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Tobacco use is the one risk factor shared by 4 of the main categories of non-communicable disease. Some of the conditions and diseases that can be caused by smoking For example, some studies show that smoking is associated with increased rates of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, suicide attempts and schizophrenia. There is also growing evidence to suggest that smoking has a negative impact on mental health. have their life cut short by about 10 years on average, compared to non-smokers.In fact, up to ⅔ of long term smokers will: Because of this, some people believe it won’t happen to them.
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It can be a long time before smokers get a smoking-related condition or disease. increase your risk of many conditions and diseases as well as of dying prematurely.reduce your life expectancy and your quality of life.make your skin saggy and give you early wrinkles.increase your risk of tooth loss and bad breath.cause yellow-brown stains on your fingers, tongue and teeth.Cancer-causing chemicals make your cells grow too fast or abnormally.Ammonia and formaldehyde irritate your eyes, nose and throat.This makes you produce more mucus and damages lung tissue. Tiny particles in tobacco smoke irritate your throat and lungs and cause ‘smoker’s cough’.These cells sweep clean the lining of your airways and protect them against infections. Phenols paralyse and kill the hair-like cells in your airways.Tar is a sticky substance that coats your lungs like soot in a chimney.Over time, your airways swell up and let less air into your lungs. Carbon monoxide deprives your heart of the oxygen it needs to pump blood around your body.slow your blood and reduce oxygen to your feet and hands.damage your heart by forcing it to work faster and harder.Nicotine narrows your veins and arteries.The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage your body in many ways. These two things - nicotine dependence and nicotine withdrawal - make you want to smoke more. You may find it difficult to concentrate or feel nervous, restless, irritable or anxious. Once you are dependent on nicotine, without it you will have withdrawal symptoms. The longer you have been smoking, the more dopamine you need to feel good. Dopamine is a ‘feel good’ chemical that:Īs the nicotine levels in your body fade, your brain craves more dopamine. It makes your brain release a chemical called dopamine. The nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive. go everywhere your blood flows, harming every part of your body.Įven if you don’t inhale tobacco smoke, you still absorb harmful chemicals through the lining of your mouth.reach your brain, heart and other organs within 10 seconds of your first puff.When you smoke, harmful chemicals enter your lungs and spread through your body.
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