Immediate effects of smoking

Smoking causes seven out of every 10 cases of lung cancer, but tobacco is hugely damaging to health in many other, often surprising, ways – from the very first puff. 

Immediately upon inhaling cigarette smoke, instead of oxygen, carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin in the bloodstream. This means that the body’s cells are starved of the oxygen they require and is part of the reason why smokers get more breathless when they exercise. It is also why smoking during pregnancy can deprive a baby of oxygen. 

If a woman smokes while she is pregnant, there is a risk of complications, such as the baby being born below its expected birthweight, or miscarriage. 

To compensate for the lack of oxygen, heart rate and blood pressure increase. However, blood flow to the extremities (the hands and the feet) is reduced, making the person feel cold. At the same time, the brain and the nervous system are stimulated, which can lead to a jittery feeling.

Smoking also affects the cilia – tiny hair-like structures in the trachea and bronchi – reducing their ability to perform their usual function of moving mucus and other particles up and away from the lungs. This puts the smoker at a higher than usual risk of respiratory infections and can cause a cough to develop as the body tries to clear the chest of unwanted substances in an alternative way. 

Other immediate effects of smoking include: 

• Reduced senses of taste and smell
• A detrimental impact on the complexion 
• Yellow staining of the fingers and teeth 
• Bad breath.