Every year 8 million people die from tobacco-related ailments, says the WHO on World No Tobacco Day. The American Heart Association & WHO state a significant number of young adults -- 21 to 34 -- use harmful cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vape, flavoured tobacco/nicotine products.
Cigarette smoke holds over 7,000 chemicals, many of them toxic. Substances like arsenic, benzene, chromium VI, cadmium are linked to cancers and organ damage, warns the American Heart Association. Even radioactive elements and harmful metals are present.
When you hold a cigarette near your mouth, residue discolours your fingers. The fumes irritate & dehydrate your skin, making lines and creases more noticeable. Breathing it in through your nose can harm sensory nerves, gradually dulling your ability to detect smell, says Cleveland Clinic.
Smoking is the leading trigger for long-term lung diseases that make breathing difficult, like COPD. It can also make asthma more severe & raise the chances of developing it in both teens & grown-ups, says the Australian Department Of Health, Disbility & Ageing.
Healthline states, smoking and tobacco use, over time, can harm your eyesight and damage the nerves that support vision. It increases the likelihood of developing eye issues like blurred central vision, clouded lenses, pressure-related damage inside the eye.
In addition to causing atherosclerosis, smoking makes it 2-4 times more likely for a person to have a stroke, harming the brain or causing death, states Medical News Today.
Smoking/tobacco keeps your body in a state of chronic inflammation, which lowers your natural defences, according to Cleveland Clinic. You catch illnesses more easily. Nicotine may upset your body’s balance, leading to infertility.
Smoking harms almost every part of the body. It’s a major cause of serious illnesses like heart conditions, various cancers, diabetes, lung diseases. Even being around smokers often can increase your chances of asthma, heart trouble, or lung damage, advises WebMD.