Effects on smoking

EFFECTS ON SMOKING

1) Effects on the Respiratory System

• Irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box)
• Reduced lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the lung airways and excess mucus in the lung passages
• Impairment of the lungs’ clearance system, leading to the build-up of poisonous substances, which results in lung irritation and damage
• Increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
• Permanent damage to the air sacs of the lungs.

2) Effects on the Circulatory System

• Raised blood pressure and heart rate
• Constriction (tightening) of blood vessels in the skin, resulting in a drop in skin temperature
• Less oxygen carried by the blood
• ‘Stickier’ blood, which is more prone to clotting
• Damage to the lining of the arteries, which is thought to be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls)
• Reduced blood flow to extremities (fingers and toes)
• Increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to blockages of the blood supply.

3) Effects on the Sexual Organs

• Lower sperm count
• Higher percentage of deformed sperm
• Genetic damage to sperm
• Impotence, which may be due to the effects of smoking on blood flow and damage to the blood vessels of the penis.