What does Smoking do to the Body?
Summary
Tobacco, a silent killer, poses grave risks to human health, causing nearly 8 million deaths annually worldwide, including 1 million in India. Smoking primarily affects the lungs and heart but impacts every system in the body. Inhaled tobacco smoke, rich in carcinogens, inflames airways and damages lung tissue, leading to chronic diseases like COPD, asthma, and lung cancer. It also increases risks of heart disease, stroke, and arterial blockages. Nicotine addiction disrupts brain chemistry, heightening vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases, while smoking damages the digestive, reproductive, immune, and skeletal systems, causing ulcers, infertility, weakened immunity, and osteoporosis. Additionally, it accelerates skin aging and hair loss. Quitting smoking is challenging but crucial. Strategies include behavioral support, nicotine replacement therapy, stress management, and professional cessation programs. With the right support, individuals can overcome nicotine addiction and reclaim their health, proving that quitting is a life-saving decision.
Tobacco – The silent killer
Smoking cigarettes has many undesirable effects on the body and the mind. Cigarettes are particularly known for raising the smoker’s risk of serious heart and respiratory diseases. Tobacco forms many toxic compounds when burnt, which are then inhaled by the smoker. Unfortunately, people who are in the vicinity of smokers also face a significant risk from second-hand smoke. This includes children, elderly people and other innocents. Smoking is a global public health issue that is responsible for the death of almost 8 million people every year. In India alone, this statistic stands at almost a million deaths annually.
Impact of Smoking on the Human Body
Although smoking primarily affects the lungs and heart, its harmful impact doesn’t end there. All of the systems of the human body are interlinked and smoking affects all of them.
Impact on the Respiratory System
The respiratory system suffers the most damage from smoking. This is because when a person smokes, they directly inhale the smoke into the lungs. The mouth, nose, windpipe and lungs face the harshest initial impact. According to respiratory specialists, when tobacco is burned, it releases many known carcinogens and creates small particles suspended in the smoke. When inhaled into the lungs, all these harmful substances come in contact with the tiny hair-like structures in the respiratory tract and get stuck. The smoke is hot and inflames the airways, causing swelling. This can cause acute respiratory distress, and in extreme cases, asphyxiation. Smoking is the leading cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. The carcinogens in tobacco smoke can damage the cell DNA and cause cancerous growths in the lung tissue, oral cavity, throat.
Also Read: A Doable Plan to Quit Smoking
Impact on the Cardiovascular System
Smoking is also bad for the heart and the circulatory system. Smoking increases a person’s risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. The smoke inhaled through the lungs gets into the blood stream and travels to the brain. The harmful substances in the smoke contribute to plaque in the arteries. Plaque is a hard build-up of fat, wastes and other toxins in the blood. It sticks to the walls of the blood vessels, making them hard and rigid. Over time, the build-up of plaque can cause the blood vessels to narrow or even become blocked. This causes high blood pressure or stops blood flow to certain tissues. For patients with diabetes and high cholesterol, this risk factor is multiplied.
Impact on the Nervous System
Nicotine is the primary component of tobacco that alters the smoker’s brain chemistry. It releases a burst of dopamine once it reaches the brain, simulating feelings of pleasure. However, it is also a highly addictive substance and can cause permanent damage to the brain. According to neurologists, smoking is associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline, i.e. a gradual loss of thinking abilities, including memory, attention, reasoning and learning. People who smoke also have a higher chance of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The smoke causes oxidative stress in the brain cells. It also leads to reduced blood flow to the brain, and can increase risk of brain stroke, resulting in permanent brain damage.
Impact on the Digestive System
Smoke doesn’t only go into windpipe and lungs when inhaled. It also enters the oesophagus and the gastrointestinal tract. Smoking increases a person’s risk of heartburn and GERD. This is because smoke inhalation weakens the oesophageal sphincter muscle, and allows stomach acid to flow back up. Smoking also increases the chances of getting a helicobacter pylori infection, and can lead to peptic ulcers. Smoking also causes colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer and oesophageal cancer. For patients who suffer from chronic inflammatory bowel conditions like Crohn’s disease, smoking worsens their symptoms and worsens inflammation.
