Smoking negatively affects all organs in the body, especially the lungs, and can lead to serious health problems related to many body systems. Responsible for the death of one person every six seconds worldwide, smoking and its associated health problems can be listed as follows:

Cancer:

Cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are toxic, and more than 70 of these are directly carcinogenic. Cigarette consumption and exposure to secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoking, are directly linked to many cancers, including lung cancer and uterine cancer.

Or it can affect the cancer treatment process. A person who smokes has a seven-fold increased risk of dying from any cancer-related illness, while their risk of dying from lung cancer increases 12 to 24 times.

Cardiovascular Diseases:

Cigarette consumption and exposure to secondhand smoke are preventable factors that lead to cardiovascular disease. Carbon monoxide, a gas found in cigarette smoke and responsible for stove and water heater poisoning, passes from the lungs into the bloodstream.

It binds directly to blood cells called hemoglobin. These cells, responsible for carrying oxygen to the tissues, are unable to transport oxygen molecules when bound to carbon monoxide, significantly reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the tissues.

This results in increased heart workload, elevated intravascular blood pressure, and the development of cardiovascular disease. Smokers are four times more likely to die from cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks than nonsmokers.

Respiratory System Diseases:

The lungs are undoubtedly the organ most rapidly and intensely affected by cigarette smoke. Tar, one of the harmful chemicals found in inhaled smoke, accumulates in lung tissue and causes tissue damage over time.

This results in reduced respiratory capacity and an increased risk of serious respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can be said that the risk of COPD increases more than %8 due to long-term smoking.

Impairment in Sexual Functions:

For all cells in the body to function properly, each cell must have adequate oxygen levels. Smoking significantly reduces the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to functional impairment in all bodily systems.

Toxic chemicals inhaled through cigarette smoke impair sexual function in both sexes. These chemicals, which have highly detrimental effects on the ovaries and testicles, are also a significant factor in increasing the risk of infertility.

Smoking increases the risk of reproductive health problems such as miscarriage, placental problems and ectopic pregnancy during pregnancy, while outside of pregnancy, it increases the risk of irregular menstrual cycles, osteoporosis, early menopause and gynecological cancer.

Kidney Diseases:

Nicotine, taken in through cigarette smoke, metabolizes into a different chemical called cotinine. This substance, a metabolic waste product, is excreted through the urine. However, it passes through the entire renal system before being excreted, severely affecting the kidneys and other structures. Furthermore, the increased blood pressure associated with smoking can lead to serious long-term kidney damage and even kidney failure.