Which diseases are caused or made worse by smoking?
- Lung cancer. About 30,000 people in the UK die from lung cancer each year. More than 8 in 10 cases are directly related to smoking.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. About 25,000 people in the UK die each year from this serious lung disease. More than 8 in 10 of these deaths are directly linked to smoking. People who die of COPD are usually quite unwell for several years before they die.
- Heart disease is the biggest killer illness in the UK. About 120,000 people in the UK die each year from heart disease. About 1 in 7 of these deaths are due to smoking.
- Other cancers - of the mouth, nose, throat, larynx, gullet (oesophagus), pancreas, bladder, cervix, blood (leukaemia), and kidney are all more common in smokers.
- Circulation. The chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of the blood vessels and affect the level of lipids (fats) in the bloodstream. This increases the risk of atheroma forming (sometimes called ‘hardening’ of the arteries). Atheroma is the main cause of heart disease. It is also the main cause of strokes, peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation of the legs), and aneurysms (swollen arteries which can burst causing internal bleeding). All of these atheroma-related diseases are more common in smokers.
- Sexual problems. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to become impotent or have difficulty in maintaining an erection in middle life. This is thought to be due to smoking-related damage of the the blood vessels to the penis.
- Ageing. Smokers tend to develop more ‘lines’ on their face at an earlier age than non-smokers. This often makes smokers look older than they really are.
- Fertility is reduced in smokers (both male and female).
- Menopause. On average, women who smoke have a menopause nearly two years earlier than non-smokers.
Other conditions where smoking often causes worse or more prolonged symptoms include: asthma, the common cold, flu, chest infections, tuberculosis, chronic rhinitis, diabetic retinopathy, hyperthyroidism, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, and Crohn’s disease.
Smoking increases the risk of developing various other conditions including: optic neuropathy, cataract, macular degeneration, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, psoriasis, gum disease, tooth loss, osteoporosis and Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Smoking in pregnancy increases the risk of:
- Miscarriage.
- Complications of pregnancy, including bleeding during pregnancy, detachment of the placenta, premature birth, and ectopic pregnancy.
- Low birth weight. Babies born to women who smoke are on average 200 grams (8 oz) lighter than babies born to comparable non-smoking mothers. Premature and low birth weight babies are more prone to illness and infections.
- Congenital defects in the baby — such as cleft palate.
- Stillbirth or death within the first week of life — the risk is increased by about one-third.
- Poorer long-term growth, development, and health of the child. On average, compared to children born to non-smokers, children born to smokers are smaller, have lower achievements in reading and maths, and have an increased risk of developing asthma.
How does smoking affect other people?
Children and babies who live in a home where there is a smoker:
- are more prone to asthma and ear, nose and chest infections. About 17,000 children under five years old in England and Wales are admitted to hospital each year due to illnesses caused by their parents smoking.
- have an increased risk of dying from cot death (sudden infant death syndrome).
- are more likely than average to become smokers themselves when older.
- on average, do less well at reading and reasoning skills compared to children in smoke-free homes, even at low levels of smoke exposure.
- are at increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer as adults.
Passive smoking of adults.
- You have an increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease if you are exposed to other people smoking for long periods of time. Tobacco smoke is also an irritant, and can make asthma and other conditions worse.
- Unborn babies. Described in pregnancy section above.
Other problems with smoking
- Your breath, clothes, hair, skin, and home smell of stale tobacco. You do not notice the smell if you smoke, but to non-smokers the smell is usually obvious and unpleasant.
- Your sense of taste and smell are dulled. Enjoyment of food and drink may be reduced.
- Smoking is expensive.
- Life insurance is more expensive.
- Finding a job may be more difficult as employers know that smokers are more likely to have sick leave than non-smokers. More than 34 million working days (1% of total) are lost each year because of smoking-related sick leave.
- Potential friendships and romances may be at risk. (Smoking is not the attractive thing that cigarette advertisers portray.)
