We’re all aware that cigarettes cause a myriad of illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. But did you know it can be responsible for a whole host of other problems?
Irregular periods
Tobacco can cause women to produce less oestrogen, which in turn can lead to irregular periods and may also reduce fertility. Smokers tend to go through menopause a year or two earlier than other women, possibly due to a shortage of oestrogen.
Excess facial hair
Smoking can trigger the growth of extra hair on the face and arms. This is because it increases levels of the male hormone testosterone. One US study found women who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day are significantly more likely than non-smokers to have facial hair.
Spotty skin
Smokers are more likely to get spots because smoking weakens your circulation, increasing the risk of infection in the skin that leads to acne.
Wrinkles
People who smoke a packet of cigarettes every day tend to have five times more wrinkles than those who don’t. That’s because smoking hampers the blood supply that keeps skin tissue looking supple and healthy. Smokers’ skin can also look unhealthy, because the chemicals in cigarettes make the skin’s elastic fibres snap more easily, causing the skin to lose its elasticity.
Brittle hair
Smokers have brittle hair and are more likely to go bald and grey. Chemicals from tobacco gather in the hair, damaging the DNA in follicles and causing hairs to break off before they are fully formed.
Tooth loss
You are also put at greater risk of all kinds of dental problems, including gum disease. Receding gums can lead to tooth loss. Nicotine can also stain your teeth.
Scarring
Wounds of smokers take longer to heal and they tend to be left with scars that are bigger and redder than those of non-smokers. This is because nicotine causes blood vessels to narrow, so oxygen-rich blood can’t get to the parts of the body where it is needed, to help heal the wounds.
Osteoporosis
Women who have been through menopause and smoke have lower bone density than women who have never smoked, and are at greater risk of fracturing a hip. This is because they produce less oestrogen, but produce more cortisol, which can lead to the breakdown of bones. Smokers also take longer to heal from fractures than non-smokers and are more likely to have complications.
Poor circulation
If your fingers and toes feel tingly, it could be due to smoking affecting your blood circulation. It can cause pain and, in severe cases, lead to gangrene and even amputation.
Cataracts
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of cataracts by putting oxidative stress on the lens of the eye.
Contributes to cancers
We all know smoking plays a major part in lung cancer, but it is also linked to cancer in other parts of the body, including the mouth, nose, tongue, larynx, pancreas, kidney, cervix, ovary, liver, bladder, bowel and stomach.
Probably best to stop!
