Smoking tobacco- one of the most widely known, significant and studied risk factors for the occurrence of malignant tumors. This bad habit is associated with an increased chance of developing cancer of many organs. It's not just lung cancer. Smoking increases the risk of developing cancer of the lip, tongue and other parts of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, larynx, trachea, bronchi, Bladder, kidney, cervical and myeloid leukemia.

The ability of tobacco smoking to cause malignant neoplasms, has been proven many times both in animal experiments and in numerous studies of morbidity in the human population. In animal experiments, direct contact with tobacco smoke and tar caused cancer.

A smoker has a very high risk of developing cancer of the larynx and bronchi, as well as the larynx and oral cavity. These are the organs that come into direct contact with tobacco smoke when smoking. The risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx in smokers is increased by 2-3 times compared to non-smokers, and for those who smoke more than one pack of cigarettes per day, the relative risk reaches 10.

The risk of developing lung cancer depends not only on the number of cigarettes smoked, but also on the age at which a person starts smoking. So, for someone who smokes up to 15 cigarettes a day, the risk of developing lung cancer is approximately 8 times higher than for a non-smoker. For those who smoke 25 cigarettes or more, this risk exceeds 20-25 times. In men who started smoking at the age of 15-19; 20-24 and over 25 years old, the risk of getting sick compared to non-smokers was 12.8; 9.7 and 3.2 respectively.

Also, smokers have an increased risk of developing cancer of the esophagus (five times), stomach (one and a half times), pancreas (two to three times), bladder (five to six times), myeloblastic leukemia (one and a half times).

According to the most conservative estimates, the direct cause of 87-91% of lung cancer in men and 57-86% in women is cigarette smoking. Between 43 and 60% of cancers of the mouth, esophagus and larynx are caused by smoking or smoking in combination with excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. A significant percentage of tumors of the bladder and pancreas and small part kidney, stomach, cervical and myeloid leukemia cancers are causally related to smoking.

Cigarette smoking is the cause of 25-30% of all malignant tumors. In addition to malignant tumors, smoking is one of the most important causes of various cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke.

Many chronic diseases respiratory system are also associated with smoking. Every second smoker dies from smoking-related causes. The mortality rate of smokers in middle age (35-69 years) is 3 times higher than that of non-smokers, and their life expectancy is 20-25 years lower than that of non-smokers.

Tobacco and tobacco smoke contain more than 3000 chemical compounds, more than 60 of which are carcinogenic, that is, capable of damaging the genetic material of the cell and causing growth cancerous tumor. According to research, more than 90% of lung cancer deaths and about 30% of all cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use.

People die from lung cancer around the world more people than from any other type of cancer. On early stages and sometimes even later lung cancer may not manifest itself in any way. But when signs are discovered, the disease is often very advanced, which is why, unlike some other types of cancer, lung cancer is usually fatal. So, within 1 year after detection of lung cancer, 66% of men and 62% of women die, and within 5 years - 85% of men and 80% of women.

The risk of lung cancer increases the more cigarettes you smoke per day, the longer you smoke, the greater the amount of smoke you inhale, and the higher the tar and nicotine content in cigarettes. It should be noted that the detection rate of lung cancer in the early stages in the former Soviet Union was one of the highest in the world, thanks to annual fluorographic studies. Peripheral lung tumor Fluorography can detect it even at the first stage (tumor up to 1 cm)!

Oncological pathology is the second leading cause of mortality after cardiovascular diseases. Lung tumors occupy a leading position among oncology in terms of frequency of occurrence, especially in men. You might think that all this simply leads to the topic of the article, but this is not so. Statistics are a stubborn thing. Men smoke more often than women (for now, anyway), and lung cancer occurs more often in men. I think the relationship here is quite obvious: smoking leads to cancer. But first things first.

