1.

Going Blind

Smoking doesn't do your peepers any

good. Smoking increases your risk of age-
related macular degeneration, the leading
cause of blindness in adults over the age of
65.
Description of Eye Diseases Associated
with Smoking:
1. Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD):
AMD begins as a loss of central vision which
makes it difficult to read and see fine details.
Over time, vision loss increases significantly. Of
the two types of AMD, "dry" and "wet," dry AMD
is the most common. In dry AMD, fatty deposits
form under the light-sensing cells in the back of
the eye (retina). Vision loss in dry AMD usually
gets worse slowly. In wet AMD, tiny blood
vessels under the retina leak or break open.
This changes vision and causes scar tissue to
form. Wet AMD is less common, but more
quickly harmful to vision.
2. Glaucoma
Glaucoma causes a gradual break down of the
cells that make up the nerve in your eye that
sends visual information to your brain (optic
nerve). As the nerve cells die, vision is slowly
lost, usually beginning with side vision. Often
the loss of vision is not noticeable until a large
amount of nerve damage has occurred. This is
the reason why as many as half of all people
with glaucoma may be unaware that they have
it.
3. Cataract
Cataract is a clouding of the eye's naturally
clear lens. It usually gets worse as we get older.
Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts
are very common in older people. By age 80,
more than half of all Americans either have a
cataract or have had cataract surgery.
4. Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication
of diabetes. It affects the tiny blood vessels of
the retina in the eye. Retinal blood vessels can
break down, leak or become blocked and this
can affect vision over time. In some people with
diabetic retinopathy, serious damage to the eye
can occur when new blood vessels grow on the
surface of the retina.
5. Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry Eye Syndrome is an eye disease that
appears as damaged blood vessels in

2. Type 2 Diabetes
Smoking contributes to type 2 diabetes
and increases the risk of complications from
the disease— including poor blood flow to
legs and feet. This can lead to infection and
result in the need to amputate a limb. Yep–
you could lose your foot or leg!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
SMOKING AND DIABETES
The 2014 Surgeon General’s Report has
found that smoking is a cause of type 2
diabetes, which is also known as adult-onset
diabetes. Smokers have a greater risk of
developing type 2 diabetes than do
nonsmokers. The risk of developing diabetes
increases with the number of cigarettes
smoked per day. Diabetes is a disease that
causes blood sugar levels in the body to be
too high and puts the body at risk for many
serious health conditions. More than 25
million adults suffer from diabetes in the
United States, where the disease is the
seventh leading cause of death. It is also a
growing health crisis around the world.
The evidence also shows that smoking is
associated with a higher risk of abdominal
obesity, or belly fat. Abdominal obesity is a
known risk factor for diabetes because it
encourages the production of cortisol, a
hormone that increases blood sugar.
Smokers tend to have higher concentrations
of cortisol than nonsmokers.
WHAT SMOKING MEANS TO PEOPLE
WITH DIABETES
Studies have confirmed that when people
with type 2 diabetes are exposed to high
levels of nicotine, insulin (the hormone that
lowers blood sugar levels) is less effective.
People with diabetes who smoke need larger
doses of insulin to control their blood sugar.
 Smokers who have diabetes are more likely
to have serious health problems, including: l l
l l heart and kidney disease; poor blood flow
in the legs and feet that can lead to foot
infections, ulcers, and possible amputation of
toes or feet; retinopathy (an eye disease that
can cause blindness); and peripheral
neuropathy (damaged nerves to the arms
and legs that cause numbness, pain,
weakness, and poor coordination)

3. Erectile DysfuHOW SMOKING CAUSES

TYPE 2 DIABETES Smoking increases
inflammation in the body. Inflammation
occurs when chemicals in cigarette smoke
injure cells, causing swelling and interfering
with proper cell function. Smoking also
causes oxidative stress, a condition that
occurs as chemicals from cigarette smoke
combine with oxygen in the body. This
causes damage to cells. Evidence strongly
suggests that both inflammation and
oxidative stress may be related to an
increased risk of diabetes.nction
 Male sexual function is affected when you
smoke. Tobacco causes narrowing of blood
vessels all over your body, including those
that supply blood to the penis. Good news is
that quitting will make a big difference.

impotence, can be caused by a range of

physical and psychological factors. Among
them is cigarette smoking. It’s not surprising
since smoking can damage your blood vessels,
and ED is often a result of poor arterial blood
supply to the penis. Fortunately, if you quit
smoking, your vascular and sexual health and
performance are likely to improve.

