While you hold a cigarette, tar stains your nails. Smoke dries out and inflames your skin, causing wrinkles and premature aging.

SMOKING EFFECTS ON YOUR

Woman applying skin care

SKIN & NAILS

Illustration of a hand highlighting a person's nails and the damage done to them by smoking.

Woman applying skin care

Illustration of a tooth representing damage to the mouth from smoking.

SMOKING EFFECTS ON YOUR

NOSE & MOUTH

Smoke damages nerves in your nose. Tar stains your teeth and coats your mouth and throat. This reduces your sense of taste and smell and can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Woman applying skin care

Illustration of a man with glasses trying to read a book. Representing eye sight issues.

SMOKING EFFECTS ON YOUR

EYES

The chemicals in cigarettes plus a lack of oxygen damages your eyes. This can lead to macular degeneration, cataracts and vision loss.

Woman applying skin care

Illustration showing lungs.

SMOKING EFFECTS ON YOUR

LUNGS & AIRWAYS

Tar and poisonous gases damage your lungs and airways. This increases your risk of respiratory infections and COPD. Lack of oxygen and inflammation can make you short of breath.

Woman applying skin care

Illustration of a close up of blood vessels.

SMOKING EFFECTS ON YOUR

HEART & BLOOD VESSELS

Nicotine damages your blood vessels, thickening and narrowing them. This increases your risk for blood clots, heart attack and stroke. It can also lead to erectile dysfunction.

Woman applying skin care

Illustration representing a body.

SMOKING EFFECTS ON YOUR

BRAIN HEALTH

Nicotine activates “feel-good” signals in your brain. Without cigarettes, you experience withdrawal symptoms — like anxiety, restlessness and depression — and, eventually, nicotine dependence.

Woman applying skin care

Illustration representing your bones.

SMOKING EFFECTS ON YOUR

BONE Health

Nicotine reduces your body’s ability to absorb the calcium needed to make strong bones. This can lead to osteoporosis and increase your risk for broken bones.

Woman applying skin care

Illustration of a cigarette.

SMOKING EFFECTS ON YOUR

WHOLE BODY

Chemicals from cigarettes travel throughout your body. They damage your DNA, increasing your risk of cancer. They also decrease your immune defenses and cause hormone changes.

Woman applying skin care

Illustration representing pregnancy.

SMOKING EFFECTS ON YOUR

Pregnancy

Restricted blood flow reduces oxygen to the fetus and harmful chemicals pass through the placenta. This increases the risk of miscarriage, birth defects and developmental delays.