Smoking is a very common addiction. In 90% of cases, smoking causes nicotine addiction. That's why tobacco is called a household drug. Up to 5 million people die from smoking every year around the world. After all, smoking leads to cancer. Only weapons of mass destruction can compare with this. The problem of smoking is global. Only through the participation of all countries in the fight against tobacco can we expect some serious results.

The money that smokers spend on cigarettes fills the wallets of tobacco company employees and supports the economies of already developed countries. But health problems among smokers in lagging countries are forced to be solved by local health care and only at their own expense.

According to the World Health Organization, every third person on earth is a smoker. In our country, the number of smokers is only increasing every year. On this moment approximately 65% of men and 15% of women in Russia smoke. There are a lot of teenagers smoking. It is not uncommon to find smokers among doctors. About 40% of our doctors smoke. In the West, smoking doctors are very rare. They are prohibited from doing this not only by medical ethics, but also by the fear of losing their clients. Patients are extremely reluctant to go to doctors who smoke, which in our country is not a negative indicator for a medical specialist.

Beautiful cigarette advertisements surround us everywhere. The inscription that cigarette manufacturers are required to make stating that smoking is harmful to health is always in small print at the bottom. She doesn't stop anyone. Teenagers are most susceptible to the influence of advertising. When questioned, it usually turns out that they remembered the advertisement itself, but did not even notice the information about the dangers of smoking.

The fact that tobacco smoke is carcinogenic (which means it can cause tumors) has long been proven. Smoke contains a lot of substances (more than 3500). When smoking, as a rule, all of them do not burn. Most of carcinogens are contained in resins. These include, for example:

The very fact that these substances enter the human body is dangerous, so what can we say about their systematic use.

The likelihood of a tumor occurring in smokers is associated with several important points:

age at which active smoking began;
number of cigarettes smoked per day;
smoking experience in years.

Roughly speaking, if you start smoking at the age of 12, smoke a pack of cigarettes a day and smoke for 20-30 years, then such a person is guaranteed to have cancer.

Lungs' cancer

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer caused by smoking. It develops from the epithelium of the bronchi. Depending on the primary localization, it is divided into:

Today, smoking is main reason lung oncology. It is almost impossible to suspect lung cancer in the early stages, since the disease begins asymptomatically. Therefore, once a year it is necessary to do fluorography. As the pathological process develops, coughing, hemoptysis and chest pain may appear.

There are several types of lung tumors:

The most dangerous of them is small cell lung cancer. It grows rapidly and metastasizes (spreads beyond the lungs to other organs and tissues). In relation to this type, you can put an equal sign between the words smoking and cancer. Only 1% of patients with small cell cancer have never smoked in their lives. Basically, smoking leads to cancer.

Overall, the forecast of this disease unfavorable. Mortality is very high, up to 80%. Most often, people cannot live even five years.

Lip cancer

While a lot has been written about lung cancer, much less information has been written about lip cancer from smoking. Let's look at this disease in more detail.

Lip cancer develops from the epithelial cells of the red border of the lips and is defined as a protruding seal with ulcerations and cracks in the skin. Of all types of tumors, it ranks 8-9. Cancer of the lower lip is more common than that of the upper lip. Men get sick more often. It is believed that lip cancer occurs in most cases.

Lip cancer from smoking is most likely if there is any damage to the mucous membrane of the inner border of the lips. This accelerates the entry of carcinogenic substances from tobacco smoke into the cells of the basal layer of the epithelium. Mutations in the cells of this layer can lead to the onset of their uncontrolled division and tumor development.

From nasvay

Cancer from nasvay is a very real fact, and it develops even faster than from cigarettes. In fact, using nasvay is also smoking, only directly through the oral mucosa. Most of the time people put it under their tongue and underlip also takes the hit. By external signs Lip cancer from nasvay is no different from that caused by smoking.

The first signs that a person has lip cancer

A favorable prognosis for lip cancer directly depends on how quickly adequate treatment is started. The following complaints will help a smoker suspect he has this disease:

hypersolvation (increased salivation);
discomfort or itching while eating;
dryness and peeling of the red border of the lips.