Impact on the Reproductive System
Smoking causes erectile dysfunction in men. This happens because damage to the blood vessels causes reduced blood flow to the penis. Smoking is also known to lower sperm count, damage sperm DNA and reduce male fertility. Smoking also negatively impact hormone production. This is applicable to both men and women. In women, smoking increases the chances of complications during pregnancy. Women who smoke also have higher rates of infertility and reduced ovarian reserve. Smoking can also cause premature menopause.
Impact on the Immune System
Smoking suppresses the immune system. It goes against the body’s natural instinct to inhale harmful, toxic gases. So, when someone smokes routinely, they are effectively suppressing their body’s natural instinct to defend itself. This weakens the immune system, and reduced the body’s innate capacity to fight infectious diseases. Smoking also affects the functioning of while blood cells and increases a person’s risk of auto-immune disease.
Impact on the Skeletal System
Smoking reduces the body’s ability to absorb calcium from the diet and slows the production of bone-forming cells called osteoblasts in the bone marrow. Smoking also affects the balance of oestrogen in the body, which women need to build strong bones. This is the reason many smokers suffer from low bone density. This makes them very susceptible to fractures, and the resultant fractures will also take longer to heal. Smoking increases the risk of osteoporosis in people above 35 years of age.
Also Read: “Smoking is injurious to health” – Myths, facts and risks
Impact on the Skin and Hair
Smoking accelerates skin aging. This is due to the toxins and free radicals it releases into the blood stream. These travel to the skin, resulting in skin aging and reduced collagen production. Smokers are also more prone to wrinkles, pigmentation and other forms of skin damage. Reduced blood flow to the scalp in smokers can also cause premature greying and hair loss.
Strategies to Quit Smoking
From the impacts discussed above, it is clear that quitting smoking is one of the most beneficial health decisions a person can make. There are numerous evidence-based studies that suggest the same. However, due to the addictive nature of nicotine, this can be a difficult task. Here are some tried and tested strategies you can use to quit smoking for good.
Behavioural Strategies – Smoking triggers dopamine kicks in the brain. One of the best ways to frame the problem is to ask – Why do we crave these dopamine kicks? Many people who have quit smoking have benefited from professional counselling, in both individual and group settings, to understand more about why they smoke, so they can find a permanent reason to quit. They may also find uncommon, but healthy, coping strategies that work for them.
Medical Treatments – Nicotine is addictive and suddenly quitting smoking can cause intense nicotine withdrawals with physical symptoms like nausea and chills. To reduce the withdrawals, you could try products like nicotine patches, chewing gums or inhalers. Do your research to find safe products in your area, and when in doubt please consult a medical professional on the correct dosage to use.
Lifestyle changes – To compensate for the lack of dopamine in your brain caused by quitting smoking, identify other activities that could compensate for it. For example, exercise is known to trigger a dopamine response in the brain. It gives you that post-exercise high. Dancing, playing with a pet or a child or just doing an activity you enjoy can also give you the same effects. Try to divert your mind into these enjoyable activities while you resist the urge to smoke. Stress management techniques like yoga, meditation and massage can also be useful.
Family and Social Support – Having a strong network of friends and family to support you through this journey can be helpful too. If you have a buddy who is also trying to quit, maybe you can keep each other accountable, and be there for each other when the temptation to smoke strikes.
Professional Cessation Programs – There are many online and in-person professional programs available to quit smoking. These comprehensive programs will educate you and equip you with the tools to react responsibly in different situations when you might want to return to smoking. Do some research and find a reliable program according to your convenience.
At Kauvery Hospital, with branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, we are dedicated to assisting you on your journey to a smoke-free life. Our specialists provide comprehensive support, from understanding the risks of smoking to implementing effective quitting strategies. Choose health, choose life at Kauvery Hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does smoking affect the lungs?
Smoking damages lung tissue, causes inflammation, and increases the risk of COPD, asthma, and lung cancer.
2. Can smoking lead to heart problems?
Yes, smoking increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and blocked arteries due to plaque buildup.
3. Does smoking affect fertility?
Yes, smoking can cause erectile dysfunction in men and fertility issues in women, including pregnancy complications.
4. What are some effective ways to quit smoking?
Behavioral therapy, nicotine replacement therapy, exercise, and professional cessation programs can help.
5. Can smoking weaken the immune system?
Yes, smoking suppresses the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infections and diseases.
6. Where can I get support to quit smoking?
Kauvery Hospital offers expert support to help you quit smoking with medical and lifestyle strategies.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.
Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 • Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801
- Feb 13, 2025