Cancer: Smokers are at a higher risk of getting cancer than non-smokers.

Carcinogens, such as tar, present in tobacco smoke causes cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat and gullet. About 90% of lung cancer cases are due to smoking. Smokers can also develop other types of cancers such as bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, cancer of kidneys and esophagus cancer. Female smokers are at a greater risk of cervical cancer. Cardiovascular Diseases: Cardiovascular diseases are diseases of the heart, blood vessels of the heart and other blood vessels. It is a major cause of death due to smoking. Nicotine present in tobacco increases the cholesterol levels in the blood. Cholesterol and other fats get deposited in the arteries, which causes hardening of the arteries. The arteries become narrow, rigid or blocked. Due to atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries), blood clots are formed and this increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Common cardiovascular diseases found in smokers are coronary thrombosis, cerebral thrombosis, coronary heart diseases, blockage in the legs (peripheral vascular disease) and cerebrovascular diseases such as strokes. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): It is a group of health conditions, which blocks airflow and causes difficulty in breathing. It causes health problems such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is breathlessness caused by damage to the alveoli (air sacs). Chronic bronchitis causes frequent coughing with a lot of mucus. Smoking is responsible for about 80% of COPD cases. Smoking increases the rate of decline in lung function to three times its usual rate. Breathlessness starts due to regression of lung functions.

Cancer Tar can react with the cells in the body (in particular those in the mouth, throat and lungs). This can cause cell mutation and if they're mutated in a certain way they will not stop growing. This is a cancerous cell. Of course this can happen to non smokers as well but smoking makes the odds of getting certain cancers much higher. Below are the most common types of cancer caused by smoking. Mouth cancer: Rarer in cigarette smokers than cigar smokers (as most of the smoke goes all the way into the lungs) but still presents a higher than normal risk. Throat cancer: Cancerous cells in the throat, very painful Lung cancer: This affects cigarette smokers the most (not so much cigar smokers as they don't normally breathe it down into there lungs). Did you know that 90% of lung cancer cases are due to smoking, and that if you're a moderate smoker you're 20 times more likely to get it than a non smoker and 40 times more likely if you're a heavy smoker. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) COPD; conditions which cause blocked airflow and makes breathing more difficult. Happens to everyone eventually. But smoking dramatically speeds up the process. The most common types of COPD are, Emphysema: Contents of cigarettes stick to the air sacs and damage them, this then causes breathlessness. Chronic bronchitis: Chemicals in cigarettes cause inflaming of the lungs which make respiratory passages irritated and swollen. Also increases mucus production which damages the lungs. Vascular disease Fatty deposits found in cigarettes clog up the arteries, making them harden up. Blood circulation problems can result. The three most common types of vascular disease are, Cardiovascular disease (the heart): Blood flow to and from the heart is constricted by fatty deposits. This can lead to heart attacks. Cerebrovascular disease (the brain): Blood flow to the brain is constricted. May result in strokes or paralysis. Peripheral vascular disease (the legs): Blood cannot circulate through the legs properly. Can cause leg cramps, and in more serious cases lead to gangrene in the toes and feet which may then result in amputation. You can see now the diseases caused by smoking cigarettes and just how serious they can be. If you're a smoker it may be a good idea to do something about it. When people think of cancers caused by smoking, the first one that comes to mind is alwayslung cancer. Most cases of lung cancer death, close to 90% in men, and 80% in women are caused by cigarette smoking. There are several other forms of cancer attributed to smoking as well, and they include cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, stomach, cervix, kidney and pancreas, and acute myeloid leukemia. The list of additives allowed in the manufacture of cigarettes consists of 599 possible ingredients. When burned, cigarette smoke contains over 4000 chemicals, with over 40 of them being known carcinogens.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death and was among the first diseases causally linked to smoking. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and cigarette smoking causes most cases. Compared to nonsmokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer and women who smoke are about 13 times more likely. Smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80% in women. In 2003, an estimated 171,900 new cases of lung cancer occurred and approximately 157,200 people died from lung cancer. The 2004 Surgeon General's report adds more evidence to previous conclusions that smoking causes cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, lung and bladder.

Cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke damage important genes that control the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally or to reproduce too rapidly. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of esophageal cancer in the United States. Reductions in smoking and smokeless tobacco use could prevent many of the approximately 12,300 new cases and 12,100 deaths from esophgeal cancer that occur annually. The combination of smoking and alcohol consumption causes most laryngeal cancer cases. In 2003, an estimated 3800 deaths occurred from laryngeal cancer. In 2003, an estimated 57,400 new cases of bladder cancer were diagnosed and an estimated 12,500 died from the disease. For smoking-attributable cancers, the risk generally increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the number of years of smoking, and generally decreases after quitting completely. Smoking cigarettes that have a lower yield of tar does not substantially reduce the risk for lung cancer. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing mouth cancers. This risk also increases among people who smoke pipes and cigars. Reductions in the number of people who smoke cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and other tobacco products or use smokeless tobacco could prevent most of the estimated 30,200 new cases and 7,800 deaths from oral cavity and pharynx cancers annually in the United States. New cancers confirmed by this report: The 2004 Surgeon General's report newly identifies other cancers caused by smoking, including cancers of the stomach, cervix, kidney, and pancreas and acute myeloid leukemia. In 2003, an estimated 22,400 new cases of stomach cancer were diagnosed, and an estimated 12,100 deaths were expected to occur. Former smokers have lower rates of stomach cancer than those who continue to smoke. For women, the risk of cervical cancer increases with the duration of smoking. In 2003, an estimated 31,900 new cases of kidney cancer were diagnosed, and an estimated 11,900 people died from the disease. In 2003, an estimated 30,700 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed, attributing to 30,000 deaths. The median time from diagnosis to death from pancreatic cancer is about 3 months. In 2003, approximately 10,500 cases of acute myeloid leukemia were diagnosed in adults. Benzene is a known cause of acute myleoid leukemia, and cigarette smoke is a major source of benzene exposure. Among U.S. smokers, 90% of benzene exposures come from cigarettes. Lung cancer Cancer of the mouth Cancer of the throat Cancer of the larynx Cancer of the oesophagus Stomach cancer Kidney cancer Cancer of the bladder Cancer of the pancreas Liver cancer Cancer of the penis Cancer of the anus Cervical cancer Prostate cancer

Heart attack Coronary heart disease Cardiovascular disease Congestive heart failure Stroke Atherosclerosis Abdominal aortic aneurysm Peripheral artery disease Ischaemic heart disease Angina Leukaemia Emphysema Chronic bronchitis Pneumonia

Asthma Diabetes Stomach ulcers Cataracts Gum disease High blood pressure Crohn's disease Premature aging of the skin Loss of smell and taste Osteoporosis (women) Gangrene Impotence Reduced fertility

Heart Disease Smoking causes atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. This condition is a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries, the Cleveland Clinic explains. Fat and plaque block the blood flow and create narrowing of the arteries. This results in heart disease. The heart has to work harder and the extra strain can result in angina, or chest pain. If one or more of the arteries becomes completely blocked, a heart attack can happen. The more cigarettes a person smokes and the longer a person smokes, the greater the chance he will develop heart disease or suffer a heart attack or stroke. Stop Pulmonary Fibrosis 95% Success, Dissolve Scar Tissue Breathe Better & Increase Oxygen www.pivotalhealth.info Sponsored Links Lung Diseases The risk of getting pneumonia, emphysema and chronic bronchitis increases because of smoking. These diseases are often referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. Such lung diseases can be ongoing and get worse over time until the person finally dies from the condition. People as young as 40 can get emphysema or bronchitis, but the symptoms usually get much worse later in life, according to the American Cancer Society. Lung and Other Cancers Lung cancer has long been connected to smoking, which can also contribute to cancer of the mouth, voice box or larynx, throat and esophagus. Smoking has also been linked to cancers of the bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach and cervix. It may contribute to some leukemia conditions as well. Diabetes Smoking increases the risk of developing diabetes, the Cleveland Clinic says. There could also be a rise in complications from diabetes, such as eye disease, heart disease, stroke, vascular disease, kidney disease and foot problems. Impotence Smoking is a major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease, which narrows the blood vessels that carry blood to different areas of the body. Blood vessels to the penis may be affected, resulting in erectile dysfunction. Blindness

Smokers have an increased risk of developing macular degeneration, a cause of blindness in older people. A study published in the July 2007 issue of "Archives of Ophthalmology" found that smokers are four times more likely than nonsmokers to develop macular degeneration, which damages the macula, the center of the retina, destroying sharp central vision. Researchers are not exactly sure how smoking increases the risk, however. Gum Disease Aside from cancers in the mouth and throat area, smoking increases the risk of gum disease as well as causing tooth and breath problems. Smoking interferes with the healing process by reducing oxygen and nutrients to gum tissue. The tissues are less likely to respond to treatment, resulting in gum damage and loose teeth.
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of death caused by smoking. Smoking is hard on the heart, and the toxins in cigarette smoke cause plaques to form in the arteries, which leads to atherosclerosis, otherwise known as hardening of the arteries.

Coronary heart disease and stroke - the primary types of cardiovascular disease caused by smoking - are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States. More than 61 million Americans suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and other conditions. More than 2,600 Americans die every day because of cardiovascular diseases, about 1 death every 33 seconds. Toxins in the blood from smoking cigarettes contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a progressive hardening of the arteries caused by the deposit of fatty plaques and the scarring and thickening of the artery wall. Inflammation of the artery wall and the development of blood clots can obstruct blood flow and causeheart attacks or strokes. Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Coronary heart disease results from atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. In 2003, an estimated 1.1 million Americans had a new or recurrent coronary attack. Cigarette smoking has been associated with sudden cardiac death of all types in both men and women. Smoking-related coronary heart disease may contribute to congestive heart failure. An estimated 4.6 million Americans have congestive heart failure and 43,000 die from it every year. Smoking low-tar or low-nicotine cigarettes rather than regular cigarettes appears to have little effect on reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of strokes. The U.S. incidence of stroke is estimated at 600,000 cases per year, and the one-year fatality rate is about 30%. The risk of stroke decreases steadily after smoking cessation. Former smokers have the same stroke risk as nonsmokers after 5 to 15 years. Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm.