Hesperian Health Guides
Problems from Tobacco
HealthWiki > Where Women Have No Doctor > Chapter 28: Alcohol and Other Drugs > Problems from Tobacco
Health problems from smoking
People who smoke become addicted to a drug in tobacco called nicotine. Once someone starts, it is very hard to stop smoking because nicotine is a very addictive drug. Without nicotine, a person will experience withdrawal.
Since men used to smoke more than women, smoking has mainly been seen as a men’s health problem. But nowadays smoking is a growing cause of poor health among women. It is also a growing cause of health problems in poor countries. One reason for this is that smoking helps people cope with stress. Another is that tobacco companies are trying harder to sell cigarettes in these countries, as more people in rich countries stop smoking.
Smoking can cause disease in those around you who do not smoke.
Smoking can cause:
- serious diseases of the lungs, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
- severe colds and coughs.
- cancer of the lung, mouth, throat and neck, and bladder.
- heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Some of these problems can cause death. In fact, half of all people who smoke will die from a health problem connected to smoking.
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Children whose parents smoke have more problems with their lungs and breathing than children whose parents do not smoke. |
Smoking causes even more health problems for people who can become pregnant
In addition to those listed above, problems include:
- difficulty getting pregnant (infertility).
- miscarriage and babies born too small or too soon.
- blood clots when using birth control pills.
- menstrual periods that end earlier in life (early menopause).
- bones that weaken and break more easily during mid-life and old age (osteoporosis).
- cancer of the cervix and womb.
During pregnancy, try to avoid people who are smoking. This will keep smoke from harming you or the developing baby.