Smoking Cessation Program
Listen in as Dr. Theresa Dam Lohmiller discusses the smoking cessation program at BayCare and how it provides the extra support needed to kick the smoking habit for good.
We’ve heard for years how smoking cigarettes can harm our lungs. But what you might not know is that smoking affects the whole body, from your skin and hair to your eyes, ears, teeth and bones—and every organ system inside.
Reproductive health
For those of us in our reproductive years (and beyond), smoking can lead to a number of problems for both men and women:
Teeth and bones
Smoking weakens bones, increasing the risk of broken bones now, and osteoporosis later in life. Smokers also have higher rates of gum disease and tooth loss.
Eyes and ears
Cigarette smoking has been shown to cause vision loss due to cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, as well as damage to the inner ear that leads to hearing loss.
Appearance
The longer a person smokes, the greater the damage to their appearance, including:
Muscles and joints
Smoking can make you feel bad all over, due to its effects on muscles and joints throughout the body, like:
Risk of disease
Beyond the increased risk of lung disease, smoking can increase your risk for a number of other diseases and health conditions, such as:
If you need help quitting smoking, talk to your health care provider about programs and medications that might help.