side of the body goes numb and weak, causing abrupt confusion, speaking difficulty, sudden onset of blindness, and loss of stability while walking.
• Lung Cancer: A cough that does not go away, Hemoptysis, Dyspnea, Chest pain, Unintentional weight loss, Fatigue
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Productive coughing, shortness of breath, particularly during exertion, wheezing, or chest tightness.
• Cancer: Unintentional weight decrease, exhaustion, persistent pain (such as back or bone pains), coughing and swallowing troubles, abnormal bleeding.
• Cataracts and Visual Impairment: Weak eyesight, poor vision at night, seeing rings around lights, changing eyeglasses frequently, colourless or yellowing colours.
• Diabetes: Unquenchable thirst and appetite for food, frequent urination, lethargy, blurry eyesight, wounds heal slowly, numbness and prickling in hands or feet.
• Asthma: Difficulty breathing out, whistling sound in the chest when one breathes, airflow obstruction, night-time cough and early morning wheezing, chest tightness.
• Complications during Pregnancy: Giving birth too soon, having a baby whose weight is below normal, the placenta separating from the uterus, and miscarriage. 
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Leg pain or cramps away, tingling or weakness in the legs, one cold leg or foot compared to the other, sore toes, feet, or legs. 

These conditions are greatly influenced by smoking and can be significantly improved if one quits smoking.

Smoking causes a wide range of damage to the body. Here are some of the key damages caused by smoking:

• Lung damage: Destruction of the lung tissue leads to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and a higher chance of getting lung cancer.
• Cardiovascular System Damage: Risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease caused by damage to blood vessels and increased plaque depositing.
• Risk of Cancer: An elevated risk of other types of cancers apart from those inhaled into the lungs, like throat cancer, mouth cancer, oesophagus, and bladder cancer.
• Weakening the Immune System: This can make it easier for infections or diseases to enter the body due to a weakened immune system.
• Sight Loss: This makes a person prone to cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which leads to visual impairment and blindness in some cases.
• Diabetes: Higher chances for type 2 diabetes development and complications related to diabetes, such as poor control over blood sugar levels.
• Respiratory Problems: Chronic coughing, asthma, difficulty breathing, and increased proneness to respiratory infections.
• Problems of Pregnancy: More possibilities of miscarriages, premature births, being underweight among children, and difficulties faced by both the mother and the child.
• Loss of legs: Diminished blood flow to limbs causing pains, ulcers, wounds, and, in worst cases, leg amputation.

⁤⁤Smoking is a major cause of several serious illnesses. Still, many of them can be prevented or reduced risks by taking preventive measures. Some of the measures are:

• Quit Smoking: The major preventive aspect is to quit smoking entirely since it reduces many diseases' risks almost immediately and continues doing so over a long period of time.
• Avoid Secondhand Smoke: Avoid second-hand smoke that can cause many similar illnesses as direct smoking. Stay away from environments with a lot of smoke or wear masks to avoid secondhand smoke.
• Healthy Diet and Regular Exercise: Take on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as engage in regular physical activities to make your cardiovascular system stronger 
• Regular Health Screenings: Attend normal medical examinations or screenings (e.g., lung cancer checkups, heart health monitoring, diabetes) so that the disease can be identified early enough and risk factors managed.
• Use Smoking Cessation Programs: Use things like nicotine replacement therapy options, prescription medicines, counselling support, plus group help when quitting smoking.
• Educate About Smoking Risks: Make more efforts to enlighten people about the harmful effects of tobacco through educational programs, including those held for young people, to prevent them from ever starting.
• Stress Management: When you're feeling like this, it's time to start practising stress management. Try to get some relief from your problems for a while by trying meditation, yoga, or any other hobby instead of smoking cigarettes.
• Limit Alcohol Consumption:  Don't consume too much alcohol because it will loosen your inhibitions and cause you to smoke or resume smoking again. Alcohol and smoking are one of the worst combinations.

These preventive measures can significantly reduce the chances of diseases associated with smoking and lead to a healthier life.

Quitting smoking can be challenging for most people. If you are addicted to cigarette smoking, try the following ways to get rid of it.

• Nicotine replacement therapy with prescription nicotine or OTC patches 
• Chew gums or hard candy to replace the craving 
• Engage in physical activities 
• Practice different kinds of relaxation techniques
• Take professional help
• Avoid such associations that compel you to smoke 
• Think of the benefits of quitting

Health insurance policies normally take care of cases caused by smoking, but this is subject to important considerations. Heart disease, lung cancer as well as COPD are some diseases caused by smoking that are usually covered. However, the level of coverage varies based on the specific plan and policy details of an insured: 

Premiums: Smokers often incur higher premiums because insurers consider them a higher-risk group. This can mean that they pay more for the same level of protection than non-smokers.

Pre-existing Conditions: Sometimes, if a person already has a smoking-related disease before buying insurance, the insurer may place waiting periods or higher premiums, or in some cases, may not cover treatment for that specific condition.

Disclosure: It is essential to be truthful about one's smoking habits while applying for healthcare coverage. If it is found out that someone does not disclose their smoking history when signing up with their health insurer, claims could be denied.

Smoking Cessation Programs: Smoking cessation programs are among the smoking-related diseases that can be provided by health insurance plans through counselling, drugs as well as nicotine replacement therapy on preventive care basis.

Thus, as you can see, there are multiple diseases caused by smoking that affect almost every part of the body. These are primarily life-threatening and can be both serious and expensive. Therefore, it is always advisable to quit smoking or at least reduce the habit to avoid developing such diseases in the future.