Side effects from smoking you might not know about

Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances available. In cigarettes, nicotine is delivered through smoke, which contains more than 7,000 chemical components, hundreds of which are harmful to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For years, cigarette smoking has been linked to lung cancer deaths and heart disease, but the inflammation and chemical toxicity of cigarette smoke can affect more than just your lungs or heart.

“Smoking cigarettes is the single worst thing you can do to your body. Studies have shown that if you could eliminate smoking, you’d dramatically reduce hospital admissions because it causes so many other issues,” said Dr. Marc Rovner, a pulmonologist at IU Health. “The list of health problems caused by cigarette smoking is legion, there are hundreds of things it causes–anything from making your fingernails brittle and yellow to bad breath, teeth rot, tongue cancer, esophageal cancer and bladder cancer.”

Dr. Rovner helps us answer some of the less commonly discussed side effects of cigarette smoking.

Does smoking cause hair loss?

While studies found that there may be a link between smoking and hair loss, it’s unclear if smoking actually causes it. However, smoking does damage hair follicles and discolors hair, nails and the tongue.

Does smoking cause hypertension and high blood pressure?

Yes. Nicotine can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. Inhaling smoke into your lungs raises your blood pressure, constricts the blood vessels and encourages the buildup of plaque in your arteries. Smoking also reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood when you exercise and ultimately increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Does smoking cause acne or skin problems?

The chemicals from cigarette smoke are linked to skin problems, such as wrinkled and dry skin, psoriasis and even skin cancer. While smoking doesn’t actually age your skin, the damage can make you appear older. According to the American Cancer Society, people who smoke are more likely to develop squamous cell skin cancer, particularly on the lips. However, researchers haven’t found a direct link between smoking and acne.

Does smoking cause high cholesterol?

Smoking interferes with how you metabolize your cholesterol, which can lead to higher levels in the body. According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking Cessation, there’s evidence that quitting smoking can rapidly improve levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Does smoking stunt your growth?

Cigarette smoke can affect a child’s growth before they’re even born. Children whose mothers smoked while they were pregnant can have slowed growth, premature birth and increased risk for birth defects. Research is unclear on whether smoking as a young person stunts your growth.

Does smoking affect fertility and reproductivity?

Yes, both male and female reproductive systems can be negatively affected by smoking. Women who smoke can take longer to conceive a baby and smoking increases the risk of primary infertility. Smoking is also linked to earlier onset of menopause.

For men, smoking can increase the risk for erectile dysfunction and lower sperm count. Interestingly, smoking does seem to increase testosterone levels in men.

Does smoking increase your child’s chance of having asthma?

Yes. Smoking during pregnancy is associated with a child’s increased risk of bronchial asthma at three years of age. Parents who smoke in the home also can negatively affect their child’s health.

“People who never smoked can still be at risk for developing the lung condition emphysema,” Dr. Rovner said. “And children in these homes are at a much higher risk for frequent visits to the hospital for issues related to secondhand smoke.”

Does smoking increase your risk of other cancers other than lung cancer?

Yes. The carcinogens from cigarette smoke and the inflammation they cause in the body put you at risk for at least 12 types of cancer. When you quit smoking, the CDC says this reduces your risk for cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, cervix, kidney and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

While smoke in your lungs may not seem to have a direct connection to your kidney or blood, simply inhaling chemicals in cigarette smoke sends these toxins throughout your body.

“You can excrete these chemicals in your bladder, which will bathe your bladder in these toxins,” Dr. Rovner said. “In fact, there are many people who come to us with late-stage cancers–such as pancreatic or bladder cancer–that they don’t notice until they found blood in their urine or they have trouble urinating.”

While the damage that cigarette smoking can cause throughout our body is extensive, some effects of quitting smoking can happen instantly. Within minutes, your heart rate drops, and within a few days, the carbon monoxide in your blood begins to dissipate. The improvements continue from there.

When you are ready to quit nicotine, there are a number of ways to kick the habit and keep yourself busy. It’s important to remember that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances available, and you will need support to quit. Access individual coaching and resources for free at QuitNowIndiana.com or by asking your healthcare provider for a referral to a nicotine cessation program.