There are specific side effects of smoking that affect men’s bodies and others that affect women’s. In this article we explore the many issues facing women at each age and stage of life.
Bee Milbourn Quit Smoking Specialist
Women can suffer many side effects of smoking including Premature ageing, infertility, birth control problems, pregnancy and birth issues, not to mention the effect on the baby of the smoking habit. And then there’s the increased risk of heart disease to young women smokers and the risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer. In older women the potential problems are loss of bone density and menopause issues.
One of the side effects of smoking women become most depressed about is the ageing effect on their skin. In studies carried out on twins where one smoked and the other didn’t, by age 50 the smoking twin looked more than 10 years older on average than the non-smoking twin.
Around the mouth deep lines form, the skin loses elasticity and dries out; the teeth often become yellowed and the eyes look dull and lifeless. This leads to lack of confidence and increased anxiety.
Menopause
The average female smoker may begin her menopause two or three years earlier than a non smoker. In fact, if you began smoking as a teenager you are three times more likely to suffer an early menopause. This may be caused by a toxic effect on the ovaries or because one of the side effects of smoking can be significantly lower levels of estrogen.
Osteoperosis
By the time a 20-a-day smoker reaches menopause she may have lost five to ten percent more bone density than a non-smoker. Osteoporosis is preventable. Quit smoking, exercise with weights and ensure a good level of calcium intake daily.
Birth Control issues
Oral contraceptives and smoking don’t mix. Put the two together and you have an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes and blood clots. This risk is greater in women over 35 who smoke. It is advised that they no longer use oral contraception methods.
Pregnancy problems
The babies of mothers who smoke have the same level of nicotine in their bloodstream at birth as their mother. They are forced to go through withdrawal during their first few days of life according to “Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century,” by the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective.
Pregnant mothers pass toxic chemicals through the blood stream to the fetus which could put the unborn child at serious risk or even cause death.
Even after the child is born the damage continues with the tendency to colds, ear aches, respiratory problems and other illnesses which the children of non-smokers are far less prone to.
Smoking in pregnancy could cause miscarriage, pregnancy complications including detachment of the placenta, ectopic pregnancy and premature birth; low birth weight which leads to the baby being more prone to illness and infection; congenital defects; stillbirth or death within the first week of life; reduced long-term growth and development of the infant and even a tendency to lower achievement rates in reading and maths.
Infertility
As female smokers age, they’ll have around 28% less fertility than female non-smokers and are more likely to take over one year to conceive. This is due to a decrease in ovulatory response as well as impairment in implantation and fertilization of the zygote. It is thought that the chemicals ingested when you smoke may alter the cervical fluid so that it becomes toxic to the sperm.
Heart Disease
The risk of heart disease is 50% greater in women smokers than in men smokers according to researchers in Denmark. This may be due to the interaction of estrogen with the toxins ingested when they smoke.
Approximately 34,000 women smokers die of heart disease – attributed to smoking – each year in North America alone. And it’s not just an old persons’ problem; the risk of heart disease is very high for young women smokers.
Cervical Cancer
Smoking can lead to the onset of cervical cancer because the chemicals from the cigarettes can weaken the ability of the cervical cells to fight off infection and this can create a greeding ground for any abnormal cells to multiply.
Breast Cancer
Another of the side effects of smoking relating specifically to women is the dreaded breast cancer. The American Cancer Society study of 1994 suggested that breast cancer sufferers who smoke may have at least a 25 per cent greater risk of dying and that risk increases with the amount of cigarettes smoked on a daily basis; rising to a 75% risk of death for those who smoke 40 or more cigarettes a day.
Even if you’ve tried quitting before; try again; try something new; because your risk of cancer begins to decrease dramatically when you’re smoke free until, eventually, you will only have the same risks as a non-smoker. Avoid the side effects of smoking and quit while you’re ahead.
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Step by Step
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To your health wealth and happiness – Bee
Read more about side effects of smoking for men here
I hope you enjoy reading this article and that it is useful to you – Bee
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