The Dangers of Smoking for Alcoholics

The Dangers of Smoking for Alcoholics Addiction Alcohol Use Print The Dangers of Smoking for Alcoholics By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 15, 2020 Stefan Obermeir/Getty Images More in Addiction Alcohol Use Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Smoking tobacco poses dangerous heath risks for anyone, but it is even more hazardous for alcoholicsâ€"even those who are in recovery. Because years of heavy drinking damages or weakens the bodys systems, alcoholics are more susceptible to the dangers of tobacco use more so than other smokers.?? Tobacco-related disease is two to four times more prevalent among alcoholics than that of the general population. Alcoholics who smoke are less likely to die from an alcoholic-related illness than they are a tobacco-related disease. Those who suffer from alcoholism and have a smoking habit have a 51% chance of death, compared with alcoholics who are nonsmokers who have a 34% chance of death. As such, many researchers have ascertained that smoking cessation therapy is vital for alcohol recovery treatment programs.?? What Are the Dangers of Smoking? Probably the biggest fear for all smokers is the risk of getting lung cancer, and there is a good reason: male smokers are 23 times more likely to develop lung cancerâ€"and female smokers 13 times more likelyâ€"compared to non-smokers.?? Smoking so-called light cigarettes do not significantly reduce the risk of lung cancer. Lung cancer, however, is not the biggest health threat for those who smoke. The number one killer in the United States for smokers is heart disease, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Putting Toxins Into Your Body When you smoke cigarettes, you are putting toxins from the tobacco and the chemicals used to make cigarettes into your bloodstream. Those toxins contribute to the development of atherosclerosis or the hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is caused by deposits of fatty plaques and the thickening and scarring of the artery walls.?? When the artery wall becomes inflamed or blood clots develop, blood flow can be obstructed and cause heart attacks or strokes. Smoking causes atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, which results in coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Smoking cigarettes have been linked with sudden cardiac deaths in both men and women.?? In recent years, it has also been associated with an increased risk of developing an  abdominal aortic aneurysm. Because smoking reduces circulation by narrowing the blood vessels, it can increase the risk of developing peripheral vascular disease, obstruction of the large arteries in the arms and legs, particularly among women.?? Leading Cause of Strokes The third leading cause of death in the U.S. is a stroke, and cigarette smoking has been found to be a major cause of strokes. Smokers are two to four times more likely to have a stroke than non-smokers. The 599 Ingredients and Additives in Cigarettes Smoking as the Cause of Other Cancers Although lung cancer may be the biggest cancer threat, smokers are at risk for developing all kinds of cancers. The carcinogens found in tobacco smoke damage the genes that control the growth of cells in the body, causing them to reproduce too rapidly or grow abnormally.?? Smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing the following: Esophageal cancerStomach cancerKidney cancerBladder cancerCancer of the mouthCancer of the throatAcute myeloid leukemiaCancer of the cervixCancer of the larynxPancreatic cancer Smokings Respiratory Health Effects Of course, lung cancer is not the only threat to the respiratory health of smokers. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is another leading cause of death in the U.S., and although nonsmokers can get COPD, an estimated 85% to 90% of COPD cases are linked to smoking.?? Approximately 15.3 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Many people may have COPD without even knowing it.?? Female smokers are 13 times more likelyâ€"and male smokers 12 times more likelyâ€"to die from COPD than those who have never smoked, according to the American Lung Association. Smokers can also suffer from chronic coughing and wheezing; upper and lower respiratory tract infections; and declining lung function. Effects on Reproductive Health There are additional risks for female smokers who plan to have children or who are already pregnant: smoking makes it more difficult to get pregnant, and research reveals an increased risk of infertility for women who smoke.?? Unfortunately, studies show that only about 23% of women smokers who get pregnant quit smoking during their pregnancies.?? This can result in the following problems: Pregnancy complicationsPremature birthLow-birth-weight infantsStillbirthInfant deathSudden Infant Death SyndromePlacenta previaPlacental abruption Reversing the Effects of Smoking There are many other health risks associated with smoking that is not necessarily life-threatening. Smoking has been found to harm almost every organ of the body, causing many diseases and generally reducing the overall health of smokers. The good news is that quitting smoking can immediately begin to reduce some of these increased health risks, and the benefits of quitting increase the longer you stop smoking. Your risk of heart attack and stroke are immediately reduced as soon as you quit. Former smokers have the same stroke risk as nonsmokers after 5 years, in most cases, and by 15 years, the risk for heart disease is the same as that of a nonsmoker.?? The Benefits That Come With the First Nine Months of Smoking Cessation