10 Most Dangerous Diseases Caused by Smoking

Smoking cigarettes will kill you, but before you die, you could experience some pretty terrible diseases and health conditions from smoking. Here are the 10 Most Dangerous Diseases Caused by Smoking.

1. Lung Cancer 

 



More people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer; it's responsible for 87 percent of lung cancer deaths
. Your chance of still being alive five years after being diagnosed is less than 1 in 5.

2. Aortic Aneurysm 

The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. Aneurysms are more common in men than in women according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. It has been shown that the risk for an aortic aneurysm increases even more in men who smoke.

3. Heart Disease

Smoking harms nearly every organ in your body, including your heart. Smoking can cause blockages and narrowing in your arteries, which means less blood and oxygen flow to your heart. When cigarette consumption in the U.S. decreased, so did the rates of heart disease. Yet, heart disease still remains the number one cause of death in the U.S.

4. Stroke

 Because smoking affects your arteries, it can trigger stroke. A stroke happens when the blood supply to your brain is temporarily blocked. Brain cells are deprived of oxygen and start to die. A stroke can cause paralysis, slurred speech, altered brain function and death. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of adult disability.

 5. Asthma

 Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it harder to move air in and out of your lungs—otherwise known as "breathing." Because cigarette smoke irritates air passages, it can trigger sudden and severe asthma attacks. Asthma is a serious health condition that affects close to 25 million Americans. Smoking only makes it worse.

6. Diabetes 

 You're more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you smoke. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is 30 to 40 percent higher for smokers than non-smokers. Additionally smoking increases the risk of complications once diagnosed with diabetes, such as heart and kidney disease, poor blood flow to legs and feet (which leads to infections and possible amputation), blindness and nerve damage.

7. COPD

Smoking is the cause of 9 in 10 COPD related deaths. This umbrella term, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is the number three killer in the US. The CDC indicates that smoking during childhood and teenage years slows lung growth and increases the risk for developing COPD.

8. Cataracts

This ophthalmological condition occurs when the lens of the eye becomes opaque over time and vision is lost. According to the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, it is the leading cause of blindness and the risk of developing it is increased by smoking.

9. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

SIDS is the sudden, unexplainable death of a child during sleep. It occurs between the ages of one month and one year. Studies have shown that mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their babies at a higher risk for SIDS. A study published in the US National Library of Medicine explain that mothers who smoked prior to pregnancy have the same increased risks as mothers who smoke during pregnancy. The risk is even higher if the father also smokes.

10. Erectile Dysfunction

Many studies have found that smoking is a major factor in erectile dysfunction. Smoking causes plaque build up in the arteries and obstructs blood flow. In one study, men who smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day had a 60% higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction.

Do you find this post 10 Most Dangerous Diseases Caused by Smoking. helpful? Click share to let your friends know about it. also the comment box awaits your contributions.