No matter how you smoke it, tobacco is dangerous for your health. Smoking can lead to various lingering complications in the body, as well as long-term effects on your body systems. Although smoking can increase the risk of various problems over several years, some bodily effects are immediate. Learn more about the symptoms and general effects of smoking on the body below. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In the United States, the mortality rate of smokers is three times that of people who have never smoked. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says smoking is the most common “preventable cause of death” in the United States. Although the effects of smoking are not immediate, the complications and damage can last for years. The good news is that quitting smoking can reverse many effects. Nicotine is highly addictive, which is why it is so difficult to quit smoking. When you inhale smoke, you take in substances that can damage your lungs. Increased mucus production right after quitting smoking is a positive sign that your respiratory system is recovering. Children whose parents smoke are more prone to coughing, wheezing, and asthma attacks than children whose parents do not smoke. Smoking also increases blood pressure, weakens blood vessel walls, and increases blood clots. Smoking not only impacts your cardiovascular health, but also the health of those around you who don't smoke. Exposure to second-hand smoke carries the same risk for a non-smoker as for a person who smokes. The most obvious signs of smoking involve skin changes. The substances in tobacco smoke actually change the structure of your skin. A recent study showed that smoking significantly increases the risk of squamous cell carcinoma. Your fingernails and toenails are not immune to the effects of tobacco. Smoking increases the risk of fungal nail infections. Smoking increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus. Smokers also have higher rates of pancreatic cancer. Even people who “smoke but don’t inhale” are at increased risk of oral cancer. Smoking also affects insulin, making it more likely to develop insulin resistance. This puts you at increased risk of type 2 diabetes and its complications, which tend to develop more quickly than in people who don't smoke. Smoking can also reduce sex hormone levels in both men and women. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized document now from our expert writers. Get a Personalized Trial Quitting smoking is difficult, but your doctor can help you develop a plan. You can also turn to our Quitting Smoking Resource Center, which offers advice, stories from others and much more. Quitting smoking has both short and long term benefits. Since smoking affects every system in the body, finding a way to quit is the most important step you can take to live a longer, happier life...