It is also impossible not to mention that lip cancer can develop in a person who has never smoked in his life. But the number of such patients is negligible. But lip cancer from smoking is most likely. After all, smoking leads to cancer.

Trachea cancer

This type of tumor is quite rare compared to lung cancer and lip cancer. It develops from epithelial cells of the trachea. Smoking leads to cancer and usually causes squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea. In the early stages it is also asymptomatic. But you can pay attention to the following warning signs:

dry, irritating cough;
unexplained anemia;
frequent upper respiratory tract infections;
constant low-grade fever (up to 38.0⁰C).

If you notice these signs, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. According to some data, the mortality rate from this disease is even higher than from lung cancer.

Mammary cancer

To date, reliable evidence of a direct relationship between smoking and breast tumors has not been established. And cigarette smoke does not come into direct contact with these organs. But statistically smoking women For some reason this pathology occurs more often. First of all, this is associated with the fact that smoking leads to cancer, including breast cancer.

One of the first signs of this disease is the appearance of lumps in the mammary gland. If such signs appear, you should consult a mammologist or at least a surgeon. After 40 years, women must have a mammogram once a year for early detection of breast cancer.

Cancer of the digestive and urinary systems

Esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and kidney cancer are also not directly linked to smoking. However, they are more common in smokers for the same reasons as breast cancer in women who smoke. The mucous membranes of these organs are capable of accumulating toxins contained in cigarettes and entering it through smoking. This causes mutations in the genome of these cells, which ultimately leads to blocking of apoptosis (programmed cell death). After all, normally a cell cannot divide an infinite number of times; upon reaching a certain number, it must die. Violation of this mechanism leads to the formation of a tumor in any organ.

Signs of cancer in the digestive and genitourinary system depend on the stage and location of the tumor lesion. Unfortunately, initial stage They are also asymptomatic.

It is important to understand that smoking is a predisposing factor for the occurrence of any type of tumor. With a high probability, smoking leads to cancer of those organs that are directly in contact with cigarette smoke (lungs, trachea, bronchi, oral cavity). The mortality rate of these lesions is high; patients often do not survive 5-7 years. In this regard, the danger of smoking to humans cannot be in doubt.

Everyone knows very well that addiction to cigarettes has an extremely negative impact on human health. modern people. But the majority of ordinary smokers still have very little information about what kind of toxic mix they actively inhale almost every hour. And speaking about what specific substances in tobacco smoke lead to the development of diseases, most cigarette lovers will only remember nicotine and tar.

In fact, when a cigarette smoulders, several thousand toxic substances are released into the surrounding air, about 70 of which are extremely dangerous carcinogens. Doctors consider oncology to be one of the saddest consequences of smoking. The formation of cancerous tumors in smokers is caused by a number of mutagens that are part of tobacco smoke. Doctors have found that smoking provokes the development of about 17 types of cancer. This fact is worth talking about in more detail.

Smoking leads to the development of cancer in almost 90% of cases.

When a cigarette smolders, there is an active release of a huge amount of chemical substances . Some of them are quite safe for humans, but there are a number of formations that are deadly.

It has been established that if you smoke a pack of cigarettes every day for a year, a number of irreversible processes begin in the human body - the cells of the larynx and lungs begin to mutate.

To understand why smoking causes cancer, it is worth learning more about the composition of tobacco smoke. The table below lists the most dangerous toxic elements, which become the culprits of irreversible mutagenic processes.

