The Smoker’s BodyEvery 6.5 seconds someone dies from tobacco use, says the World Health Organization. Researchsuggests that people who start smoking in their teens ( as more than 70 percent do) and continuefor two decades or more will die 20-25 years earlier than those who never light up. It is not justlung cancer or heart disease that cause serious health problems and death. Below, some ofsmoking’s less publicized side effects-from head to toe.

This poster is an updated reproduction of “The smoker’s body”originally produced by COLORS magazine, issue 21, July-August1997.

Tobacco Free Initiative http://www.who.int/tobacco

A product of TFI Communications.Creating space for public health.@ WHO, Geneva, 2004

11111. Psoriasis. Psoriasis. Psoriasis. Psoriasis. PsoriasisSmokers seem to be more likely to developpsoriasis, a noncontagious inflammatory skincondition that leaves itchy, oozing redpatches all over the body.

2. Cataracts2. Cataracts2. Cataracts2. Cataracts2. CataractsSmoking is believed to cause orworsen several eye conditions.Smokers have a 40 percent higherrate of cataracts, a clouding ofthe eye’s lens that blockslight and may lead toblindness. Smoke causescataracts in two ways: byirritating the eyes and byreleasing chemicals intothe lungs that then travelup the blood stream to theeyes.Smoking is also associated withage-related macular degeneration, anincurable eye disease caused by thedeterioration of the central portion ofthe retina, known as the macula. Themacula is responsible for focusingcentral vision in the eye andcontrols our ability to read,drive a car, recognizefaces or colors, and seeobjects in fine detail.

3. W3. W3. W3. W3. WrinklingrinklingrinklingrinklingrinklingS m o k i n gp r e m a t u r e l yages skin bywearing awayproteins thatgive it elasticity,depleting it ofvitamin A andr e s t r i c t i n gblood flow.Smoker’s skinis dry, leatheryand etchedwith tiny lines,espec ia l l yaround thelips andeyes.

4.4.4.4.4. Hearing loss Hearing loss Hearing loss Hearing loss Hearing lossBecause smoking createsplaque on blood vesselwalls, decreasing blood flowto the inner ear, smokerscan lose their hearing earlierthan non-smokers and aremore susceptible to hearingloss caused by ear infectionsor loud noise. Smokers arealso three times more likethan non-smokers to getmiddle ear infections.

5. Cancer5. Cancer5. Cancer5. Cancer5. CancerMore than 40 chemicals intobacco smoke have beenshown to cause cancer.Smokers are some 20times more likely to developlung cancer than non-smokers. Smoking causesabout 90 % of lung cancersin men and 80% in women5a and according to manystudies, the longer onesmokes, the greater therisk of developing cancersat several sites, including atwo-fold risk of developingcancer of the nasal andparanasal cavities 5b;cancer of the oral cavity 5c(4 to 5 times); two-fold riskof developing cancer ofnasopharynx; oro andhypopharynx (4 to 5 times);larynx (10 times); oesophagus (2to 5 times); stomach 5d (2); pancreas5e (2 to 4 times) and kidney 5f. Some recent studies havealso suggested a link between heavy smoking and breastcancer 5g, and smoking cessation substantially reducesthe risk for most of the above-mentioned smoking relatedcancers.

6. T6. T6. T6. T6. Tooooooooooth decath decath decath decath decayyyyySmoking interferes with the mouth’s chemistry,

creating excess plaque and yellowing teeth.There is some evidence that smoking

contributes to tooth decay. Smokersare one and half times more likely

to lose their teeth.

77777. Emph. Emph. Emph. Emph. EmphysemaysemaysemaysemaysemaIn addition to lung cancer,smoking causes emphysema,

a swelling and rupturing ofthe lung’s air sacs thatreduces the lung’s capacityto take in oxygen and expelcarbon dioxide. In extreme

cases, a tracheotomy allowspatients to breathe. An opening

is cut in the windpipe and aventilator to force air into the lungs

(see image). Chronic bronchitis (notshown) creates a build-up of pus-filledmucus, resulting in a painful cough andbreathing difficulties.

88888. Ost Ost Ost Ost OsteoporeoporeoporeoporeoporosisosisosisosisosisCarbon monoxide, the main poisonous gas

in car exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke,binds to blood much more readily than

oxygen, cutting the oxygen-carryingpower of heavy smokers’ blood byas much as 15 percent. As aresult, smokers’ bones losedensity, fracture more easily andtake up to 80 percent longer toheal. Smokers may also bemore susceptible to backproblems: one study showsthat industrial workers whosmoke are five times as likelyto experience back pain afteran injury.

99999. HearHearHearHearHeart diseaset diseaset diseaset diseaset diseaseOne out of three deaths inthe world is due to cardio-vascular diseases. Smokingis one of the biggest riskfactors for developingcardiovascular diseases.These diseases kill morethan a million people ayear in developingcountries. Smoking-related cardiovasculardiseases kill more than600,000 people each

year in developedcountries.Smoking makes theheart beat faster, raisesblood pressure andincreases the risk ofhypertension andclogged arteries andeventually causesheart attacks andstrokes.

2010 Philippines Edition

111110. S0. S0. S0. S0. Stttttomacomacomacomacomach ulcerh ulcerh ulcerh ulcerh ulcersssssSmoking reduces resistance tothe bacteria that cause stomachulcers. It also impairs thestomach’s ability to neutralizeacid after a meal, leaving the acidto eat away the stomach lining.Smokers’ ulcers are harder totreat and more likely to recur.

1111111111. Discoloured. Discoloured. Discoloured. Discoloured. DiscolouredfffffingeringeringeringeringersssssThe tar in cigarette smoke collectson the fingers and fingernails,staining them in a yellowish-brown.

111112. Cer2. Cer2. Cer2. Cer2. Cervical cancervical cancervical cancervical cancervical cancerand miscarriageand miscarriageand miscarriageand miscarriageand miscarriageBesides increasing the risk of cancerof the uterine cervix, smoking can leadto fertility problems for women andcomplications during pregnancy andchildbirth. Smoking during pregnancyincreases the risk of low weight babiesand future ill health consequences.Miscarriage is 2 to 3 times morecommon in smokers, as are stillbirths

due to fetal oxygen deprivation andplacental abnormalities induced by

carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarettesmoke. Sudden infant death syndrome is

also associated with smoking. In addition,smoking can lower estrogen levels causing

premature menopause.

111113. Def3. Def3. Def3. Def3. Deformed spermormed spermormed spermormed spermormed spermSmoking can deform sperm and damage itsDNA, which could cause miscarriage or birthdefects. Some studies have found that menwho smoke have an increased risk offathering a child who contracts cancer.Smoking also diminishes sperm count andreduces the blood flow to the penis, whichcan cause impotence. Infertility is morecommon among smokers.

111114. Buerger’s disease4. Buerger’s disease4. Buerger’s disease4. Buerger’s disease4. Buerger’s diseaseBuerger’s disease, also known asthromboangiitis obliterans, is aninflammation of the arteries, veins, andnerves in the legs, principally, leading

to restricted blood flow. Left untreated,Buerger’s disease can lead to gangrene

(death of body tissue) and amputation of theaffected areas.