Besides damaging the lungs, tobacco also wreaks havoc on many other organs in the body, such as the brain, eyes, skin, cardiovascular system, and digestive system.
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| Joint:According to WebMD, smokers are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Interestingly, medications for RA are ineffective in smokers. Scientists haven't yet explained why, but the link between musculoskeletal diseases and smoking is clear. |
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| Skin:Smoking accelerates the natural aging process of the skin. It can make the skin of a 40-year-old look like that of a 70-year-old who doesn't smoke. These damages are irreversible and can even lead to more serious skin conditions such as skin cancer. |
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| Eye:Smoking can double your risk of macular degeneration, a condition that destroys central vision. You are also three times more likely to develop cataracts than non-smokers. |
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| Gums:Yellow teeth, bleeding gums, difficulty chewing, and bad breath are common problems for smokers. These are the leading causes of premature tooth loss. |
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| Genitals:Men who smoke heavily are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction and even develop testicular cancer. Meanwhile, women who smoke are more prone to cervical cancer. These are diseases that can affect a person's sex life. |
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| Brain:Smokers are three times more likely to have a stroke than non-smokers. A stroke, caused by a blood clot in the brain, can lead to facial paralysis, blurred vision, difficulty walking, and even death. Smoking also increases the risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to cerebral aneurysms or brain hemorrhages. |
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| Digestive system:Several digestive diseases such as peptic ulcers, Crohn's disease, colon polyps, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer can occur if you smoke. Smokers also have a 35% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and damage to the liver and pancreas. |
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| Lung:Lung cancer, 90% of which are linked to smoking, caused more than 150,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2015. In addition, smoking is a major cause of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a condition that damages the small air sacs in the lungs. |
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| Cardiovascular system:Smoking is the leading cause of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. The toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke form plaque, narrow arteries, and cause heart attacks and blood clots. |
According to Tintuc.vn