The effects and dangers of smoking

Immediate effects of smoking include:

One cigarette immediately raises your blood pressure and heart rate and decreases the blood

flow to body extremities.

Brain activity and the nervous system are stimulated for a short while and then reduced

A smoker may experience dizziness, nausea, watery eyes and acid in the stomach while or after smoking

Appetite and senses, such as taste and smell are distorted

Other effects of smoking include:

Shortness of breath

Persistent coughs

Yellow stains on fingers and teeth

Changes in appearances such as facial wrinkles and rubber-like skin

Bad smelling breath, clothes, hair, home, car, and everything around

Decreased sense of taste and smell

Weakened immune system compares to nonsmokers

Possible impotence in men

Women who smoke arss fertile than women who don't smoke

These three images illustrate the effects of smoking on the epithelial cells of the bronchi.
Image on the left shows normal healthy cells in contrast to the images on the right where the cells have become cancerous.

Smoking Increases Risks for:

• Respiratory infections such as pneumonia and chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Heart attacks and coronary disease
• Cancers such as lung cancer, throat cancer, mouth cancer
• Stomach ulcers
• Peripheral vascular diseases

Other Dangers of Smoking:

• Smoking during pregnancy can adversely affect the health of the unborn child
• Second-hand smoking is as dangerous as the first-hand smoking
• Smoking in a room separate from children and others does not necessarily avoid second-hand smoking, because carcinogens can seep into furniture and walls