5 The harmful effects of smoking in addition to lung cancer

Of course, almost everyone knows what the bad effects of smoking are, from cancer, impaired lung function, to heart problems. However, in fact there are still many impacts caused by smoking apart from these three things. Anything?

The effects of smoking are rarely known

In fact, smoking can have a negative impact on all organs of the body, not only the lungs and the heart. Well, let's see what are the dangers of smoking that are rarely known by ordinary people.

1. Erectile dysfunction

A study from Tulane University found the negative effects of smoking which in fact can interfere with your sexual life and your partner. The researchers found that the more cigarettes smoked, the greater the chances of men experiencing erectile dysfunction.

Investigate, nicotine in cigarettes acts as a vasoconstrictor, which can reduce blood flow to maintain the duration of an erection. Therefore, men who smoke are very at risk of developing impotence or erectile dysfunction.

2. Symptoms of PMS

For women who smoke, the chances of experiencing more severe PMS symptoms are very high. As quoted from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 50% of female smokers experience stomach cramps before their menstrual period. It is known that this condition can last for 2 days or more.

Not only stomach cramps, smoking can also have other effects on women who have PMS:

• Back hurts
• Bloated
• Breast pain
• Pimples appear

This is because the dangers of smoking can change female hormone levels and reduce vitamin D in the body, making these symptoms worse.

3. Impaired vision

Smokers are two to three times more likely to develop cataracts than nonsmokers. A study from Rutgers University found that participants who were active smokers had vision problems. They have difficulty distinguishing the gradations of various colors.

In addition, the effects of smoking can also lead to blindness due to age-related macular degeneration. This disease attacks the retina and is often experienced by people over 55 years of age. How did it happen?

Free radicals in cigarettes trigger blood flow disruption in the body, one of which goes to the retina of the eye. Well, in the retina of the eye there are macular cells that can reduce the main function of the sense of sight and cause damage. Hence, the impact of smoking can be so negative that it can make us blind.

4. Incontinence

If you tend to have a harder time holding back pee, it could be because of your smoking habit. Yes, the negative impact of smoking that is rarely known is urinary incontinentia, aka the inability to hold the urge to urinate.

Based on a study on 2000 Finnish women found that those who smoked urinate 3 times more often than passive smokers. The feeling of wanting to urinate is caused by the bladder muscles not working properly, so the urine just comes out.

5. Other types of cancer

The cancer that is often associated with the effects of smoking is lung cancer. However, you should be aware that there are other cancer dangers that lurk you due to smoking habits.

Researchers from the American Cancer Society have noted that at least 12 different types of cancer are produced by smoking.

• Heart cancer
• Colon cancer
• Oral cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Skin cancer
• Kidney illness
• Cervical cancer
• Acute myleoid leukemia

6. Infertility

Fertility problems can affect men and women who smoke. Cigarettes can damage the quality of sperm and a woman's reproductive system. In addition, women who smoke are at risk of not ovulating like normal women.

Although pregnancy can still occur, there is still a risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Therefore, during pregnancy try to stop smoking for your future baby.

7. Has bad effects during pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you should stop smoking from now on. The dangers of smoking are very influential on your pregnancy, especially the fetus that is being conceived.

This is because carbon monoxide is very easily absorbed by fetal tissues and nicotine which crosses the placental blood barrier results in an increase in fetal heart rate.

According to the ACOG, pregnant women who smoke have a 39% risk of miscarriage and other problems. Starting from the detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall, the placenta covers the birth canal, until the baby is stillborn.

In addition, smoking also makes the chances of your baby being born with a low weight. It does not rule out that smoking from breastfeeding mothers is equally dangerous. Breast milk that is drunk by babies contains nicotine and is exposed to tobacco smoke has a 3 times greater risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome.

After you know the various effects smoking causes, do you still want to inhale harmful substances that later damage your body? Begin to consider whether the dangers of smoking are commensurate with the inability to quit.