Alyana G.

Forteza Grade 8- Krypton

The Effects of Smoking on the Body

Cigarette smoke is known to contain more than 4,000 chemicals which have no health
benefits. Some of the effects or dangers of smoking are bad breath, body odor, heart diseases,
hypertension, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, and cancer.

Breathing tobacco smoke can even change your blood chemistry and damage your blood
vessels. As you inhale smoke, cells that line your bodys blood vessels react to its chemicals.
Your heart rate and blood pressure go up and your blood vessels thicken and narrow.

Central Nervous System

It's a central nervous system stimulant, so it makes you feel more energized for a
little while. As that effect subsides, you feel tired and crave more. Smoking increases risk of
macular degeneration, cataracts, and poor eyesight. It can also weaken your sense of taste and
sense of smell, so food may become less enjoyable. Your body has a stress hormone called
corticosterone, which lowers the effects of nicotine. If you're under a lot of stress, you'll need
more nicotine to get the same effect. Withdrawal can also cause headaches and sleep problems.
 Alyana G. Forteza Grade 8- Krypton

Respiratory System

Over time, your lungs lose their ability to filter harmful chemicals. Coughing can't
clear out the toxins sufficiently, so these toxins get trapped in the lungs. In a condition called
emphysema, the air sacs in your lungs are destroyed. In chronic bronchitis, the lining of the tubes
of the lungs becomes inflamed. Long-term smokers are also at increased risk of lung cancer.
Withdrawal from tobacco products can cause temporary congestion and respiratory pain as your
lungs begin to clear out. Children whose parents smoke are more prone to coughing, wheezing,
and asthma attacks than children whose parents don't.

Cardiovascular System

Nicotine causes blood vessels to tighten, which restricts the flow of blood.
Smoking lowers good cholesterol levels and raises blood pressure, which can result in stretching
of the arteries and a buildup of bad cholesterol. Blood clots and weakened blood vessels in the
brain increase a smoker's risk of stroke. Smokers who have heart bypass surgery are at increased
risk of recurrent coronary heart disease. In the long term, smokers are at greater risk of blood
cancer. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, and coronary
heart disease.

Skin, Hair, and Nails (Integumentary System)

Some of the more obvious signs of smoking involve the skin. The substances in
tobacco smoke actually change the structure of your skin. Smoking causes skin discoloration,
wrinkles, and premature aging.

Digestive System

Smokers are at great risk of developing oral problems. Smoking also increases risk
of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus. Smokers have higher rates of kidney
 Alyana G. Forteza Grade 8- Krypton

cancer and pancreatic cancer. Even cigar smokers who don't inhale are at increased risk of mouth
cancer. Smoking also has an effect on insulin, making it more likely that you'll develop insulin
resistance.

Sexuality and Reproductive System

Women who smoke may experience menopause at an earlier age than nonsmoking
women. Smoking increases a woman's risk of cervical cancer. Pregnant mothers who are
exposed to secondhand smoke are also more likely to have a baby with low birth weight. Babies
born to mothers who smoke while pregnant are at greater risk of low birth weight, birth defects,
and sudden infant death syndrome. Newborns who breathe secondhand smoke suffer more ear
infections and asthma attacks.
 Alyana G. Forteza Grade 8- Krypton

Effects of alcohol on the body

Even a small amount of alcohol has an affect on your body. A tiny amount of alcohol exits your
body in your urine and your breath. How quickly alcohol is metabolized depends on your size
and gender, among other things. Alcohol consumption causes physical and emotional changes
that can do great harm to your body.

Excretory System

The excretory system is responsible for processing and eliminating waste products
like alcohol from your body. Excessive alcohol use can cause the pancreas to produce toxic
substances that interfere with proper functioning. One of the most frequent causes of chronic
pancreatitis is alcohol abuse. The liver's job is to break down harmful substances, including
alcohol. Chronic liver inflammation can lead to severe scarring known as cirrhosis. Women are
at higher risk for alcoholic liver disease than men, because women's bodies tend to absorb more
alcohol and take longer to process it. A damaged pancreas can cause the body to be unable to
utilize sugar due to a lack of insulin, which can lead to hyperglycemia. Alcohol abuse also raises
your risk of liver cancer.
 Alyana G. Forteza Grade 8- Krypton

Central Nervous System

Drink too much, and your ability to think clearly is in trouble, as are your impulse
control and ability to form memories. Over the long term, drinking can actually shrink the frontal
lobes of your brain. Acute alcoholic withdrawal can lead to seizures and delirium. Severe
alcoholism can progress to permanent brain damage, causing dementia. Over time, a heavy
drinker can become physically and emotionally dependent on alcohol. Unlike most other
common addictions, acute alcohol withdrawal can be life threatening. Cases of severe, chronic
alcohol addiction often require medical detoxification. When an alcoholic stops drinking
abruptly, they're likely to experience symptoms of withdrawal, such as: nausea anxiety
nervousness tremors In severe cases, it may lead to confusion, hallucinations, and seizures.
Medications can help prevent side effects of withdrawal.

Digestive System

Alcohol can wreak havoc on your digestive system, from your mouth all the way
to your colon. Even a single incidence of heavy drinking can injure parts of your digestive tract.
Alcohol abuse can damage the salivary glands and irritate the mouth and tongue, leading to gum
disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. Heavy drinking can cause ulcers in the esophagus, acid
reflux, and heartburn. Damage to the digestive system can cause gassiness, abdominal fullness,
and diarrhea. Heavy drinkers face higher risk of mouth, throat, and esophagus cancers.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may include nausea and vomiting.

Circulatory System

In some cases, a single episode of heavy drinking can cause trouble for your heart.
It's even more likely your heart will suffer if you're a chronic drinker. Women who drink are at
even higher risk of heart damage than men. Circulatory system complications include: poisoning
of the heart muscle cells irregular heartbeat high blood pressure stroke heart attack heart failure
People with diabetes have an increased risk of low blood sugar levels, especially if they use
 Alyana G. Forteza Grade 8- Krypton

insulin. Deficiencies in vitamin B6, vitamin B12, thiamine, and folic acid can cause lowered
blood counts.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of alcohol abuse in men. It can also
inhibit hormone production, affect testicular function, and cause infertility.

Excessive drinking can cause a woman to stop menstruating and become infertile. It also can
increase her risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, and stillbirth. Alcohol has a huge effect on
fetal development. A range of problems, called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), can
occur. FASD symptoms, which include physical abnormalities, learning difficulties, and
emotional problems, can last a lifetime.

For women, the risk of breast cancer rises with alcohol use.

Skeletal and Muscle Systems

Long-term alcohol use makes it harder for your body to produce new bone.
Drinking puts you at increased risk of osteoporosis (thinning bones) and bone fractures. Muscles
become prone to weakness, cramps, and even atrophy.

Immune System

An immune system weakened by alcohol abuse has a hard time fighting off viruses,
germs, and all types of illness. Heavy drinkers are more likely to get pneumonia or tuberculosis
than the general population. Chronic alcohol use increases your risk of many forms of cancer.