It's not easy to quit smoking. Most people make several attempts to quit before they succeed. Each time, they learn more about what helps move them closer to their goal, and what doesn't. Eventually, those who persist will reach their goal of becoming tobacco-free.

Experts say that a very strong motivation to quit makes success much more likely. For example, smokers who survive a heart attack often become highly motivated to quit. If you are trying to stop smoking, it is important to identify exactly why you want to quit. If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) these facts may strengthen your motivation to quit smoking:

Many RA patients experience Raynaud's phenomenon, a condition that causes spasms the blood vessels in the fingers, toes and other extremities. Smoking constricts these vessels, making Raynaud's phenomenon even worse.

Smoking has been proven to worsen the symptoms of RA.

Studies have found that RA patients who smoke have higher levels of rheumatoid factor in their blood.

Vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels. RA patients who have not been treated with disease modifying drugs may develop this uncommon condition. Smoking makes vasculitis worse because it constricts the blood vessels.

Women who don't have RA should not smoke. Long-term smoking significantly increases a woman's chances for developing RA.

Smoking has a devastating effect on health. As the facts about smoking continue to be revealed, more and more people are finding the motivation to quit. Most people now know that smoking causes heart disease and lung cancer. But there are many more reasons to quit smoking! Here are some of the less well known facts about how smoking harms the entire body.

Bones

Osteoporosis. Smoking is one of the risk factors for osteoporosis

Broken Bones. Smoking doubles a woman's risk of fractures; men who smoke have a 5 times greater risk of fractures than men who don't smoke.

Skin

Color. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin, starving the skin of oxygen. This causes the skin to appear grayish.

Cancer. For those who have already had skin cancer, smoking increases the chances or recurrence.

"Smoker's Face." Smoking causes the facial wrinkling, reddening, puffiness and gauntness known as "smoker's face."

Psoriasis. Smoking significantly increases the risk of psoriasis. Smoking may cause as many as one in four cases.

Wrinkles. Smoking reduces the amount of vitamin C in the body, which affects the skin's ability to make collagen. Collagen is a tissue that supports the skin. Reduced collagen means more wrinkles.

Eyes

Cataracts. Smoking is one of the suspected causes of cataracts.

Macular Degeneration. Smoking may affect the blood supply to the retina and play a role in macular degeneration.

Mouth and Throat

Gum Disease. Bacteria thrive inside a smoker's mouth. This is one reason smokers are at greater risk for periodontal (gum) disease than non-smokers are.

Tooth Loss. Smokers lose more teeth than non-smokers do.

Wound Healing. After periodontal therapy, non-smokers heal faster than smokers do. (Wounds in other areas of the body also heal more slowly in smokers.)

Cancers. Smoking is the leading cause of voice box (larynx) cancer. Cancers of the lip, tongue, esophagus and mouth are also caused by smoking.

Bladder

Bladder Cancer. Smoking is the primary cause of bladder cancer. It is thought that tobacco's chemicals collect in the urine and damage the bladder lining.

Lungs

Diseases. Smoking is a primary cause of two major breathing diseases: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Cancer. Ninety percent of all cases of lung cancer are related to smoking. Lung cancer now claims more women's lives each year than breast cancer and ovarian cancer combined. About 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year as a result of secondhand smoke.

Cardiovascular System

Stroke. Smoking increases the risk of having a stroke.

Heart Disease. Smoking causes heart disease.

Increased Risk. Women who smoke and take oral contraceptives are at much greater risk for heart disease and stroke than non-smokers who don't take birth control pills.

Circulation. Smoking hinders circulation in the feet and hands.

Cardiovascular Problems. Smoking plays a role in high blood pressure, heart attacks, diseases of the circulatory system, abnormal heart rhythms and other cardiovascular problems.

Female Reproductive System

Menopause. Smoking is associated with early menopause.

Cancers. Women who smoke have a greater risk for cervical, vulval and colorectal cancers.

Fertility. Smoking can reduce female fertility and make infertility treatments less likely to succeed.

Smoking during pregnancy can cause many problems, including:

Miscarriage. Smoking increases the likelihood of miscarriage and stillbirth.

Low Birth Weight. Babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy may have a low birth weight.

Preterm Birth. Infants born to women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to be born prematurely.

SIDS. Smoking during pregnancy has been linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Endocrine System

High Waist-to-Hip Ratio. Smoking causes the endocrine system to distribute and store body fat in an abnormal pattern. Smokers have a higher than normal waist-to-hip ratio. Their fat is stored more around the waist and upper torso than around the hips. A high waist-to-hip ratio is related to gallbladder problems, high blood pressure, uterine and breast cancers, and a higher risk for diabetes.

In the U.S. smoking is now considered the single most preventable cause of early death. Consider these alarming facts:

Cigarette smoking causes the deaths of 400,000 Americans every year.

The number of people who die every year as a result of drugs and alcohol, AIDS, vehicle accidents, suicides, murders and fires combined is less than the number of cigarette-related deaths.

People who smoke live about 7 years less than those who don't smoke.

Every cigarette smoked subtracts about 7 minutes from the smoker's life.

Clearly, smoking is harmful to health. In fact, cigarettes have been called "the only available consumer product that is hazardous to health when used as intended." * If you use tobacco in any form, there's never been a better time--or more convincing reasons--to quit!

References

First published April 12, 2001
Last updated December 16, 2002
Copyright © 2001 Accordant Health Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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