EXPOSED!!! THE EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON THE BODY

A lot of people are probably aware of the risks associated with tobacco smoking. But few people excluding health professionals actually know the extent of damage tobacco smoking does to a smoker. Most people I asked about the dangers
of tobacco smoking only mentioned lung cancer as the major danger faced by a smoker....Well, they might be right,,..in a way. Before we move on, I would like you to take a good look at the picture below

Now compared to the first image, that is quite a number and all the illnesses mentioned are proven to be associated with tobacco smoking.. At this point, you are probably wondering why I keep on mentioning tobacco rather than cigarrette...(tobacco is a general name for all tobacco products including cigarrettes, cigars, pipe, 'snuff' or 'utaba'). 
Trivia facts
Cigarettes contain roughly about 600 ingredients..When they burn, they generate more than 7000 chemicals according to the american lung association. Many of these chemicals are poisonous and at 69 of them cause cancer. Many of the same ingredients are also found in cigars, and in tobacco used in pipes. According to the National cancer institute, cigars have a higher level of carcinogens, toxins and tar than cigarettes.
When using a hooker pipe, you are likely to inhale more smoke than you would from a cigarette. Hookah smoke has a lot of toxic compounds and exposes you to more carbon monoxide than cigarettes do..In this part of the world, hookahs, pipes and cigars are not common. The indigenous people tend to resort to cigarettes and tobacco snuffing.
It is also important to note that smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths.
I would go through the effects of smoking systematically...

Central Nervous System
Nicotine is one of the ingredients in tobacco. It is a mood-altering drug. Nicotine reaches your brain in mere seconds and stimulates the central nervous system, so it actually makes you feel energized for a little while...The bad thing is...as that effect  wears off, you feel tired and crave more..Nicotine is habit-forming.
Smoking increases the risk of macular degeneration, and cataracts. This causes poor eyesight. It can also weaken your sense of taste and smell.
When your body is under stress, it produces a hormone called corticosterone which reduces the effect of nicotine. This is why when smokers are faced with challenging situations e.g exams, interview, they tend to smoke more to get the same effect.
Physical withdrawal from smoking can impair your cognitive functioning and makes you feel anxious, irritated and depressed. It can also headaches and insomnia (sleeplessness).

Respiratory System 
When you inhale smoke, you are taking in substances that can damage your lungs. These substances settle on the alveolar membrane and over time, the lung loses its ability to filter out these toxic materials. Coughing cannot clear out these toxins effectively. Smokers have a higher risk of respiratory infections. When the air sacs in your lungs are destroyed, it leads to a condition called emphysema. In chronic bronchitis, the linings of the tubes of the lungs become inflamed. Together, these form the spectrum of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Lung term smokers are also at increased risk of developing lung cancer. Withdrawal from smoking can cause temorary congestion and respiratory pain as the lungs begin to clear out.
Children whose parents smoke are more prone to coughing, wheezing and asthma attacks than those whose parents dont. Children of smokers also have a higher incidence of pneumonia, ear infections and bronchitis.

Cardiovascular system
 

Smoking damages the cardiovascular system through a number of mechanisms. Nicotine causes the blood vessels to tighten, which restricts the flow of blood (peripheral vascular disease). 

Smoking reduces the level of good cholesterol and increases the level of bad cholesterol(atherosclerosis). Smoking raises blood pressure and also the risk of forming blood clots.
Blood clots (e.g emboli) and weakened blood vessels increases a smoker's risk of developing stroke. In long term, smokers are at a greater risk of developing blood cancer (leukemia). Non-smokers are also at risk. Breathing secondhand smoke has an immediate effect on the cardiovascular system. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases your risk of having stroke, heart attack and coronary heart disease.

Integumentary system (skin, hair, and nails) 

The substances in tobacco actually change the structure of the skin. Smoking causes skin discoloration, wrinkling, and premature aging. Smokers usually develop yellow or brown stains on their teeth and skin of their hands. Hair holds on to the smell of tobacco long after you have put out the cigarette..It even clings on to non-smokers ..so beware.



Digestive system
Smokers are at great risk of developing oral problems. Tobacco use can cause gum inflammation (gingivitis) or infection(periondontitis). These problems can lead to tooth decay, bad breath(halitosis) and tooth loss. Smoking depresses appetite.
Smoking increases the risk of developing cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus.It is also associated with kidney and pancreatic cancer. Smoking increases insulin resistance making you more likely to have type 2 diabetes mellitus. Complications of diabetis also develop faster in smokers than non-smokers.



Sexuality and Reproductive system
Restricted blood flow can affect a man's ability to get an erection. Both men and women who smoke may have difficulty achieving orgasm and are at a higher risk of infertility. Women who smoke may experience a wide range of reproductive problems such as early menopause, miscarriages, placental disorders, premature delivery and an increased risk of cervical cancer.
Babies born to mothers who smoke while pregnant are at a greater risk of having low birth weights, birth defects and sudden infant death syndrome. Pregnant mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to have babies with low birth weight and these babies suffer more ear infections and asthma attacks.
  

After all these effects, it is best to steer clear of tobacco use in any form and to try as much as you can not to be a secondhand (passive) smoker. 

Much credit to healthline.com and american lung association for the pictures and information.