Diseases caused by Tobaco

Some people have the habit of chewing tobacco frequently, while most people  practice tobacco smoking. Both the forms of tobacco use cause many dangerous health problems. In the United States, the use of tobacco  accounts for one in five deaths from lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It’s not less in India either. It could also be more.

Cardiovascular diseases

The smoking facts reveal that tobacco smoke increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It consists of a high amount of carbon monoxide, which decreases the level of oxygen in the blood. The vital organs like brain, heart and lungs are deprived of sufficient oxygen, which affects their functioning. People addicted to smoking are at a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, aortic aneurysm, blood clots, haemorrhages and other cardiovascular diseases. Cigarette smoking increases the levels of triglycerides and clotting factors and reduces the levels of HDL cholesterol in the blood, leading to coronary heart diseases, stroke, cerebrovascular diseases and atherosclerotic peripheral vascular diseases.

Respiratory diseases

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death by cancer in many countries. Cigarette smoking has been linked to about 90 percent of all lung cancer cases. As a matter of fact, the earlier one begins smoking and the higher the number  of cigarettes one smokes, the higher  the changes of getting lung cancer. In addition to lung cancer, smoking also increases the risk of cancer  or other body  organs like mouth, oesophagus, pancreas, stomach, kidneys, bladder and cervix. Chronic obstructive  pulmonary diseases (COPD) such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema can also result from smoking and it has been found to exacerbate asthma symptoms in adults and children. Some other diseases  caused by tobacco are peptic ulcers, asthma, pneumonia, diabetes, cataracts, acute myeloid leukaemia, chest infections, tuberculosis, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis and diabetic retinopathy. Due to smoking, the level of vitamin A in the body is reduced, which can lead to early ageing.

Oral diseases caused by tobacco

Chewing tobacco increases the risk of oral health problems such  as periodontal disease, mouth ulcers, candidiasis, oral lesions, oral leukoplakia, gingivitis, brown staining and sticky tar deposits in teeth, tooth delay, tooth abrasion, altered taste and bad breath. Besides, cancers of the mouth are the most disastrous effects  of smoking. Smoking is associated with cancers of the mouth, lips, tongue, pharyns, larynx, and oesophagus or the throat. If we consider all the types of cancers together, the percentage of people developing cancers due to smoking is as high as thirty percent. Smoking  or use of tobacco  also leads to cancer of the stomach, pancreas, cervix, kidney and urethra. These are a frightening pack of diseases which should restrain people from using of tobacco in any form.

Throat cancer is the major oral health problem caused by tobacco. The throat  is a muscular tube that begins  just behind the nose  and runs down  to the neck. When there is  growth of malignant tumour in any part of this tube, it is referred to as  throat cancer.  Throat cancer  causes abnormal multiplication of cells  inside the throat  which results in the formation of a lump. It mainly affects the  food pipe or oesophagus, voice box or larynx, or the cells of the lining of the throat, thyroid glands etc. Tobacco  in any form – be it smoking or chewing –  is one  of the biggest causes of throat cancer. Smoking is  so hazardous that even passive smokers may get throat cancer. The chances of getting throat cancer  have been found to be more in men than in women.

Those who are into excessive drinking of alcohol are at the risk of throat cancer. When smokers drink heavily, then the risk is even higher.

The overall rates of death from cancer are twice as high among smokers as among  non-smokers, with heavy smokers having rates that are four times greater than those of non-smokers. Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of cancer in the world.