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Smoking is harmful to your health. But it’s tough to quit because of nicotine’s effect on your brain. Learn more about what smoking does to your body.

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Did you know long-term smoking and vaping can lead to many health issues like high blood pressure, strokes, heart conditions and various forms of cancer? Smoking and vaping can also cause blockages in your body, which disrupt cell performance and organ function.

"Your body is like a house; the organs are like rooms in the house and your veins are like plumbing," Jacqueline Crenshaw, a Bon Secours respiratory therapist, explains. "If you're clogging that flow because of smoking, then you're actually causing damage to those organs that need blood to function properly."

When cells do not perform as they should, there is a higher chance of cancerous cells forming. These cancerous cells can form in multiple different organs, including the lungs.

"When the cells aren't functioning at their optimal level, they can become cancerous," Jacqueline shares.

Reproductive concerns can also be a side effect of long-term smoking. Decreased oxygen can cause infertility in men. And if a mother smokes during pregnancy, the baby can become dependent on nicotine in the womb and go through withdrawal as soon as they are born. This can also increase the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) for the baby.

Smoking not only affects your internal organs, but your external appearance as well. Smoking can cause tooth decay, discoloration and wrinkles. Overall, it can disrupt how your body is supposed to function and have negative effects on you, both physically and emotionally.

"When your tissue is not alive, not healthy and not getting the good oxygen it needs because of the smoke or nicotine, it doesn't work right and it decays," Jacqueline reveals.

As for COVID-19, health care providers believe that smokers are more at risk than non-smokers. The complications from COVID-19 can be more serious to smokers since smoking can create blockages in both your electrical and blood flows.

"If you're smoking and you get the virus, it could be a double whammy," Jacqueline says.

If you currently smoke but have goals of a healthier lifestyle, Jacqueline shares that support groups can make a big difference and are an excellent starting point.

"It's the emotional attachment and habits we form when we smoke that are hardest to break," she says. "There is a success rate of more than 90 percent for those who take part in our Bon Secours Quit Smart Smoking Cessation program."
Learn more about tobacco addiction as well as the treatment services we offer at Bon Secours.

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What Smoking Does to Your Body | Bon Secours Blog

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Did you know long-term smoking and vaping can lead to many health issues like high blood pressure, strokes, heart conditions and various forms of cancer?

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Smoking and its effects on Health - Stop today!

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Quitting smoking: 10 ways to resist tobacco cravings

Tobacco cravings can wear you down when you're trying to quit. Use these tips to reduce and resist cravings.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
For most people who use tobacco, tobacco cravings or smoking urges can be strong. But you can stand up against these cravings.

When you feel an urge to use tobacco, keep in mind that even though the urge may be strong, it will likely pass within 5 to 10 minutes whether or not you smoke a cigarette or take a dip of chewing tobacco. Each time you resist a tobacco craving, you're one step closer to stopping tobacco use for good.

Here are 10 ways to help you resist the urge to smoke or use tobacco when a craving strikes.

1. Try nicotine replacement therapy

Ask your health care provider about nicotine replacement therapy. The options include:

Prescription nicotine in a nasal spray or inhaler

Nicotine patches, gum and lozenges you can buy without a prescription

Prescription non-nicotine stop-smoking drugs such as bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, others) and varenicline

Short-acting nicotine replacement therapies - such as nicotine gum, lozenges, nasal sprays or inhalers - can help you overcome intense cravings. These short-acting therapies are usually safe to use along with long-acting nicotine patches or one of the non-nicotine stop-smoking drugs.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have had a lot of interest recently as a replacement for smoking traditional cigarettes. But e-cigarettes haven't proved to be safer or more effective than nicotine-replacement medications in helping people stop smoking.

2. Avoid triggers

Tobacco urges are likely to be strongest in the places where you smoked or chewed tobacco most often, such as at parties or bars, or at times when you were feeling stressed or sipping coffee. Find out your triggers and have a plan in place to avoid them or get through them without using tobacco.

Don't set yourself up for a smoking relapse. If you usually smoked while you talked on the phone, for instance, keep a pen and paper nearby to keep busy with doodling rather than smoking.

3. Delay

If you feel like you're going to give in to your tobacco craving, tell yourself that you must first wait 10 more minutes. Then do something to distract yourself during that time. Try going to a public smoke-free zone. These simple tricks may be enough to move you past your tobacco craving.

4. Chew on it

Give your mouth something to do to resist a tobacco craving. Chew on sugarless gum or hard candy. Or munch on raw carrots, nuts or sunflower seeds - something crunchy and tasty.

5. Don't have 'just one'

You might be tempted to have just one cigarette to satisfy a tobacco craving. But don't fool yourself into thinking that you can stop there. More often than not, having just one leads to one more. And you may end up using tobacco again.

6. Get physical

Physical activity can help distract you from tobacco cravings. Even short bursts of activity - such as running up and down the stairs a few times - can make a tobacco craving go away. Get out for a walk or jog.

