The impact of smoking on humans - shocking photos

Effects of smoking on the respiratory system

Exposure to tobacco smoke on the respiratory system includes
✔ irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box)
✔ decrease in lung function and shortness of breath due to edema and narrowing of the airways of the lungs and excess mucus in the lungs
✔ Disruption of the lung cleaning system, resulting in accumulation of poisonous substances that irritate and damage the lungs
✔ increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as cough and wheezing
✔ irreversible damage to lung air sacs.

Effects of smoking on the circulatory system

The circulatory effects of tobacco smoke include
✔ high blood pressure and heart rate
✔ narrowing (tightening) of the blood vessels in the skin, resulting in a decrease in skin temperature
✔ less oxygen carried by the blood during exercise
✔ "stickier" blood, which is more likely to clot
✔ damage to the mucous membrane of the arteries, which is considered a factor contributing to atherosclerosis (accumulation of fatty deposits on the walls of arteries)
✔ decreased blood flow to the limbs (fingers and toes)
✔increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to impaired blood supply.

Effects of smoking on the immune system

Immune effects of tobacco smoke include
✔ greater susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and influenza
✔ more severe and long-lasting disorders
✔ decrease in the level of protective antioxidants (such as vitamin C) in the blood

Effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal system

Влияние курения на опорно-двигательный аппарат

The effects of tobacco smoke on the musculoskeletal system include:
✔ specific muscle tension
✔ reduction of bone density.

Effects of smoking on the genitals

Exposure to tobacco smoke in men includes increased risk of
✔ fewer sperm
✔ higher percentages of deformed sperm
✔ genetic damage of semen
✔ impotence, which can be caused by the influence of smoking on the bloodstream and damage to the blood vessels of the penis.

Exposure to tobacco smoke in women includes

Воздействие табачного дыма на женский организм

✔ decreased fertility, menstrual irregularities, or absence of menstruation
✔ menopause occurred one or two years earlier
✔ increased risk of cervical cancer
✔ If people who smoke are over 35 and take oral contraceptives, the risk of stroke and heart attack is significantly increased.

Other effects of smoking on body

Другие последствия курения для организма

Other effects of tobacco smoke on the body include
✔ irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines
✔ increased risk of painful ulcers along the digestive tract
✔ decreased ability to smell and taste
✔ premature skin wrinkling
✔ higher risk of blindness
✔ gum disease (periodontitis).

Amazing ways to influence smoking on your appearance and life

Which twin smokes?

There may not be a source of youth, but there is a sure way to make yourself look older. Smoking alters skin, teeth and hair in ways that can add years to your appearance. It also affects everything from your fertility to the strength of your heart, lungs and bones. Take a look at these neighboring photos. Can you recognize a smoker? Check your selection and take a closer look on the next slide.

Signs of tobacco smoking

Twins B had smoked half a pack a day for 14 years, and their sisters had never smoked. Flaccid skin under the eyes is typical of smokers, said Bachman Gayuron, a medical doctor at Case Western Reserve University. This is one of several visible signs—shown in the following slides—that tobacco by-products inside your body are hurting your appearance. The B twins also received more sun, which also damaged their skin on the outside.

Poor skin tone

Smoking chronically deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients. Some smokers appear pale, and others appear unevenly colored. These changes can begin at a young age, according to dermatologist Johnette Carey, MD, of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "We don’t usually see a big uneven skin tone in young non-smokers," Keri says. "But it's developing faster in people who smoke."

Flaccid skin

Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals, and many of them break down collagen and elastin. These are fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. Smoking, or even secondhand smoke, "destroys the building blocks of the skin," Keri says. Consequences include sagging skin and deeper wrinkles.

Hung arms and chest

Smoking not only ruins the appearance of your face, but can also affect your figure. As the skin loses its elasticity, parts that were once supple may begin to droop. This includes the inside of the arms and chest. Researchers have identified smoking as the main cause of breast drooping.

Wrinkles around lips

Smoking deals a double blow to the area around the mouth. First, you have a smoker's crease. "Smokers use certain muscles around the lips that cause them to have dynamic wrinkles that non-smokers don’t have," Carey says. Second, you lose your elasticity. Taken together, these factors can result in deep wrinkles around the lips.

Spots pigmented

Spots are darker-colored patches that are common on the face and hands. Although any person can get these spots if they spend too much time in the sun, research shows that smokers are more susceptible to them. In this image, the twin on the right has been smoking and sunbathing for decades, and his sister has not.

Damaged teeth and gums

Yellow teeth are one of the most famous consequences of long-term smoking, but the damage to teeth does not end there. People who smoke often develop gum disease, persistent bad breath, and other problems with oral hygiene. Smokers are twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers.

Painted fingers

Do you think your hand looks sexy with a cigarette between your fingers? If you've been smoking for a while, look carefully at your nails and hand skin. Tobacco can actually leave stains on the skin and nails, as well as on the teeth. The good news is that these spots tend to disappear when you quit smoking.