Name	Description	Harm
nicotine	the main component of any cigarette	increases blood pressure, blocks the transmission of nerve impulses, promotes vasoconstriction, causing strokes and heart attacks
resins	solid particles settling in the lungs and trachea	provokes various problems in the functioning of the respiratory system, becomes the culprit of cancer, COPD, bronchitis and pneumonia
cadmium, lead and nickel	heavy metals contained in every cigarette	dangerous diseases of the respiratory system, carcinogenic elements leading to irreversible processes in cellular tissue
benzene	hydrocarbon, solvent used in the chemical industry	a powerful carcinogen that leads to cell mutation, the culprit in the emergence of oncological processes, it has been established that it is benzene that provokes the development of leukemia in smokers
formaldehyde	poisonous compound	causes problems in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory systems
carbon monoxide	toxic substance produced when cigarettes smolder	actively connects with blood cells and prevents enrichment internal systems oxygen
styrene	used for making polystyrene	toxic compound of level III danger, leads to catarrh of the lungs, changes the composition of the blood and causes inflammation of the mucous membranes

According to recent estimates, it has been established that each cigarette, when lit, produces about 4,000 harmful substances in the surrounding air. Of these, 400 are toxic, and 43 belong to the class of carcinogens. Doctors consider the following compounds to be compounds that directly cause oncological processes:

chromium;
nickel;
lead;
cadmium;
benzene;
arsenic;
saltpeter;
nicotine;
benzopyrene;
vinyl chloride;
formaldehyde;
2-naphthylamine;
aminobiphenyl;
hydrocyanic acid;
N-Nitrosopyrrolidine;
N-Nitrosodiethanolamine;
N-NITROSODIETHYLAMINE.

How cancer develops in smokers

The human lungs are made up of many tiny sacs (alveoli). These formations are covered with a special tissue, the work of which is to block the entry of bacteria and harmful compounds and their timely evacuation from the body. The constant intake of carcinogens and tobacco smoke compounds into the lungs leads to the death of the protective layer of the epithelium.

Cancer is caused by carcinogens, which are found in large quantities in tobacco smoke.

All harmful substances begin to gradually be deposited on the walls of the lungs and enter the blood. As soon as the concentration of toxic components and carcinogens in the blood exceeds the maximum permissible norm, oncological processes begin to develop in the smoker’s body. It is difficult to say exactly when a smoker will cross the fatal line - a lot depends on physiological characteristics person.

Carcinogens are the culprits of oncology

Carcinogenic substances tend to accumulate in the human body. They can be called a “ticking bomb”. It is noted that they are most actively stored in such organs as:

liver;
intestines;
epidermis;
thyroid;
respiratory system.

Doctors identify a separate risk group; people who are friends with cigarettes are the most likely to become acquainted with oncology. These are the following points:

Poor, poor quality food.
Work in hazardous production.
Living in areas with unfavorable ecology.
Undertreated inflammatory processes in the body, which have passed into the chronic stage.

Most common diseases

Carcinogens can cause cancer in almost any organ. Accumulated in the body for years, they actively destroy cell chromosomes, which leads to changes in DNA structure and the appearance of cellular mutations. As a result, the cell turns into cancer. According to medical statistics, the most common symptoms among long-term cigarette addicts are: oncological diseases, How:

Lip cancer. It is one of the ten most common oncological processes, occurring in 7–8% of all cases of diseases of this kind.
Lung cancer from smoking, statistics speak of him as a leader in oncology. It accounts for about 56–60% of cases of oncological processes.
Trachea (throat) cancer. It is most common among male smokers and accounts for 35–40% of all recorded cases.
Stomach cancer. According to medical statistics, annually about 10% of men and 12% of women among other cancer patients die from this pathology.

Lip cancer (squamous cell carcinoma)

This is one of the most dangerous and serious oncological processes. It most often develops on the lower part of the lips and has the appearance of a red border protruding beyond the edges, covered with cracks and ulcers. Lip cancer develops especially quickly from heavy smoking. Among smokers, doctors note the following situations as having the greatest predisposition to this type of cancer:

heredity;
temperature burns;
frequent injury to the mucous membrane;
infectious diseases oral cavity.

