Why You Should Never Smoke
It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your health. In fact, it’s so bad that it’s said to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
So, do you really need to read another article telling you why smoking is bad for you? Probably not. But just in case you’re still on the fence about starting and/or quitting, we’ll explore some of the reasons in detail. There are, as you might imagine, a lot of them.
16 reasons why you shouldn’t smoke
1. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States
Death comes to us all eventually, but smoking drastically accelerates the process. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States – responsible for about 480,000 deaths each year.
This is due to how many toxic and cancer-causing chemicals are found in tobacco smoke, including:
- Tar
- Carbon monoxide
- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Hydrogen cyanide
- Benzene
- Formaldehyde
- Lead
There are, in fact, over 7,000 chemicals in total, and at least 70 of them are known to cause cancer. That leads us to our next point…
2. Smoking causes cancer
We all know that smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer. But did you know that it’s also linked to cancers of the throat, mouth, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, and kidney?
The American Cancer Society estimates that smoking is responsible for about 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States, and roughly 20% of all cancer diagnoses.
3. Smoking damages your heart and your blood vessels
Smoking is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke. It damages your heart and blood vessels in a variety of ways, including:
- making your heart work harder by raising your heart rate and blood pressure
- damaging the lining of your arteries, which can lead to plaque buildup and blockages
- decreasing the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry, which can damage other organs in your body
4. Smoking harms your respiratory system
In addition to causing lung cancer, smoking also damages the airways and the small air sacs in your lungs. This can lead to a variety of respiratory problems, such as:
- chronic bronchitis – an inflammation of the airways that causes coughing and mucus production
- emphysema – damage to the air sacs that makes it difficult to breathe
- asthma – a condition that makes it difficult to breathe due to narrowing of the airways
5. Smoking affects your fertility and can harm your unborn child
Smoking cigarettes can affect both men’s and women’s fertility. In men, it can damage the sperm and decrease sperm count. In women, it can damage the eggs and make them less likely to be fertilized.
What’s more, if you’re pregnant, smoking is especially dangerous. It increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and a variety of other health problems in babies.
Another worrying effect of smoking, if you’re a woman, is that it can lead to early menopause. And if you’re a man, it can cause erectile dysfunction.
6. Smoking is highly addictive
Nicotine, the main addictive substance in tobacco smoke, is just as addictive – if not more so – than heroin or cocaine. In fact, it’s one of the most addictive substances known to man.
When you inhale nicotine, it quickly reaches your brain and binds to receptors there. This causes a release of dopamine, which gives you a feeling of pleasure.
Over time, your brain becomes accustomed to this and starts to produce less dopamine on its own. This leads you to smoke more and more to try to get the same level of satisfaction.
What’s more, nicotine withdrawal is incredibly difficult. Symptoms include irritability, anxiety, depression, trouble concentrating, and increased appetite.
7. Smoking increases your risk of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes your bones to become weak and brittle. Cigarette smoking has been linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).
This is because smoking decreases the amount of calcium that your body absorbs from your diet and also causes your body to break down bone tissue.
8. Smoking can make you look older
If you’re a smoker, you’re more likely to develop wrinkles and other signs of premature aging. This is because smoking damages the elastin and collagen in your skin – proteins that give your skin its elasticity and strength.
Smoking also decreases blood flow to your skin, which can make it dry and thin. In addition, the constant motion of smoking can contribute to the formation of wrinkles around your mouth.
9. Smoking is bad for your mouth and teeth
Smoking is terrible for your mouth, teeth, and gums, and causes a variety of problems, including:
- tooth staining
- bad breath
- tooth decay
- gum disease
- tooth loss
Smoking is also linked to a condition called leukoplakia, which causes white patches to form on your gums, tongue, and the inside of your cheeks. In some cases, leukoplakia can lead to cancer.
10. Smoking increases your risk of developing cataracts
A cataract is a condition that causes your eye’s lens to become cloudy. This can lead to vision problems and, eventually, blindness.
Cigarette smoking has been linked to an increased risk of developing cataracts, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Smoking also increases your risk of other eye problems, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – a condition that causes vision loss.
11. Smoking is expensive
Cigarettes are not cheap, and the cost of smoking can really add up over time. In the United States, the average price of a pack of cigarettes is $6.96 – which means that a pack-a-day habit costs more than $2,500 per year!
And that’s just the cost of the cigarettes themselves. When you factor in the added costs of things like healthcare, dental bills, and increased insurance premiums, the true cost of smoking is even higher.
12. Secondhand smoke is dangerous
Not only is smoking bad for your health, but it’s also bad for the health of those around you. Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes from a burning cigarette, as well as the smoke that’s exhaled by a smoker.
Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous as smoking and exposes those around you, often young children, to the same health risks. This is obviously not fair to them, as they didn’t choose to smoke
13. Smoking is a major contributor to air pollution
Smoke from cigarettes is a major source of air pollution. In fact, tobacco smoke is estimated to be one of the largest sources of indoor air pollution, along with radon and household cleaners.
In addition to the health risks posed by secondhand smoke, cigarette smoke also contributes to climate change. Smoke from cigarettes contains a variety of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
14. Smoking makes you and your house smell bad
Smoking leaves a nasty smell on your clothes, hair, and skin.
In addition, smoke from cigarettes lingers in the air long after you’ve put out your cigarette, making your house or apartment smell bad.
If you’re a smoker, chances are good that your non-smoking friends and family members have asked you to smoke outside to avoid making them smell like smoke.
15. Smoking stains your fingers
Smoking leaves a yellowish stain on your fingers and hands. This is caused by the tar and other chemicals in cigarettes, and it’s almost impossible to remove.
16. Smoking is a fire hazard
Smoking is one of the leading causes of house fires. Cigarette ashes and butts, as well as lit cigarettes, can easily start a fire if they’re not properly extinguished.
Smokers often fall asleep while smoking, which can also lead to house fires. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that 23% of house fire deaths in the United States are caused by smoking.
Conclusion
You were probably aware of some of the dangers associated with smoking, but we bet you weren’t prepared for just how many there are.
The bottom line is that smoking is just a bad idea, plain and simple. There are no benefits to it that you couldn’t get from other, healthier activities.
So if you’re considering picking up this nasty habit, don’t! Don’t even start, as you’ll have a very hard time giving it up. And if you’re already a smoker, do your best to quit as soon as possible. It’s never too late to improve your health!