Get to know some of the rarely discussed health consequences of smoking and the ways to overcome this highly addictive habit.

Smoking is one of those addictions that have perilous effects on the human body. The main reason for this is tobacco, the chief constituent present in cigarettes which holds over 3000 toxic chemicals, some of them being carcinogenic as well. It is also true that the standard cigarette one smokes can damage all the organs of the human body as well. 

Having said that, it is a common misconception that smoking only affects the respiratory areas and not other parts of our bodies. However, this is not true as there are far more consequences of smoking which you would be surprised to know about. 

Here are some of those, 

Vision Loss

Blindness or Vision loss can happen to people who are heavily hooked on cigarettes. This is because tobacco present in cigarettes interferes with the blood flow of the retina thereby causing terrible muscle degeneration in the eye. Smokers who have vision loss are also likely to deal with blood pressure, the cause being the same tobacco as well.  Some of the other eye-related problems which can be caused by smoking are Cataract, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Dry Eye Syndrome etc. 

Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Did you know that people who smoke cigarettes are 30%-40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes? The main reason for this is that chemicals in cigarettes cause harm to the body’s cells and can disrupt their normal functioning. This causes inflammation throughout the body, which can also decrease the level of insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Also, when chemicals from cigarettes mix with the oxygen in the body, this process causes cell damage called oxidative stress. Both inflammation and oxidative stress are often related to an increased risk of diabetes. 

Erectile Dysfunction

Studies show that men who smoked more than 20 cigarettes daily had a 60% higher chance of erectile dysfunction, compared to men who never smoked. This is caused mainly due to plaque buildup in arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. The plaque obstructs blood flow through the vessels causing a lot of circulatory problems throughout the body, which includes erectile dysfunction as well. The good news is that quitting this addiction will heal this problem without taking too much time. 

Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic Pregnancy is a life-threatening reproductive complication in women which is mostly linked to heavy smoking. This occurs when a fertilised egg gets implanted in a place other than the uterus. Not only will the eggs fail to survive, but it also puts mom’s life at serious risk. Again, these abnormalities are caused due to the hazardous chemicals present in tobacco. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is another chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints in the hands and feet. This condition is more commonly seen in women, and the pain and swelling eventually result in bone loss and joint deformity. The main reason for this condition is also tobacco, which it releases all kinds of inflammatory cytokines which includes Rheumatoid Arthritis as well.  

Gum Disease

Smoking is an important cause of severe Gum Disease found in humans. This is mainly because people who smoke produce more bacterial plaque which often leads to this complication. The gums are affected as this area causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, so the infected gums won’t be able to heal. It is important to note that people who smoke are more exposed to dental plaque and get gum disease way faster than non-smokers. 

How to Overcome the Addiction to Smoking?

Truth be told, you have to be proactive in your approach if you want to quit an addiction like smoking. This is because when one tries to quit smoking through the cold turkey method, there are higher chances of withdrawal symptoms which can be highly bothered able. The main reason for these withdrawal symptoms is nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.  Due to this, gradually overcoming the addiction is key to quitting it permanently.

So how can you do this?

Firstly, you may try a method called vaping where vapers (the one who uses it) use a gadget called an e-cigarette, which is completely devoid of tobacco. Several studies have shown that vaping is safer than cigarettes which is primarily because it helps you to slowly phase out of nicotine. The fact that this gadget doesn’t contain tobacco saves the vaper from over 3000 chemicals which are found in a standard cigarette. 

Secondly, you may also try Nicotine Replacement Therapy(NRT) which is a common medical technique involving the administration of nicotine in smaller quantities. NRT is mainly done mainly delivered through adhesive patches, chewing gum, lozenges, nose sprays and healers. Receiving small doses of nicotine through this method helps a smoker gradually reduce their dependence on tobacco. 

All in All

You have just seen some of the unheard health consequences of smoking which are often seen along the usual respiratory issues. As you have learnt it, you would be even more motivated to quit the habit of smoking if you have one. You have also seen how you can quit smoking addiction with two of the popular and highly effective methods employed by many. Lastly, figure out why you want to quit this habit as your aim will definitely help you to recover from this addiction quickly.