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Although
its consumption is legal in some countries, tobacco kills many of its
users when used exactly as intended by its manufacturers . This
statement affirms the popular catchphrase that ‘smokers are liable to
die young ’.
The World Health Organisation Global Report on Trends in
Tobacco Smoking 2000- 2025 noted that tobacco use is currently
responsible for the death of about six million people across the world
annually , with many of these deaths occurring among the people between
ages of 25 and 40 .
Apart from outright death, other ‘rewards’ for include some terrible diseases and health conditions from smoking.
As
the world marks the World No Tobacco Day today (Thursday), we take a
look at seven of the most dreadful diseases caused or aggravated by
smoking.
Heart Disease
Smoking damages the arteries to the
heart either by obstructing and tightening the arteries , which means
less blood and oxygen flow to the heart . This increases the risk of
heart attacks and diseases. Each year, tobacco smoking accounts for
around approximately 20 % of all heart disease deaths.
Stroke
Smoking
does not only damage the arteries to cause heart attacks or diseases,
it can also set off stroke . A stroke happens when the blood supply to
the 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.
Lung Cancer
The deadliest
type of cancer is the lung cancer, which claims several lives .
According to a report , 87 % of people who died of lung cancer are
caused by cigarette smoking .
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD )
COPD
is a disruptive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe which can
result in a serious long -term disability and early death. COPD starts
by making it hard to be active until the patient is unable to carry out
his day -to- day activities. About 80 percent of all COPD is caused by
cigarette smoking.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease
that makes it hard to breathe . It affects more than 10 million
Nigerians – according to Prof . Erhabor , a Managing Director , Asthma
and Chest Care Foundation. Because cigarette smoke irritates air
passages, it can cause sudden and severe asthma attacks.
Infertility and Ectopic Pregnancy
Female
smokers have their fertility chances at stake. Smoking reduces
fertility in women , which makes it more difficult to get pregnant .
Smoking also causes ectopic pregnancy in women , which is when a
fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus . The egg can ’t
survive and, if left untreated , can be life -threatening for the
mother .
Blindness , Cataracts and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
One
of the signals of a high smoker is the red eyes , which suggests that
the eyes are not comfortable with the smoke. Smoking can make one go
blind . It is the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 65 and
older. It damages eyes and can result in loss of vision just as it can
cause age – related macular degeneration .
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