Smoking and women's health

07/01/2024

IMPACT OF TOBACCO SMOKING ON WOMAN'S HEALTH

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. This is especially true for women, since smoking negatively affects not only their general health, but also their reproductive system, which can have long-term consequences for their offspring.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 8 million people a year die from tobacco smoking, including 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke (second-hand smoke). According to a study conducted by WHO in 2020, 26.7% of the population in Belarus smokes, with the largest proportion of smokers living in Minsk (33.6%).

The impact of smoking on women's reproductive health and pregnancy

Women who smoke are more likely than non-smokers to have more irregular or painful periods, and they are also more likely to experience premenstrual syndrome.

Women who smoke 6 or more cigarettes a day are much more likely to experience problems getting pregnant and carrying a pregnancy to term than non-smoking women. Research shows that in women who smoke, the process of ovulation, as well as fertilization and implantation of the fertilized egg, may be disrupted. The chemicals in tobacco can also change cervical mucus, making it less sperm-friendly and making it more difficult to conceive.

Chemicals contained in cigarettes are transferred from pregnant women through the bloodstream to the fetus. These toxic chemicals pose serious risks to the fetus as well as the pregnant woman.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of:

congenital defects of the mouth and lips of the fetus;
low birth weight of a child;
premature birth;
sudden infant death syndrome.

Children born to mothers who smoke are more likely to suffer from colds and respiratory diseases than children born to mothers who do not smoke.

The impact of smoking on the health of women during menopause

Studies have shown that women who smoke have a 43% higher risk of menopause before the age of 50 compared to non-smokers. Women who smoke report the onset of menopausal symptoms on average 2-3 years earlier than non-smokers. Abnormal bleeding and vaginal infections during menopause are also more common in women who smoke.

Estrogen replacement therapy protects postmenopausal women from the risk of osteoporosis. But these benefits are not available to women who smoke due to the increased cardiovascular and other health risks associated with smoking while taking hormones.

The influence of smoking on the risk of developing cancer and somatic diseases

In addition to its impact on reproductive and gynecological health, smoking has a detrimental effect on a woman's overall health. Women who smoke have a significantly increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Tobacco smoke causes vasoconstriction and increases blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications. Women over 35 who smoke have a greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to men who smoke. Women who smoke while using oral contraceptives significantly increase their risk of cardiovascular disease, especially for women over 35 years of age.

Compared with men who smoke, women who smoke have a greater risk of dying from an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is a weakening of the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body.

Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This disease makes it difficult to breathe and the situation worsens over time. However, there is no cure for COPD. Women who smoke are more likely than men to develop severe COPD at a younger age. More women than men die each year from COPD.

People who smoke have an increased risk of developing many types of cancer, such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer and other types of cancer. Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing cervical cancer. Nicotine and carcinogens in tobacco smoke can cause mutations in cervical cells, which increases the likelihood of malignancy. Women who smoke are twice as likely to develop this type of cancer than non-smokers.

Smoking increases the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults over 65 years of age.

Smoking contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes and increases the risk of complications of the disease, including poor blood flow to the legs and feet. This can lead to infection and may require amputation of the limb.

Smokers lose bone density faster than nonsmokers, putting them at risk for fractures, especially femur fractures.

Electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products

E-cigarette emissions typically contain nicotine and other toxic substances that are harmful to both users and those around them who are secondarily exposed to aerosols. It has been discovered that some supposedly nicotine-free products actually contain nicotine.

Heated tobacco products (HTTP) have the same health effects as cigarettes because... There is currently no evidence that HTPs are less harmful than traditional tobacco products. HTPs emit more than 20 harmful and potentially harmful chemicals in significantly higher concentrations than regular cigarette smoke, and some of the substances found in heating products from such products can cause cancer.

Passive smoking

There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, which kills more than 1 million people every year. Second-hand smoke (even short-term exposure) can cause cancer, heart disease and other diseases. Among newborns who were exposed to tobacco smoke in utero or after birth, the risk of developing sudden infant death syndrome is doubled.

Making indoor public places completely smoke-free through smoke-free legislation protects people from the harm of secondhand smoke.

Conclusion

Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps a woman can take to improve her health. Smoking not only has a destructive effect on the reproductive system and increases the risk of serious diseases, but also reduces the quality of life in general.

The benefits of quitting smoking become noticeable almost immediately. Within a few weeks, the functioning of the cardiovascular system improves, blood pressure normalizes and the risk of a heart attack decreases. Over time, the risk of developing cancer decreases and the condition of the skin and hair improves.

There are many methods and resources available for those who want to quit smoking, including nicotine replacement therapy, counseling and specialist support. It is important to remember that even small steps towards quitting smoking can significantly improve your health and prolong your life.

Every woman deserves to be healthy and happy, and quitting smoking is a step in the right direction to achieve this goal. Taking care of your health is not only taking care of yourself, but also of the future generation. A healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits is the best gift a woman can give to herself and her loved ones.