Smoking is not just related to overall health problems, but it is also linked to periodontal disease (gum disease), tooth loss, and more importantly, it is the main cause of throat and oral cancers.

Here are some facts of how smoking affects someone’s health:

  • Smokers have an increased risk of heart disease, cancer and emphysema. In fact, emphysema is found almost exclusively in smokers, and 35% of all cancers are related to smoking.
  • Most patients who succumb to lung cancer are smokers.
  • Lung cancer is killing more women than breast cancer.
  • Cervical cancer in smokers is increased 8 to 17 times because of the increased concentration of nicotine on the cervical mucus.
  • No amount of smoking is free of risk. The exact amount of risk depends on how long someone has smoked and how deep were the inhale. Some genetic factors must also be considered.
  • Tobacco smoking reduces the effectiveness of medications, such as pain relievers, antidepressants, tranquilizers, sedatives, ulcer medication and insulin.
  • Smoking destroys certain vitamins.
  • With every puff of cigarette a person breathes in 4,700 different chemicals.
  • Smokers are 4 times more likely to have gray hair and increased hair loss.
  • More than 90% of all regular smokers began using tobacco before age 18.
  • People who smoke are more likely to have sinusitis.

The information above should be used as a reference only. Any medical decision should not be taken before consulting a health care professional.

The masculine gender may have been more used in the article, but without prejudice, to make reading easier.

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