Smoking causes significant damage to the body that can dramatically increase your risk of vascular and pulmonary damage. And while most people are aware of the health risks associated with smoking, they are often quick to dismiss the facts.
“Smoking allows toxic chemicals to get into the body and your bloodstream by way of your lungs,” says Avi Cohen, M.D., a pulmonologist at Henry Ford Health. “Most people assume that smoking cigarettes are the only way these toxic chemicals can get in, but vaping, smoking cigars and exposure to secondhand smoke are equally, if not more dangerous to the body.”
Here, Dr. Cohen explains how smoking not only causes severe damage to the lungs, but it can also increase your risk of having a stroke.
How Smoking Can Cause COPD Or A Stroke
Smoking affects everyone differently, though smoking in any capacity poses health risks. To determine how much your health is impacted by smoking, doctors use a calculation call “pack years." Pack years are calculated by multiplying the number of packs you smoke per day by the number of years you have been smoking. (For example, 1 pack a day for 40 years would equal 40 pack years). According to Dr. Cohen, on average, 15-20 pack years makes you more prone to developing heath complications related to your smoking habits.
The health risks for smoking are primarily twofold – there are the health risks associated with smoke exposure and health risks associated with substances found in smoking products.
Risk Of Smoke Exposure
When the body is exposed smoke - either directly or secondhand - it can cause damage to the lungs. Over time, this lung damage can develop into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema, a type of COPD. There are different severities of COPD. While some people may experience shortness of breath and difficulties breathing, others may be asymptomatic.
Risk Of Substances In Smoking Products
Substances such as nicotine and tar are commonly found in smoking products.
“These materials are absorbed by the lungs when they are smoked, causing vascular damage including narrowing blood vessels and bodily inflammation,” says Dr. Cohen. This damage can also cause plaque to build up in your arteries which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Additionally, Dr. Cohen notes that other risk factors, including diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure, play a large part in your stroke and COPD risk.
Quit Smoking To Improve Health Risks
While smoking does cause permanent damage to the lungs, some of the other related health risks can be minimized by quitting. Here’s how giving up the habit can impact your health down the road:
Stroke Care At Henry Ford
- After 1-2 years you are less likely to have a heart attack.
- After 5-10 years, your risk for stroke related to smoking use decreases.
- After 10-15 years, your risk of lung cancer decreases.
If you do smoke or used to smoke, it is important to disclose this to your doctor. Your health history can help your doctor determine if additional health screenings might be necessary to monitor your heart or lung function.
“There is often a big stigma around smoking, and many people get uncomfortable talking to their doctor about their smoking habits,” says Dr. Cohen. “We aren’t here to judge your choices, but rather understand your lifestyle so we can evaluate your health to the best of our ability.”
If you already have COPD, your condition can progress even if you stop smoking. Your doctor can evaluate if you would benefit from oxygen or inhalers for additional breathing support.
While quitting smoking may not prevent you from ever having a stroke, it can certainly help in not contributing to an elevated risk for one. If you are looking for help quitting, there are many local resources to help.
Reviewed by Dr. Avi Cohen, a pulmonologist who sees patients at Henry Ford Medical Center - Taylor.
