Smoking & Disease: Understanding Health Risks & Prevention

Smokers are at an increased risk of developing a number of diseases, including:

* Cancer: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable cancer deaths in the United States. Smokers are more likely to develop cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, and cervix.

* Heart disease: Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

* Stroke: Smoking increases the risk of stroke by two to four times.

* COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung diseases that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD.

* Other respiratory diseases: Smoking can also cause asthma, pneumonia, and other respiratory problems.

* Diabetes: Smoking increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

* Gum disease: Smoking can damage the gums and lead to gum disease.

* Erectile dysfunction: Smoking can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in men.

* Premature aging: Smoking can cause premature aging of the skin and wrinkles.

* Cataracts: Smoking increases the risk of developing cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the eye.

* Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): Smoking increases the risk of developing AMD, a leading cause of blindness in older adults.