Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking is a known cause of many diseases, both silent and not-so-silent. While everyone knows about lung cancer and emphysema, you may want to be aware of many other silent diseases caused by smoking. In this post, you will learn about some of those diseases and how they can impact your life. If you are a smoker, it is time to quit! The health benefits are too great to ignore.
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Why Is Smoking So Damaging To Your Health?
It is well-known that smoking cigarettes harm your health, but many people don’t understand the full extent of the damage caused by their consumption. Smoking not only damages the heart and lungs, leading to chronic breathing problems but can also contribute to an earlier aging process in addition to many other diseases such as oral cancer, infertility implications, and arthritis.
In essence, grave physical health risks exist when smoking cigarettes due to the numerous toxins in tobacco products. This damage doesn’t appear overnight – it might take years before smokers start to notice severe differences in their overall health. The best approach is preventive: preventing exposure to these health risks by abstaining from smoking cigarettes completely and thus preserving one’s longevity and quality of life.
Silent Diseases Caused By Smoking
As mentioned in the introduction, most people know that smoking can lead to serious conditions like lung cancer and emphysema, but other diseases may not get as much attention. Here are some of the silent diseases caused by smoking:
Macular Degeneration
Smoking can pose a severe risk to your eyesight, and one of the most significant of these is the development of macular degeneration. This eye disease can cause permanent loss of central vision due to a deterioration of the macula, an area at the retina’s center responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Smoking causes inflammation and oxidative damage in this area, leading to an increased risk for macular degeneration.
Additionally, smokers have significantly lower levels of protective antioxidants around the macula than non-smokers, making them more susceptible to this damaging condition. Fortunately, quitting smoking can help individuals reduce their risk and even improve their existing symptoms associated with macular degeneration.
Type 2 Diabetes
When most people think about type 2 diabetes, they associate it with being overweight or obese. However, smoking is also a significant risk factor for this condition. Studies have shown that smokers are almost twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to non-smokers, even if they are of healthy weight. This increased risk is largely due to tobacco smoke’s impact on the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.
This doesn’t mean that you should assume you are at risk for type 2 diabetes if you are a smoker; it simply means that taking steps to quit smoking may be beneficial in minimizing your risk of this and other chronic diseases. By quitting, you can help prevent inflammation and oxidative damage to your cells, which play a role in developing type 2 diabetes.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Although not as deadly as things like lung cancer, one of the most significant effects of smoking is an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Although scientists have yet to uncover how cigarette smoke causes this inflammatory disease, several suggested connections are consistent with other known physical risks. Smoking is known to reduce the production of vitamin C, which could weaken bones and joints.
Furthermore, the chemicals used in cigarettes may trigger inflammation in your body, and smoking weakens your blood vessels, affecting the circulation of oxygen-rich blood to our tissues which can cause joint damage associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Whatever the exact cause may be, research shows that even minimal exposure to tobacco smoke increases your risk for this debilitating illness.
Psoriasis
Nicotine in cigarettes causes changes in the immune system that can increase the risk of developing certain autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis. Smoking is also one of the most common causes of psoriasis, a chronic skin condition typically characterized by itchy, scaly patches on the skin. In addition, smoking appears to speed up the progression of this disease by exacerbating existing symptoms. Suppose you are an avid smoker looking to reduce your risk of developing psoriasis. In that case, it is vital to quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke exposure.
Unfortunately, psoriasis is a chronic condition, and there is currently no cure. However, by quitting smoking, you can help to lessen the severity of your symptoms and prevent further inflammation in your body. Also, ensure to keep your skin moisturized and protected from harsh sunlight, which can worsen symptoms.
Lupus
It’s long been known that smoking may contribute to the onset of many diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, but it turns out it can even play a role in lupus development. Studies have suggested that there may be a link between smoking and lupus. Those who smoke are more likely to develop the autoimmune disease than those who don’t.
Furthermore, smokers with lupus tend to suffer more severe symptoms than non-smokers with the same illness. As a result, quitting smoking can help reduce lupus symptoms for those already diagnosed with it and possibly prevent further progression of the disease for those at risk.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Although smoking may not directly cause Alzheimer’s, research has found that it can increase the risk of developing this devastating brain-wasting condition by up to five times. This is mainly due to the negative impact that smoking has on the blood flow in your brain. Additionally, it is believed that chemicals in tobacco smoke may trigger an immune response in the brain and lead to changes in specific proteins, ultimately resulting in mental decline and memory loss.
And if you do develop Alzheimer’s, smoking may also make it more difficult for you to manage your symptoms. For example, research shows that nicotine in tobacco smoke can make it harder for medications used to treat Alzheimer’s to enter the brain effectively. So if you are at risk of developing this condition or have been diagnosed with it, quitting smoking should be a top priority!
Be Aware Of The Different Silent Diseases Caused By Smoking
While the exact causes of many of these diseases are still not fully understood, there is evidence to suggest that smoking can play a role in their development. Not only does smoking increase your risk for these illnesses, but it can also make them more severe if you develop them. Therefore, if you want to reduce your risk or manage the symptoms of a disease like the ones on this list, it is crucial to quit smoking and avoid further exposure to tobacco smoke. Many resources are available to help you kick this habit for good and live a healthier life!
