Psychology Online

Smoking diseases

Synonyms

Tobacco smoking, nicotine consumption, nicotine abuse

English: tobacco smoking

Illnesses from Smoking

Active smoking

Tobacco smoking is associated with a wide variety of diseases:

Lung cancer
Throat cancer
Heart attack, cardiovascular disease
Respiratory diseases
Addiction
other cancers
Osteoporosis (bone loss)
Changes in the eyes
Impotence in men
in pregnant women endangerment of the adequate development of the fetus
Read more about this at: How dangerous is smoking during pregnancy?

Smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer; in Germany, 90% of men and 60% of women use nicotine as the cause of this type of cancer.

Here you will find information on the topic: How do you recognize lung cancer?

Read also: Consequences of Smoking

Formed by the effect of smoking on the vessels Heart attack, stroke or peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD, "Smoker's leg"). Vascular constriction occurs in connection with hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), so that the vessels clog and cause diseases.

Smoking also affects the respiratory system. Nicotine users often suffer from acute respiratory infections and develop one over time COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), this is indicated by to cough with expectoration, shortness of breath (dyspnoea), inflammation of the bronchi (bronchitis) as well as overinflation of the lung (Emphysema).

Furthermore, smokers suffer more frequently chronic bronchitis, because the cilia as the natural defense system of the bronchi that remove foreign bodies are damaged by tobacco smoke. Pollutants are deposited in this way and provide a breeding ground for germs to multiply (bacteria, viruses), which leads to inflammation. Due to the damage to the cilia, the so-called "Smoker's cough“Which is a defense mechanism of the lungs to eliminate the harmful particles.

The respiratory disease asthma is also triggered by smoking.

The types of cancer that result from smoking are diverse. The urinary tract (bladder, Kidney cancer), female sexual organs (breast, cervical cancer), the gastrointestinal system (colon, esophagus, liver, stomach, pancreatic cancer) or the area of the mouth (throat, Throat cancer). Blood cancer (leukemia) is one of the tobacco-associated forms of cancer.

Smokers also suffer more from osteoporosis (bone loss), as the ingredients in tobacco smoke use vitamin D to bind free radicals, which is responsible for bone metabolism, among other things. In addition, some smoke components bind calcium, which is important for the bones. The consequence is an increased fragility of the bones in smokers.

Changes in the eyes caused by smoking affect firstly the lens of the eye and secondly the retina. Tobacco consumption causes changes to the lens, a "cataract" develops (cataract), a lens opacity. On the retina, pathological changes occur in parts of the retina (macular degeneration), which lead to visual disturbances. The causes of the diseases mentioned are changes in the eye vessels with subsequent circulatory disorders (lack of oxygen), a lack of removal of harmful metabolic products and the transport of toxic smoke components, which in turn causes retinal cells to die (Macular degeneration) or the lens becomes cloudy (cataracts).

Men who smoke are more likely to suffer from impotence (erectile dysfunction) than non-smokers. This is due to the vascular changes described above, which also affect the penile vessels. Due to the narrowing of the veins, the blood supply to the erectile tissue decreases and thus prevents an erection.

Pregnant women who smoke put the unborn child at risk. Tobacco consumption increases the risk of premature birth and growth disorders (Dystrophy). In addition, increased child mortality is associated with smoking.

Passive smoking

Like active smoking, regular passive smoking leads to a variety of diseases:

Cancer: lung cancer, breast cancer
Heart disease
stroke
Respiratory tract: irritation of the mucous membranes, respiratory diseases, asthma
Children: asthma, bronchitis, otitis media
Infants: lower birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS = sudden infant death syndrome)