Connecticut State Department of Public Health

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Health Effects of Tobacco Use

 

Immediate Effects:

Altered brain chemistry - decreasing the dopamine receptors in the brain which tell cells how to function.  Dopamine, when released, gives a person the sense of reward.  Decreasing dopamine receptors is thought to leave a person with longer, more intense cravings for what they like (in this case, nicotine in tobacco).

Respiratory conditions - bronchospasm (abnormal tightening of airways), increased phlegm, persistent cough.

Increased heart rate and blood pressure - making the heart have to work harder and therefore more likely to wear out quicker.

 

Long Term Effects:

  • People who smoke die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers
  • Smokers who have a heart attack are more likely to die and die suddenly (within 1 hour) than nonsmokers.
Cancers - of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, larynx (voice box), lung, uterine cervix, bladder, and kidney.
  • Lung cancer screening and early detection:
    •  Lung and bronchus cancer ranks 3rd in types of cancer for all Connecticut residents.  It ranks 2nd among Asian and Pacific Islander residents.
    • The incidence of lung and bronchus cancer in Connecticut is higher than the national average.
  • Information on lung cancer screening
Atherosclerosis - caused by cholesterol which causes fat from foods to stick to the inside of blood vessels making them narrow and decreasing blood flow.  This can lead to:
  • Stroke
  • Heart disease
  • Heart attack

Cataracts - clouding of the lens in the eye by the clumping of proteins that affects vision.

Emphysema - chronic lung disease when the delicate linings of the air sacs in the lungs become damaged beyond repair.  The destroyed air sacs are then replaced by air pockets in the lungs which traps air, slowly enlarging the lungs, and makes it difficult to blow air out of the lungs.

Acid reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease - caused by the body's lack of ability to secrete neutralizing stomach acid and heal itself.

Pneumonia - bacterial infection of the lungs.

Gum disease and tooth decay

Infertility - 

  • Women: using tobacco can make it more difficult to become pregnant.  For women who become pregnant, tobacco use can cause many complications with the pregnancy, include miscarriage.  Visit the Tobacco and Pregnancy webpage for more information.
  • Men: using tobacco can cause impotence, the inability to achieve or keep an erection.  Tobacco use also lowers the sperm count and can cause abnormalities in sperm shape and function.
Man on oxygen smoking cigarette

 

Children

Children who breathe secondhand smoke:

  • Get sick more often, such as with colds, bronchitis and middle ear infections
  • Wheeze and cough more frequently
  • Experience frequent and more severe asthma symptoms
  • Higher risk of diminished lung growth or function

Child suffering from secondhand tobacco smoke

Quitting tobacco use is one of the greatest things you can do for a health future.

For free help or information to quite:

 

Back to the Tobacco Control Program Home Page

This page was last updated on October 14, 2021