What Diseases Does Smoking Cause?

Smoking causes various side effects as well as diseases that are fatal too. Smokers may suffer from some dreadful diseases such as cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular diseases, lung disease, respiratory problems and several other problems related to kidneys, liver and pancreas. Cardiovascular Diseases: Cardiovascular diseases are the diseases of heart, blood vessels of the heart and blood vessels including arteries and veins. It is a major cause of death due to smoking. Nicotine present in tobacco increases the cholesterol levels in the blood. Cholesterol and other fats get deposited in the arteries, which causes hardening of arteries. The arteries become narrow, rigid or blocked. Due to atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries), blood clots are formed, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Common cardiovascular diseases found in smokers are coronary thrombosis, cerebral thrombosis, coronary heart diseases, blockage in the legs (peripheral vascular disease) and cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke. Smoking can causes hazards in pregnancy. A pregnant woman who frequently smokes is at a higher risk for miscarriage, certain pregnancy complications such as bleeding, detachment of placenta, ectopic pregnancy and premature birth. There is a possibility of low birth weight baby or stillbirth. There may be some congenital defects in the baby such as cleft palate.