If you're at home or in the office, try squats, deep knee bends, pushups, running in place, or walking up and down a set of stairs. If you don't like physical activity, try prayer, sewing, woodwork or writing in a journal. Or do chores for distraction, such as cleaning or filing papers.

7. Try relaxation techniques

Smoking may have been your way to deal with stress. Fighting back against a tobacco craving can itself be stressful. Take the edge off stress by trying ways to relax, such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation, yoga, visualization, massage or listening to calming music.

8. Call for reinforcements

Connect with a family member, friend or support group member for help in your effort to resist a tobacco craving. Chat on the phone, go for a walk, share a few laughs, or meet to talk and support each other. Counseling can be helpful too. A free telephone quit line - 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) - provides support and counseling.

9. Go online for support

Join an online stop-smoking program. Or read a quitter's blog and post encouraging thoughts for someone else who might be dealing with tobacco cravings. Learn from how others have handled their tobacco cravings.

10. Remind yourself of the benefits

Write down or say out loud why you want to stop smoking and resist tobacco cravings. These reasons might include:

Feeling better

Getting healthier

Sparing your loved ones from secondhand smoke

Saving money

Keep in mind that trying something to beat the urge to use tobacco is always better than doing nothing. And each time you resist a tobacco craving, you're one step closer to being tobacco-free.

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Show references

1. Rigotti NA. Overview of smoking cessation management in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 23, 2022.

2. How to manage cravings. Smokefree.gov. https://smokefree.gov/challenges-when-quitting/cravings-triggers/how-manage-cravings. Accessed March 23, 2022.

3. Know your triggers. Smokefree.gov. https://smokefree.gov/challenges-when-quitting/cravings-triggers/know-your-triggers. Accessed March 23, 2022.

4. AskMayoExpert. Tobacco use (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2021.

5. Broaddus, VC. Smoking cessation. In: Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 23, 2022.

6. Rigotti NA. Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 23, 2022.

7. Park ER. Behavioral approaches to smoking cessation. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 23, 2022.

8. Making your plan to quit and planning your quit day. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/guide-quitting-smoking/deciding-to-quit-smoking-and-making-a-plan.html. Accessed March 23, 2022.

9. US Preventive Services Task Force. Interventions for tobacco smoking cessation in adults, including pregnant persons: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021; doi:10.1001/jama.2020.25019.

See more In-depth

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Each time you resist a tobacco craving, you're one step closer to stopping tobacco use for good. Use these tips to fight off cravings.

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According to the American Heart Association in 2013, an estimated 23 percent of adult men and 18 percent of adult women in the United States are smokers. This has created a multibillion dollar industry that depends on the addiction. Although many smokers believe there are some small benefits to smoking, the consequences of the habit on the body far outweigh any positives.

Why Smoke?

Because nicotine increases your basal metabolic rate, you burn more calories, causing some smokers to lose weight. Smoking may also calm nerves and help increase concentration. However, this is usually an illusion perpetuated by the addiction cycle. When a smoker's nicotine levels drop and she goes into withdrawal, she may feel anxious and unable to focus. Once nicotine levels return to normal after smoking, her ability to focus returns, and her overall feeling of well being also returns.

Smoking and Lung Damage

The disadvantages of smoking far outweigh the benefits. Nowhere is this seen better than with smoking's effects on the lungs. The American Lung Association estimates that cigarettes have 600 ingredients. When exposed to fire, the reaction creates an additional 4,000 chemicals, many of which are carcinogens. When exposed to the tissues of the mouth, esophagus and lungs, these chemicals can cause serious damage. This damage can lead to serious health problems, including emphysema and cancer.

Heart Health and Smoking

Smoking also has a devastating effect on your cardiovascular health. It increases your blood pressure, which can increase your chances of cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis. Smoking also increases your chances of developing blood clots, which can dislodge and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. Smoking also decreases your lung capacity, which can affect your ability to exercise. The loss of exercise can result in higher weight and cholesterol levels, which also puts you at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.

Financial Burden of Smoking

Smoking can also have a serious effect on your financial circumstances. In 2014, the average cost of a pack of cigarettes in the United States is $5.51. In some states, cigarettes can cost as much as nine dollars per pack. For a smoker who only smokes a single pack a day, the habit could cost as much as $2,011 a year, and that's on the low end of the spectrum. Other financial impacts include the loss in value of cars and homes that have been smoked in, as well as any health or insurance bills associated with smoking.

Death By Smoking

According to the American Heart Association, smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Of the estimated 2.4 million Americans who die every year, as many as 440,000 die due to smoking-related illnesses. Even if you have smoked your whole life, quitting can drastically increase your lifespan. Within hours of smoking your last cigarette, your body will begin to heal itself. Although some health issues from smoking are permanent, many can be drastically reduced and even cured by stopping the habit.

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The health risks of smoking are well known, many young people still do it. Here's how to help your kids avoid smoking or quit, if they've already started.