Effects of Smoking
The Red Alert Page
Some times, your motivation will seem to wane. So, you will need to visit this page again and again over the next few weeks to view the real terrible effects of smoking. The old momentum of your old addiction will seem to overwhelm you, 'screaming' at you, begging you to smoke, no matter what! It is at times like this that you need a little shock!
Something to WAKE UP up – and remind you once again –
So, now and then – when you feel like going back to your old ways,
Yes, some of the pictures are very graphic – but they are intended to |
Which Twin Is the Smoker?
Maybe there is no fountain of youth, but there is a surefire way to make yourself look older.The effect of Smoking changes the skin, teeth, and hair in ways that can add years to your looks. It also affects everything from your fertility to the strength of your heart, lungs, and bones. Take a look at these side-by-side photos. Can you pick out the smoker? Check your pick and get a closer look on the next slide
Tobacco's Tell-Tale Signs
Twin B smoked half a pack a day for 14 years, while her sister never smoked. The loose skin under her eyes is typical for smokers, according to Bahman Guyuron, MD, of Case Western Reserve University. It's one of several visible signs — shown on the following slides — that tobacco byproducts inside your body are harming your appearance. Twin B also got more sun, damaging her skin from the outside, too.
The effects of smoking on the skin.
The effects of smoking on the skin are very pronounced. Smoking chronically deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients. So some smokers appear pale, while others develop uneven coloring. These changes can begin at a young age, according to dermatologist Jonette Keri, MD, of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "In young nonsmokers, we don't usually see a lot of uneven skin tone," Keri says. "But this develops more quickly in people who smoke
Sagging Skin
There are more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, and many of them trigger the destruction of collagen and elastin. These are the fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. Smoking or even being around secondhand smoke "degrades the building blocks of the skin," Keri says. The consequences include sagging skin and deeper wrinkles.
Sagging Arms and Breasts
The effects of Smokeing doesn't only damage the appearance of your face, it can also take a toll on your figure. As skin loses its elasticity, parts that were once firm may begin to droop. This includes the inner arms and breasts. Researchers have identified smoking as a top cause of sagging breasts.
The effects of smoking on and around the Lips
Smoking delivers a one-two punch to the area around your mouth. First, you have the smoker's pucker. "Smokers use certain muscles around their lips that cause them to have dynamic wrinkles that nonsmokers do not," Keri says. Second, you have the loss of elasticity. Together, these factors can lead to deep lines around the lips.
Age Spots
Age spots are blotches of darker skin color that are common on the face and hands. While anyone can develop these spots from spending too much time in the sun, research suggests smokers are more susceptible.
In this image, the twin on the right spent decades smoking and sunbathing, while her sister did not.
The effects of smoking on Teeth and Gums
Yellow teeth are one of the most notorious effects of long-term smoking, but the dental damage doesn't stop there. People who smoke tend to develop gum disease, persistent bad breath, and other oral hygiene problems. Smokers are twice as likely to lose teeth as nonsmokers.
Stained Fingers
Think your hand looks sexy with a cigarette perched between your fingers? If you've been smoking for awhile, take a good look at your fingernails and the skin of your hands. Tobacco can actually stain the skin and nails, as well as the teeth. The good news is these stains tend to fade when you quit smoking.
The Effects of Smoking Cigarettes on Hair Loss
Both men and women tend to develop thinner hair as they age, and smoking can accelerate this process. Some studies even suggest people who smoke are more likely to go bald. Researchers in Taiwan have identified smoking as a clear risk factor for male-pattern baldness in Asian men.
Crow's Feet Eye Wrinkles
Everyone gets wrinkles on the outside of the eyes eventually, but these wrinkles develop earlier and go deeper among smokers. Heat from burning cigarettes and squinting to keep smoke out of your eyes contribute to visible crow's feet. Meanwhile, chemicals from inhaled tobacco cause internal damage to the skin structures and blood vessels around your eyes.
The Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Men:
- Male impotence ("limp dick")
- 24% fewer sperm ("shootin' blanks")
- Loss of sexual stamina ("Sorry, honey. I can't!")
- Children have higher risk of cancer in early life
- Higher estrogen and lower testosterone levels than nonsmokers
Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Women:
- Oteoporosis (thinning of the bones)
- Fertility 72% that of non-smokers
- Cancer of the cervix
- Greater risk during pregnancy of bleeding, miscarriage, waters breaking
- Breast cancer
- Irregular periods
- Menopause on average 2-3 years earlier
Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Children:
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight
- Stillbirth
- Fetal injury
- Ear infections
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
*effects of smoking wikipedia