Get to Know the Lesser-Known Dangers of Smoking

Lung cancer, heart attack, stroke — we all know that these really deadly things could come your way sooner or later if you are a smoker.

Unfortunately, health authorities say that the list of medical nightmares associated with smoking does not end there. This article will get you introduced to some other health problems linked to smoking that you probably didn’t know about.

Not a smoker but got family members and friends who smoke? Then make sure that you share this article on all of your social media sites afterwards so that they may also get acquainted with these lesser-known risks of smoking:

Blindness

It’s no secret that cigarette smoke can make your eyes look red and irritated. Unfortunately, that’s not the only eye-related issue that smoking can bring. According to eye doctors, smoking can also cause you to lose your eyesight in the future because the habit can damage the blood vessels eyes and ultimately the retina — the light-sensitive structure at the back of your eyeballs that provides the optic nerves with signals for the brain to decode.

Diabetes

Everyone knows very well that obesity and a diet that’s high in sugar are risk factors for diabetes. Are you aware that smoking is also something that can increase your risk of having diabetes one day? The problem with smoking is it does not only put you at high risk of diabetes, but also worsen the already serious complications of the said disease.

Colon Cancer

There are so many different types of cancer out there, and we know for a fact that all of them are deadly especially if they’re detected only during the later stages where they usually no longer respond to treatment. There is a form of cancer that’s regarded as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, and that’s colon cancer. There are various risk factors for this deadly disease, and smoking is one of them.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you think that rheumatoid arthritis is a problem that you should worry about only when you’re in your 60s or 70s, think again — health authorities say that even young adults may be at high risk of developing the said debilitating disease especially if they smoke heavily.

GERD

Short for gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD is commonly brought about by things such as obesity, pregnancy and acid reflux that’s poorly managed. Doctors say that GERD can also be due to smoking because this nasty habit can damage the lower esophageal sphincter or LES, the ring of muscles that separates the stomach and esophagus.

Infertility

Reproductive health authorities confirm that smoking can considerably diminish a woman’s ability to bear a child. And even if a smoking woman gets pregnant, there are so many different pregnancy-related complications that may come into being, and ectopic pregnancy and birth defects are some examples of those.

Fractures

Those who smoke are at higher risk of incurring fractures, including especially that which affects the hip. That’s because scientists say that smoking can considerably speed up the rate of bone density loss. Needless to say, smokers are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis, a debilitating disease characterized by weak and brittle bones.

Premature Skin Aging

Are you a beauty-conscious person who likes to remain looking young forever? Then make sure that you turn your back on smoking right this instant. Dermatologists confirm that toxins found in cigarette smoke damage collagen and elastin, both of which are connective tissues that make your skin firm and elastic. Without enough collagen and elastin, it’s for certain that your face will look wrinkly and saggy.

Now that you are well-aware of some of the lesser-known dangers of smoking, it’s undeniably a good idea for you to stop the habit right now. Consider paying your doctor a visit so that you may obtain professional help on quitting smoking— and also to make sure that smoking didn’t wreak havoc on your health. 

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