Smoking and your blood vessels

There are many health risks of smoking.
Cigarette smoking can damage just about every
part of your body. The chemicals in cigarette
smoke injure the lining of your blood vessels
and affect the way they function. Those
chemicals can also harm your heart, brain,
kidneys, and other tissues throughout the body.

The risk of smoking to your erectile health is

due to the effects of cigarette chemicals on the
blood vessels in the penis. An erection results
when the arteries in the penis expand and fill
with blood after receiving signals from nerves in
the penis. The nerves respond to sexual
arousal signals from the brain. Even if the
nervous system is operating well, an
erection might not be physically possible if the
blood vessels are unhealthy due to smoking.
What does the research show?

While ED tends to be more common as men

get older, it can develop at any adult age. A
2005 study in the American Journal of
Epidemiology suggests that ED is more likely in
men who smoked compared with those who
never did. But in younger men with ED,
cigarette smoking is very likely the cause.

If you are a heavy smoker, research suggests

the odds of developing ED are much higher.
However, quitting smoking can improve ED
symptoms. Your age, the severity of your ED
before quitting smoking, and other major health
problems may reduce the degree that healthy
erectile function can return.

Getting help

The sooner you deal with ED, the sooner you’ll

find a solution. If you don’t have a primary care
doctor, make an appointment with a urologist or
men’s health specialist. ED is a very common
health problem. You may, however, be advised
that one of the things you should do is quit
smoking.
If you’ve tried to quit smoking and been
unsuccessful, don’t assume quitting is
impossible. Take a new approach this time.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute recommends the following steps to
help you quit smoking:
 Make a list of the reasons you want to quit
and why your earlier attempts to quit were
unsuccessful.
 Pay attention to your smoking triggers, such
as drinking alcohol or coffee.
 Get support from family and friends. It’s OK to
admit that you need assistance in overcoming
a powerful addiction like smoking.
 Talk with your doctor about prescription and
over-the-counter medications designed to help
with smoking cessation. If a medication seems
like a good choice, follow the medication’s
instructions.
 Find new alternatives to smoking and
activities that can distract you from cigarette
 cravings, such as exercise or hobbies to
occupy your hands and your mind.
 Be prepared for cravings and setbacks. Just
because you slip up and have a cigarette
doesn’t mean you can’t get back on track and
be successful.

4. Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening

reproductive complication in women that is
more likely in smokers. It occurs when a
fertilized egg implants somewhere other than
 the uterus. The egg can’t survive and it puts
mom's life at serious risk.
Smoking raises ectopic pregnancy risk