Lip cancer is a common form of cancer in smokers

The development of an oncological process on the lips takes quite a long time. for a long time. But the disease can be overcome, provided timely diagnosis, quitting smoking and conducting competent therapy. The symptoms that should alert a cigarette addict and prompt a visit to the doctor are as follows:

burning and itching;
increased salivation;
unpleasant, painful sensations when eating;
the appearance of long-term non-healing cracks and ulcers;
the formation of roughness in the affected area;
soreness in the area of the mucous membrane of the lips and upper border.

Lung cancer (adenocarcinoma)

A malignant formation of this type is based on the development of tumors on the mucous part of the bronchi or lungs. The main culprit of the cancer process is long-term smoking.

According to statistics, addiction to cigarettes for a long time in 80% of cases leads to the appearance of oncological processes in the lungs.

The chance of becoming closely acquainted with this deadly disease is directly proportional to the number of cigarettes consumed per day and the total smoking experience. It has been established that when smoking one pack of cigarettes per day, the risk of developing adenocarcinoma increases by 30–60%. Moreover, even after completely quitting smoking, these numbers will decrease only after 15–16 years.

Symptoms of lung cancer appear when the disease has already taken root in the body.

Lung cancer is distinguished by its insidiousness. A person may not suspect the onset of cancer for a long time. You can suspect something is wrong based on the following symptoms:

complete loss of appetite;
difficulty breathing;
cough lasting more than a month;
constant severe fatigue and weakness;
separation of sputum with blood streaks;
rapid weight loss (up to 6–7 kg per week);
pain when breathing, which increases when trying to cough.

These signs are the very first symptoms of the disease. There are a number of other symptoms that indicate adenocarcinoma, but they are not so common:

hoarseness of voice;
swelling of the neck and face;
difficulty swallowing (even water);
pain in the sternum, radiating to the subcostal region.

Tracheal oncology (squamous cell carcinoma)

This is a serious oncological disease that develops on the mucous tissue of the larynx and pharynx. Very often, cancers grow into nearby tissues and form secondary lesions.

According to statistics, the most common cases of throat cancer are among smoking men over the age of 40; the risk of developing the disease is especially high among alcohol abusers.

Often the onset of oncology is preceded by a frequently occurring and already developing chronic stage laryngitis (a constant companion of smokers). Working in hazardous industries and living in poor environmental conditions also increases the chance of encountering this disease. The severity of the signs and the brightness of their manifestation depends on the location of the tumor.

Laryngeal cancer most often affects men

Doctors list the most common symptoms of throat cancer as:

hoarseness of voice;
difficulty swallowing;
prolonged dry cough;
bloody streaks when coughing and sneezing;
unpleasant, putrid odor of the oral cavity;
constant sore throat (in the absence of a cold).

Gastric oncology (gastric adenocarcinoma)

Oncology of this type is characterized by a tendency to rapid progression and metastasis to other organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Cancer, growing through the gastric walls, is located in small intestine and pancreas. This process is accompanied by necrosis and subsequent internal bleeding. With the help of the bloodstream, cancer cells metastasize to the liver, lungs, and massively affect the lymph nodes.

Stomach cancer can quickly metastasize to nearby organs

Smoking and stomach cancer are true companions of each other. This type of oncology is one of the most common among active smokers. According to statistics, about 800,000 people die every year from gastric adenocarcinoma.

The insidiousness of the pathology lies in its rapid and sometimes unnoticeable development for the patient. Obvious symptoms are felt already during the process of stages II and III. At this stage, a person begins to be bothered by such manifestations as:

heaviness after eating;
decreased appetite and rapid weight loss;
nausea and vomiting immediately after eating;
severe problems with swallowing;
pain in the epigastric region (middle and upper abdomen, under the ribs).

This deadly process can be stopped and achieved complete cure a person, if the pathology is diagnosed in time and treated immediately. But often the patient seeks help too late, joining the ranks of the sad statistics of cancer victims.

What conclusions do we have?

