These days, we all know that smoking is extremely bad for you. But what exactly can you expect to happen to your body if you smoke?

With every puff of a cigarette, you inhale about 4000 chemicals. These are mostly chemically active compounds that will bring about serious and damaging changes to your body.

In fact, smoking damages virtually every organ in the human body, reducing general health and causing many diseases.

Let’s take a quick look at how smoking will affect the various systems of the body.

Respiratory System:

Irritation of the voice box (larynx) and the windpipe (trachea).

Reduced lung capacity, breathlessness from swelling and tightening of the lung airways, excess mucus in lung passages.

Greater risk of lung infection, coughing and wheezing.

Damage to the lungs’ clearance system, build-up of poisonous substances.

Circulatory System:

Stickier blood, which in turn makes you more prone to blood clotting.

Raised blood pressure and heart rate.

Your blood can carry less oxygen.

The lining of your arteries becomes damaged, possibly leading to atherosclerosis.

Greater risk of stroke and heart attack because of blood supply blockages.

Constricted blood vessels in your skin, leading to a drop in skin temerature.

Immune System:

You are more prone to infections like influenza and pneumonia.

You take longer to recover from illness.

Your immune system will not function as well as it should.

Other Effects:

Heightened risk of ulcers in the digestive tract.

Lessened ability to taste and smell.

Earlier than normal wrinkling of the skin.

Greater risk of becoming blind.

Inflammation and irritation of the intestines and stomach.

In addition to these serious health issues, there are male and female specific consequences for smokers. For example, lower fertility (sperm count for males) is likely for both sexes.

Smoking is a seriously detrimental habit that will undoubtedly cost you your health and, in the long run, probably your life.