How do cigarettes affect the body? – Krishna Sudhir
Smoking causes more deaths each year than the following causes combined:4Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Illegal drug use
Alcohol use
Motor vehicle injuries
Firearm-related incidents
More than 10 times as many U.S. citizens have died prematurely from cigarette smoking than have died in all the wars fought by the United States.1
Smoking causes about 90% (or 9 out of 10) of all lung cancer deaths.1,2 More women die from lung cancer each year than from breast cancer.5
Smoking causes about 80% (or 8 out of 10) of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).1
Cigarette smoking increases risk for death from all causes in men and women.1
The risk of dying from cigarette smoking has increased over the last 50 years in the U.S.1Estimates show smoking increases the risk:For coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times1,6
For stroke by 2 to 4 times1
Of men developing lung cancer by 25 times1
Of women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times1
Smoking causes diminished overall health, increased absenteeism from work, and increased health care utilization and cost.1Smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease).1,2
Smoking causes stroke and coronary heart disease, which are among the leading causes of death in the United States.1,3
Even people who smoke fewer than five cigarettes a day can have early signs of cardiovascular disease.1
Smoking damages blood vessels and can make them thicken and grow narrower. This makes your heart beat faster and your blood pressure go up. Clots can also form.1,2
A stroke occurs when:A clot blocks the blood flow to part of your brain;
A blood vessel in or around your brain bursts.1,2
Blockages caused by smoking can also reduce blood flow to your legs and skin.