Not only heavy and long-term smoking can lead a person to the emergence of deadly oncological processes. Cancer occurs for a number of other reasons. But, by assessing and studying statistical indicators, smoking is guaranteed to be among the favorite culprits of these processes. You should know and remember this always when your hand reaches out to open a cigarette pack.

Remember that every smoke break brings a person closer to the moment when the whole meaning of a smoker’s life becomes the fight for his own life and saving his health. And in order not to bring yourself to a fatal situation, you should make every attempt to forget about smoking forever.

In contact with

Lung cancer from smoking is one of the most terrible diagnoses, but this type of cancer can be avoided. If you quit smoking in a timely manner, there is an 80% chance that this problem will not overtake.

Cancer from smoking is one of the main dangers that potentially awaits all smokers. No matter how the Ministry of Health warns, people who are addicted to nicotine hope or are confident that this diagnosis will bypass them. As a result: smoking destroys hundreds of thousands of lives every year due to oncology, which is rapidly developing both among smokers themselves and among passive smokers.

Statistics

Smoking and lung cancer are directly linked. Every year, more and more people start smoking, which increases the chances of developing the disease.

With heavy smoking, people develop malignant tumor in every second case.

Many believe that this is a lie, since non-smokers also die from cancer at no less a percentage. But the fact of adaptation in society is taken into account, since cigarette smoke in the air can be inhaled by others, which also provides the prerequisites for developing diseases. This is one of the main reasons for banning smoking in public places in order to prevent the risk of becoming passive smokers.

Cancer cells are activated by the entry into the lungs of heavy gases and chemicals contained in a cigarette. Another confirmation that smokers have a risk of getting cancer is the effect of tobacco smoke on DNA. At the genetic cellular level, gradual destruction begins with the first inhalation of cigarette poison. PAHs contained in a cigarette settle in human blood, which causes a kind of mutation that turns a healthy organ cell into a negative counterpart. Such compounds together can form tumors – cancer.

Which organs are at risk?

Scientists are of the opinion that when nicotine is used, oncology of any organs occurs. In current and passive smokers, the lungs, throat, and mouth, especially the tongue, are affected. These affected areas are much less common in those who lead a healthy lifestyle.

Studies have proven that cancer from cigarettes appears almost 100% in the lungs. Only half of the percent of patients in this zone are noted who were not smokers. It has also been established that every tenth moderate smoker and every fifth heavy smoker will die due to lung cancer due to smoking. Neoplasms of the lungs, throat, and mouth occur depending on the amount of tobacco consumed, as well as how deeply the tobacco smoke is inhaled. The disease also develops depending on the duration of nicotine use. Some people who start their habit before age 16 die before age 50.

Development of malignant formation in respiratory tract associated with the harmful effects of tobacco carcinogens in smoke – this fact This has been repeatedly proven by independent studies conducted by experts around the world.

Probability of occurrence terrible disease depends on the premises directly related to this habit: thus, the number of years of use and the number of cigarettes smoked each day are important. This type of oncology does not depend on environmental conditions, therefore they are affected both by those living in big cities, as well as rural residents inhaling smoke.

What is the risk of developing the disease

TO to different degrees diseases usually highlight increased risk factors. But lung cancer due to smoking is a disease that has a single main factor - the influence of smoking. The development of a malignant tumor, as well as the level of risk, is influenced by such signs.

Carcinogens. A mutating genetic code appears after exposure to a mutagenic factor. These factors a large number of: the effect of solar radioactive best, the influence of plant emissions, exhausts, etc. But these signs of a “bad environmental situation” in modern cities cannot be compared with the individual and most significant risk factors that overshadow the others: tobacco smoke. During smoking, the human body needs constant renewal of lung tissue cells, since they are the ones that are subject to stress and deteriorate due to the abundance of combustion products. With greater division of lung tissue cells, the risk of mutation increases. After some time, the body will not have the strength to cope with mutant cells, since it does not have the built-in function of intensive renewal. The immune system stops recognizing the rapid flow of anomalies, which means that the tumor begins to develop rapidly. This is how smoking causes cancer.
Weakening of the immune system. Not every smoker develops cancer, since immunity plays an important role. Thus, we can conclude that cancer is more dangerous for older people. At the same time, smokers undermine their immunity due to the harmful effects of smoke. People who inhale smoke doom themselves to the development of cancer cells. IN in this case Mutagenesis is provoked, which means the body is unable to fight. Smoking causes lung cancer depending on the duration: the immune system weakens, and the risk of disease increases. Therefore, people who smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day rarely live to see retirement.