smoking increases the risk of ectopic

pregnancy, according to scientists in the UK.
They discovered that cigarette smoke reduces
the production of a fallopian tube gene known
as "BAD", which helps explain the link between
smoking and ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy – when the embryo implants
outside the uterus and in the fallopian tube –
occurs in up to 2% of all pregnancies and is the
most common cause of maternal death in early
pregnancy.
There is currently no way to prevent this
condition, which must be treated by abdominal
surgery or, when the ectopic is small and
stable, by injection of a drug called
methotrexate.
Ectopic pregnancy results from a combination
of factors affecting the transport of the
developing embryo from the fallopian tube to
the uterus and changes in the tubal
environment, which allow early implantation to
occur.
Smoking is known to be a major risk factor, but
how smoking changes the environment of the
fallopian tube for an ectopic pregnancy to occur
has so far remained largely unknown.
For the study, the researchers exposed cells
from the fallopian tube to a breakdown product
of nicotine called cotinine. They then showed
that cotinine had a negative effect on genes
known to be associated with cell death, and in
particular with the BAD gene. In a further study
the researchers showed that the BAD gene was
reduced in the fallopian tube of women who
smoked.
Changes in the production of BAD genes are
seen in the uterus as it prepares for normal
implantation of the embryo and early
pregnancy. A reduction in this gene is normally
seen in the cells of the uterus just before the
embryo implants.
The study was led by Dr Andrew Horne and Dr
Colin Duncan at the Medical Research Council
(MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health in
Edinburgh, UK.
The results of the research suggests that the
reduced production of the BAD gene in the
fallopian tube leads to an environment like that
of the uterus, which encourages and allows
ectopic pregnancy to occur.
"So our research," said Dr Lorne, "may in future
help scientists find ways to prevent ectopic
pregnancy, diagnosis it better, and treat it
earlier."
He went on: "The research is exciting because
it provides new scientific evidence to help
understand why women who smoke are more
likely to have ectopic pregnancies. It appears
that smoking reduces the production of genes
such as BAD, which are involved in the control
of cell death and promote an environment in the
Fallopian tube which is attractive to the
developing embryo.
"The information gained from this study can
also be applied to other conditions caused by
smoking, and could help us prevent or treat
them better in the long-term."
The study findings were presented at the
annual meting of ESHRE (European Society of
Human Reproduction and Embryology) in
Istanbul

5. Hip Fractures
 Smokers lose bone density at a faster rate
than non-smokers which puts you at risk for
breaking body parts like your hip. Putting
down the cigarettes can help slow down this
process and keep you breaking a sweat, not
your bones, on the dance floor.
Smoking and Osteoporosis
Cigarette smoking was first identified as a risk
factor for osteoporosis decades ago. Studies
have shown a direct relationship between
tobacco use and decreased bone density.
Analyzing the impact of cigarette smoking on
bone health is complicated. It is hard to
determine whether a decrease in bone density
is due to smoking itself or to other risk factors
common among smokers. For example, in
many cases smokers are thinner than
nonsmokers, tend to drink more alcohol, may
be less physically active, and have poor diets.
Women who smoke also tend to have an earlier
menopause than nonsmokers. These factors
place many smokers at an increased risk for
osteoporosis apart from their tobacco use.
In addition, studies on the effects of smoking
suggest that smoking increases the risk of
having a fracture. As well, smoking has been
shown to have a negative impact on bone
healing after fracture.
Osteoporosis Management Strategies
Start by quitting: The best thing smokers can
do to protect their bones is to quit smoking.
Smoking cessation, even later in life, may help
limit smoking-related bone loss. Many
resources are available to help you stop
smoking, some of which are listed at the end of
this fact sheet.
Eat a well-balanced diet rich in calcium and
vitamin D: Good sources of calcium include
low-fat dairy products; dark green, leafy
vegetables; and calcium-fortified foods and
beverages. Supplements can help ensure that
you get adequate amounts of calcium each day,
especially in people with a proven milk allergy.
The Institute of Medicine recommends a daily
calcium intake of 1,000 mg (milligrams) for men
and women up to age 50. Women over age 50
and men over age 70 should increase their
intake to 1,200 mg daily.
Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium
absorption and bone health. Food sources of
vitamin D include egg yolks, saltwater fish, and
liver. Many people, especially those who are
older, may need vitamin D supplements to
achieve the recommended intake of 600 to 800
IU (International Units) each day.
Exercise for your bone health: Like muscle,
bone is living tissue that responds to exercise
by becoming stronger. Weight-bearing exercise
that forces you to work against gravity is the
best exercise for bone.
Some examples include walking, climbing
stairs, weight training, and dancing. Regular
exercise, such as walking, may help prevent
bone loss and will provide many other health
benefits.
Avoid excessive use of alcohol: Chronic
alcohol use has been linked to an increase in
fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist. Drinking
too much alcohol interferes with the balance of
calcium in the body. It also affects the
production of hormones, which have a
protective effect on bone, and of vitamins,
which we need to absorb calcium. Excessive
alcohol consumption also can lead to more falls
and related fractures.
Talk to your doctor about a bone density
test: A bone mineral density (BMD) test
measures bone density at various sites of the
body. This safe and painless test can detect
osteoporosis before a fracture occurs and can
predict one’s chances of fracturing in the future.
If you are a current or former smoker, you may
want to ask your health care provider whether
you are a candidate for a BMD test, which can
help determine whether medication should be
considered.
See if medication is an option for you: There
is no cure for osteoporosis. However, several
medications are available to prevent and treat
the disease in postmenopausal women and in
men. Your doctor can help you decide whether
medication might be right for you.

