Contrary to what many people think, smoking is not only harmful to a smoker's lungs, and cancer is not the only health threat to a smoker. Inhaling tobacco smoke can damage most organs and systems of the body.
Although the public understands that cigarette smoking is unhealthy, the lack of transparent information about the harm that can be caused to smoking can also be dangerous.
Short-term effects
You will immediately notice some changes as soon as you use cigarettes. Your fingers will turn yellow, your breathing and your hair and clothes smell like smoke, and your teeth will show stains. You can also get a cough and get many of the symptoms of allergies, such as a runny nose, fever, itching and mucus build-up.
Maybe none of those sounds sounds too bad for you, but the consequences of smoking only start at that moment. Over time you will notice a lack of athletic ability, because you reduce lung capacity and you have a harder time keeping active. You also see blood pressure rising and irritation of the throat.
Long-term effects
In the course of time, all of the above problems become much worse. Let's start with the least terrible problems.
The stains on your hands and teeth will deteriorate. Your fingers will vibrate when you need a cigarette. The craving will be much more intense the longer you go without a cigarette; getting close to others who smoke or smell smoke can also easily trigger cravings. What once was a pleasant habit has become a necessity.
You will also notice that your breathing may have become more frayed. That is because scar tissue accumulates through throat and lungs. Your whole respiratory system is breaking down because of the smoking habit. That scar tissue means that the cancer is probably in your future. You can look forward to treating lung, throat and mouth cancer. However, you will not have to deal with it for a long time, because they can lead to death.
If they do not kill you, you should at least have sections removed from your throat, mouth and lungs. Mechanical replacements can be used instead, but they will not be pleasant to deal with.
Societal Damage
These were only physical damage we have considered, but there are others that you should be aware of. Smoking is prohibited in principle in all public places in the United States. Virtually all restaurants, shops, shopping centers and even parks have banned their use. The only public places where you can really use cigarettes are on the street and in some bars and smoking lounges.
You will also notice that once you start smoking, you are not treated in the same way. People may not want their children around you or want to be close to you. They are probably concerned about the effects of passive smoking and do not want to tolerate any of the physical problems associated with smoking.