Scientists also began to evaluate factors such as heredity.

In the development of other types of oncology, hereditary predisposition plays an important role, but lung cancer does not apply here. According to statistics, in this case everything is clear: in 85% of cases, this disease begins due to smoking. The remaining percentage refers to people forced to work in hazardous work. The main reason is still damage to the respiratory organs due to prolonged exposure to a damaging mutagenic factor. The small role of hereditary prerequisites in the onset of cancer development began to be noticed over the past few years, when the proportion of women suffering from this disease increased - the number of smokers increased in direct proportion.

Symptoms

Smoking leads to the formation of cancer - a disease that is not only serious, but also insidious. Long time the sick person does not see or feel the symptoms of the lesion until the penultimate or final stage occurs, when health care and surgery offers little chance of recovery. However, cancer from smoking has the first signs.

The smoker coughs a lot. Most often, this is the only symptomatology at an early stage of oncology. This sign is ignored because cough occurs in most people who have smoked for more than 5 years. If you have a frequent suffocating cough, you should consult a specialist. This is especially true when the sputum has bloody streaks.
Colds become more frequent. Smokers have a weakened immune system, so they often develop infectious diseases. You should panic if you experience bronchitis for a month, which is difficult to treat. It is necessary to count the number of disease situations per year. If this amount exceeds significantly 5 times, you need to go to the hospital.
Chest pain. This symptom occurs in half of cancer patients. If there is no pain, but there are other signs, you need to consult a doctor. This occurs due to the fact that there are no nerve endings in the lung tissues, so the appearance pain syndrome speaks of an affected pleura, which warns of pathological processes moderate severity. In addition, pain in this part of the body can signal heart pathologies.
With general weakness, intoxication of the body is noted. This general signs the appearance of a malignant formation: a person loses weight, gets tired quickly, and signs of anemia appear. These symptoms appear more clearly in the final stages, so you cannot trust the general good health if there are other signs indicated above.
Other organs are affected. Oncology is often diagnosed by metastases that appear due to a malignant tumor. A cancer cell can move through the lymph through the entire body, so it is almost impossible to determine the likelihood of abnormalities in certain organs. In 40% of smokers, they die from other types of tumor, however, the primary source is considered to be lung cancer, which was not diagnosed in a timely manner.

Every person, regardless of desires or reluctances to part with a bad habit, must take into account: the chances of recovering from a disease increase if it is diagnosed in time. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgical intervention, in parallel or separately, is considered effective way fight against malignant tumor.

In this way, you can extend more than several decades. The statistics are inexorable: patients who began treatment in the early stages return to a normal, fulfilling life in 78% of cases. If you ignore the signs and refuse treatment, then after identifying the disease, you can die in less than 2 years.

Preventive actions

The effect of smoking on lung cancer has long been proven. This is the main risk of malignancy in the organ. But not everything is so bad: the human body is capable of independently compensating for the damage caused if the pathology of tumor development has not been started, and the mutagenic effect of many substances ceases. In other words, to minimize the risk of a cancerous tumor appearing in the lungs, you need to give up your addiction in time. Experts have proven that in less than 10 years the start healthy image life, the risk of developing cancer in a former smoker is halved. And after 20 years, the risks are so minimized that the body’s condition will be at the level of a person who has never smoked.

