Yesterday we took a look at four harms of Smoking and today we will continue taking a look at another six.

5. Risk of type 2 diabetes

The experts claim that people who smoke regularly have a 30 – 40 percent higher of developing type 2 diabetes than those who do not. Smoking can also make it more difficult for people with diabetes to manage their condition.

6. Weakened immune system

Smoking cigarettes can weaken a person’s immune system, making them more susceptible to illness. It can also cause additional inflammation in the body.

7. Vision problems

Smoking cigarettes can cause eye problems, including a greater risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Other vision problems related to smoking include:

dry eyes
glaucoma
diabetic retinopathy

8. Poor oral hygiene

People who smoke have double the risk of gum disease. This risk increases with the number of cigarettes a person smokes.

Symptoms of gum disease include:

swollen and tender gums
bleeding when brushing
loose teeth
sensitive teeth

Smoking tobacco can limit a person’s ability to taste and smell things properly. It can also stain the teeth yellow or brown.

9. Unhealthy skin and hair

Smoking tobacco can affect a person’s skin and hair. A person who smokes may experience prematurely aged, wrinkled skin. They also have a higher risk of skin cancer, “especially on the lips.” Smoking can cause the hair and skin to smell of tobacco. It can also contribute to hair loss and balding.

10. Risk of other cancers

In addition to the well-documented link with lung cancer, smoking cigarettes can also contribute to other forms of cancer.

The American Cancer Society reports that cigarette smoking causes 20 – 30 percent of pancreatic cancers.

People who smoke are also three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than people who do not.

Smoking cigarettes can also double a person’s risk of stomach cancer. Tobacco is especially linked to stomach cancers that occur near the oesophagus.

Cigarettes can also increase the risk of:

mouth cancer
laryngeal cancer
throat cancer
oesophageal cancer
kidney cancer
cervical cancer
liver cancer
colon cancer
acute myeloid leukaemia