How do Cigarettes Affect the Body?

Cigarettes aren’t good for us. But how exactly do cigarettes harm us? Let’s look at what happens as their ingredients make their way through our bodies, and how we benefit     1     when we finally give up smoking.

Inside the airways and lungs, smoke increases the     2     of infections as well as long - lasting diseases. It does this by damaging the tiny hair - like tissues which keep the airways clean. That’s one of the reasons smoking can lead to oxygen loss and     3     of breath.

Within about 10 seconds, the bloodstream carries a stimulant called nicotine to the brain, creating the     4     sensations which make smoking highly addictive. Nicotine and other chemicals from the cigarette, at the same time, cause tightness of blood tubes, restricting blood flow. These effects on blood tubes lead to     5     of blood tube walls, increasing the possibility of heart attacks and strokes.

Many of the chemicals inside cigarettes can activate dangerous     6     in the body’s DNA that make cancers form. In fact, about one of every three cancer deaths in the United States is caused by smoking. And it’s not just lung cancer. Smoking can cause cancer in multiple tissues and organs, as well as damaged eyesight and     7     bones. It makes it harder for women to get pregnant. And in men, it can cause long-term damages of body functions.

But for those who quit smoking, there’s a huge positive upside with almost     8     and long-lasting physical benefits. A day after ceasing, heart attack risk begins to decrease as blood pressure and heart rates     9    . Lungs become healthier after about one month, with less coughing. After ten years, the chances of developing fatal lung cancer go down by 50%, probably because the body’s ability to repair DNA is once again restored.

There’s no point pretending this is all easy to achieve. Quitting can lead to anxiety and depression. But fortunately, such effects are usually     10    . Advice and support groups and moderate intensity exercise also help smokers stay cigarette - free. That’s good news, since quitting puts you and your body on the path back to health.