Cancer

• Smoking increases your odds of developing cancer. Carcinogens are substances that can cause cancer; there are more than 60 carcinogens present in cigarettes and cigars. You are more at risk to develop cancers that invade the lungs, bladder, mouth, throat, kidneys, liver, pancreas and uterus if you smoke. Among those types of cancer, lung cancer has been the cause of the most deaths in the United States in recent years. According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco has been linked to 87 percent of lung cancer deaths and 30 percent of all types of cancer related deaths. Second hand smoke also can increase your risk of cancer and cancer related death.
  
  

Emphysema

• The leading cause of emphysema is smoking. Emphysema occurs when the air sacs located at the end of the bronchioles are damaged and eventually destroyed. This reduces the amount of air your lungs can expel. This damage also reduces the amount of oxygen that can reach your bloodstream when you inhale. Emphysema manifests itself in symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and fatigue. Emphysema makes you more susceptible to disease and infection and can progress until it causes death. In order to prevent emphysema, do not smoke, or quit as soon as possible if you do smoke.
  
  

Cardiovascular Disease

• Cardiovascular disease is a general term that refers to a host of conditions affecting the heart and circulatory system. Smoking increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. According to the American Heart Association, smokers are twice or three times as likely to die from cardiovascular disease than nonsmokers. Another disturbing fact is that smoking leads to 135,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases. Smoking increases your risk of heart disease by leading to hardening of the arteries as well as the build up of fatty deposits inside artery walls. Arteries that are hardened and partially or completely blocked are not able to provide internal organs (such as the heart and lungs) with an adequate blood supply. It also can raise your blood pressure and make you less tolerant of exercise, which also causes a decline in heart health.