6. Colorectal Cancer
 Colorectal cancer, which forms in your
intestines (colon or rectum), is the second
leading cause of cancer deaths in the United
States. One of the reasons? Yup, cigarette
smoking. Smoking is linked to an increased
risk of developing and dying from this type of
cancer.
Colon Cancer: The Smoking Connection
“Cigarette smoke contains many carcinogens
[cancer-causing agents], benzopyrenes being
the most well-known,” says Thomas Imperiale,
MD, professor of medicine and associate
director for research for the Division of
Gastroenterology at the Indiana University
School of Medicine. “It’s believed that these
carcinogens cause damage to the DNA and,
over time, the body’s ability to repair that
damage decreases.”
Colon Cancer: Does Quitting Reduce Risk?
Breaking your smoking habit is always a good
idea in terms of cancer prevention. But, while
quitting can help reduce your risk of developing
colon cancer, there is a long lag time before the
risk drops, says Dr. Imperiale. “There’s an
‘induction’ period, too,” he explains. “What’s
been strongly linked with [colon] cancer is
smoking in your teens and 20s, because there’s
about a 30-year lag between the onset of
smoking and the onset of adenocarcinomas" —
pre- or early cancer. So, just as it takes a long
period for the cancer to show up, it can take an
equally long time for the body to return to the
average level of risk.
Colon Cancer: Screening for Smokers
At present, there’s no set guideline for when
smokers should be screened for colon cancer if
they have no other apparent risk factors. The
American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines
suggest that seemingly healthy people who are
at low risk for developing colon cancer should
be screened starting around age 50; how often
after that you would have your next
colonoscopy screening depends on results of
that first test.
Imperiale says that the evidence is strong
enough to indicate that the risk of colon
cancer from smoking is as high as having a
first-degree relative — parent, sibling, or child
— with colon cancer. The ACS recommends
that those people begin screening at age 40,
but does not recommend the same for smokers
or former smokers. Unfortunately, “for some
reason, we’ve been skirting the issue of
screening these people more aggressively,” he
says.
As more research is done on the link between
smoking and colon cancer, smoking may
become recognized as a risk factor that should
prompt earlier screening. Until that happens, if
you are or were a smoker, talk to your doctor
about whether you are a candidate for earlier
testing

7. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic

inflammatory disease more common in
women that affects the joints in your hands
and feet. It causes painful swelling that can
eventually result in bone loss and joint
 deformity. Smoking is one of the causes, and
is also associated with developing the
disease at an earlier age.
8. Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

These birth defects, commonly called

orofacial clefts, occur when a baby’s lip or
mouth doesn't develop properly during
pregnancy. Women who smoke during
pregnancy are more likely to have babies
with orofacial clefts.
9. Fertility Issues

Moms-to-be take note: Smoking can affect

your ability to conceive. It causes reduced
fertility in women and can contribute to other
problems during pregnancy.
10. Gum Disease
As if potentially losing a limb isn’t enough
(see #2), you also risk losing your teeth from
smoking. Smoking contributes
to periodontis—a gum infection that destroys
the bone that supports the teeth. It is a major
cause of tooth loss in adults.