The Dangers of Tobacco

About 106,000 people living in the UK die each year due to smoking.The dangers of smoking tobacco are well documented in the press as being one of the biggest causes of cancers, particularly cancer of the lung and throat. Around 98% of lung cancer patients are smokers.

Smoking is also a cause of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) of which 25,000 people in the UK die every year, as well as heart disease which is the UK’s biggest killer.

Smoking causes many other dangers to the body such as affecting the circulation. The chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of the blood vessels and which increases the risk of the arteries hardening, which is the main cause of heart disease. It is also a cause of strokes and internal bleeding. As well as circulatory issues, smoking is a major contributor towards gum disease, tooth loss, eye sight trouble, fertility problems, premature aging and asthma.

Smoking whilst pregnant is also very dangerous, affecting not only you but your unborn child. Babies who are born from a heavily smoking mother are more likely to have a low birth weight and poorer long term growth. Miscarriage is also far more common when the mother smokes.

Smoking also affects the people around you. Second hand smoke is known as passive smoking and the people breathing in your smoke are more likely to develop irritants to existing conditions such as asthma. Children who breathe in the smoke are more likely to develop conditions such as COPD and in babies there is an increased risk of cot death.