The most important malignancy related to smoking is lung cancer. The 5-year survival rate is only between 5 and 10%. A substantial proportion of cancers in the mouth, throat, esophagus, urinary bladder and pancreas are also caused by tobacco smoking (Allard et al.) .
The most disabling chronic lung disease related to smoking is chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD, 'smoker's lung') comprising emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The terminal stage of COLD is increasing respiratory insufficiency and death. Smoking also increases the risk of developing asthma.
Smoking tobacco increases the risk of heart disease, which is America s number one cause of death in adults. The risk for developing myocardial infarction and stroke decreases rapidly after smoking cessation, and after 5-10 years ex-smokers have reached the same risk as people who have never smoked(Jabbour, Reddy, Muna & Achutti, 2002). .
Pregnant women who smoke risk the health and lives of their unborn babies. Smoking during pregnancy is linked with a greater chance of miscarriage, stillbirths, infant deaths, and sudden infant death syndrome. When a pregnant woman smokes, she's smoking for .
two. The nicotine, carbon monoxide and other harmful chemicals enter her bloodstream, pass into the baby's body, and prevent the baby from getting essential nutrients and oxygen for growth. .
There is overwhelming evidence linking tobacco smoking to diseases in the oral cavity (Watt, Johnson & Warnakulasurya, 2002, p.357). Some of the early effects of tobacco smoking are bad breath and tooth staining, often clearly visible to the smokers. Smoking remains a major risk factor for oral cancers and periodontal (gums and bone) disease. Although there is still a great deal of uncertainty about how tobacco smoke affects teeth and oral cavity, there are several clear links between smoking and a number of very serious diseases in the mouth.
Tobacco and oral disease.