Hair loss

In both men and women, the hair becomes thinner with age, and smoking may accelerate the process. Some studies even suggest that people who smoke are more likely to have baldness. Researchers from Taiwan have identified smoking as a clear risk factor for male-pattern baldness in Asian men.

Cataract

Even the eyes are vulnerable to exposure to tobacco. Smoking increases the likelihood of cataracts with age. These are cloudy areas on the lens of the eye that prevent light from reaching the retina. If they cause serious vision problems, they are treated surgically.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic disorder that most often causes thick, scaly patches on the skin—usually on the knees, elbows, head, hands, feet, or back. Spots may be white, red, or silver. Recent studies suggest that smokers have a higher risk of developing psoriasis.

Crow's feet around eyes

In all, wrinkles appear on the outside of the eyes sooner or later, but in smokers, they appear earlier and become deeper. Heat from burning cigarettes and frenzies, so that the smoke does not get into the eyes, contribute to the appearance of visible "goose feet". Meanwhile, chemicals from inhaled tobacco cause internal damage to the skin structures and blood vessels around the eyes.

How quitting improves your appearance

Как отказ от курения улучшает вашу внешность

Quitting smoking can improve your appearance. As your blood circulation improves, your skin gets more oxygen and nutrients. It can help you develop a healthier complexion. If you don't smoke, the stains on your fingers and nails will disappear. You may even notice that your teeth are whiter.

Skin Damage Control: Creams

When you stop smoking, you make your skin more resistant to premature aging. As for the wrinkles and pigment spots you already have, not everything is lost. Keri, a dermatologist at the University of Miami, says there are products that former smokers can use to make their skin look better. These include topical retinoids and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. She also recommends applying sunscreen every day.

Skin Damage Control: Procedures

For more impressive results, some former smokers choose beauty treatments. Laser skin grinding and chemical peeling remove the outer layers of the skin where the damage is most noticeable. "Reward yourself with a couple of skin care treatments," Keri suggests. "When you see the benefits of more beautiful skin, you may be motivated to give up nicotine."

Fragile bones

Everyone knows that smoking harms the lungs, but studies have found additional, surprising ways of exposure to tobacco, starting with the bones. Smoking increases the risk of weakened bones or osteoporosis. This condition increases the risk of bone fractures, including the spine, which causes it to bend and you to hunch.

Heart disease and ED

Smoking affects almost every organ of the body, including the heart. In people who smoke, the arteries that carry blood to the heart narrow over time. Smoking also increases blood pressure and makes blood clotting easier. These factors increase the likelihood of a heart attack. In men who smoke, decreased blood flow may result in erectile dysfunction.

Decreased athletic ability

The effects of smoking on the heart and lungs can cause significant impairment on the treadmill or field. Smokers tend to have a more rapid heart rate, poor blood circulation, and more frequent shortness of breath—not a great asset for an athlete. Whatever sport you prefer, one way to improve your performance is to quit smoking.

Reproductive problems

It is more difficult for smokers to get pregnant and give birth to healthy babies. Cigarettes are linked to fertility problems. And smoking during pregnancy increases the likelihood of miscarriage, premature delivery, or low birth weight.

Early menopause

This is what all women have: menopause, the phase when female hormones decline and the menstrual cycle stops forever. Most women survive this change for about 50 years. But women who smoke reach menopause, on average, 1 1/2 years earlier than women who do not. The effect is greatest in women who have smoked heavily for many years.

Oral cancer

People who smoke or use smokeless tobacco products are more likely to develop oral cancer than nonsmokers. Smokers who also drink heavily are 15 times more likely to develop this form of cancer. The most common symptoms include a painful spot on the tongue, lips, gums, or another area inside the mouth that does not go away and may be painful. Quitting smoking substantially reduces the risk of developing oral cancer within a few years.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Of those who die from the disease, 9 out of 10 are due to smoking. Cigarettes can also damage the lungs in other ways, making people more vulnerable to breathing problems and dangerous infections such as pneumonia.

How quitting improves your health

Как отказ от курения улучшает ваше здоровье

In as little as 20 minutes, blood pressure and heart rate return to normal. Within 24 hours, the risk of heart attack begins to decrease. In the first weeks after quitting, tiny eyelashes (pictured) resume work, clearing irritants from the lungs. Within a year, the risk of heart disease is halved compared to those who smoke. And in 10 years without smoking, you're no more likely to die of lung cancer than a person who's never smoked.

Cigarette stench

Quitting smoking will save you from the old smell of tobacco in your breath, hair and clothes. The toxic odor deters non-smokers and can even harm others, especially young children.

Will you be able to quit smoking?

Quitting cigarettes is difficult, analysts agree. But if you're telling yourself it's impossible, think again. Although there are 45 million smokers in the United States, at least 48 million of them are former smokers. If 48 million people were able to quit smoking, it is feasible. Just remember that most people have to try more than once, and only 4%-7% succeed without help. Ask your doctor what smoking cessation strategies are right for you.

Effects of smoking on the human body