Every year on International No Smoking Day, which occurs annually on the third Thursday of November, the American Cancer Society encourages people who smoke to quit smoking. bad habit. This event helps to understand that abstaining from smoking even for just one day is already the first step towards restoring health. In the United States, where tobacco use is still a leading cause of illness and premature death, the benefits of quitting smoking cannot be overstated.

Diseases caused by smoking harm every organ in the human body. In the US alone they are responsible for one in five deaths, but about 42 million Americans still continue to smoke. Below is information about various diseases, the cause of which is smoking, and about the actions that need to be taken in order to do so today.

Dangerous diseases caused by smoking

1. Lung cancer

Smoking dramatically increases the risk of developing lung cancer. According to the American Lung Association, the risk of lung cancer increases 23 times in men and 13 times in women. Not smoking people Those caused by smoking are also at risk of developing this disease. In passive smokers, the risk of developing lung cancer increases by 20-30%; in total, passive smoking causes 7,330 deaths per year.

2.COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Smoking is the cause of death in 9 out of 10 COPD-related deaths. This umbrella term, which includes emphysema and bronchitis, is the number 3 killer in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control indicates that smoking during childhood and adolescence slows lung growth and increases the risk of developing COPD.

3. Heart disease

People who smoke are four times more likely to develop heart disease than those who do not smoke tobacco. Nicotine reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches your heart, increases your heart rate and increases the overall workload on the organ. One in five deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases, is directly related to smoking.

4. Stroke

Smoking doubles. According to the National Stroke Association, smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the blood and makes it harder for the heart to function. This promotes the formation of blood clots, which can subsequently block blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke.

5. Aortic aneurysm

Aorta is the largest blood vessel in organism. According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, aneurysm is more common in men than in women. In men who smoke, the risk of developing an aortic aneurysm increases even more.

6. Oropharyngeal cancer

This type of cancer develops in the mouth or larynx. The risk of developing a disease caused by smoking directly depends on the length of time you have smoked cigarettes or used chewing tobacco. According to the American Cancer Society, oropharyngeal cancer can affect the larynx, lips, inner lips and cheeks, and gums.

7. Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer begins to develop in the throat. According to the National Cancer Institute, smoking increases the risk of esophageal cancer. The appearance of squamous cells of a neoplasm developing on the surface internal organs and skin, is directly related to tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption.

8.Cataract

This ophthalmological disease is accompanied by gradual clouding of the lens of the eye and further deterioration of vision. According to the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness, and the risk of developing them is increased by smoking.

9. Diabetes 2nd type

In approximately 90% of cases, diabetes is classified as type 2. According to the Center for Disease Control, smoking is a direct cause causing diabetes Type 2. The risk of its development increases by 30-40% in people who smoke. Those who smoke and already have diabetes experience problems controlling their disease, which can further lead to heart disease. peptic ulcer, infections and amputations.

10.Rheumatoid arthritis

Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation cites research that confirms the connection between these two factors. Rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by inflammation, pain, deformation and stiffness of the joints.

11. Sudden infant death syndrome

SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby while sleeping. Similar cases occur with children aged from one month to a year. Studies have shown that mothers who smoke during pregnancy expose their children to increased risk SIDS. The US National Library of Medicine published a study showing that mothers who smoke before pregnancy also expose their children to a similar risk. Danger SVSD increases even more if the child's father also smokes, which further intensifies.

12. Erectile dysfunction

Many studies show that smoking is a major factor in erectile dysfunction. Smoking contributes to the formation of plaque in the arteries and interferes with normal blood flow. According to one study, men who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day have a 60% increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction.

Tips for living a smoking-free life

It is quite difficult to overcome tobacco addiction. Research from the American Cancer Association has confirmed that the most successful way to break this habit is with the right support. Such support may include:

Smoking cessation hotlines
Groups dedicated to
Online groups
Consulting
Nicotine replacement products
Medicines that reduce the craving for smoking
and for them
Books-guides

Encouragement and support from friends and family members