Long-Term Effects of Smoking
Most of us are aware that smoking causes lung problems such as cancer and emphysema. However, maybe you didn’t know that smoking also has an impact on a whole range of other health problems including:
- acute bronchitis
- acute myeloid leukemia
- asthma
- atherosclerosis
- bladder cancer
- blood vessel disease
- cataracts
- COPD
- Crohn’s disease
- diabetes
- heart attack
- high blood pressure
- kidney cancer
- low bone density
- mouth cancer
- pancreatic cancer
- peptic ulcer
- pneumonia
- slowed wound healing
- stomach cancer
- stroke
- throat cancer
The bad news doesn’t end there. Smokers also have to deal with some gender-based health problems.
Men who smoke have more problems with:
- erectile dysfunction
- poor sperm quality
- sperm defects
Special concerns for women who smoke include:
- cervical cancer
- ectopic pregnancy
- endometrial cancer
- ovarian cancer
- reduced fertility
- low birth weight baby
- miscarriage
- premature delivery
- SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
Smoking also causes changes in skin texture and tone, and speeds the development of wrinkles.
If you think you’re ready to quit, talk with your Sobeys Pharmacist about smoking cessation aids that can help you break the nicotine habit and get you on the road to better health.
