What are the Short Term Effects of Tobacco Smoking?

Every year smoking kills more Americans then AIDS, traffic accidents, suicide, murder, fires and accidental poisoning combined. Considering all the harmful health effects of smoking, it's hard to believe that more people don't try to stop.

Most people know the long term effects of smoking include lung cancer, emphysema, cardiovascular diseases and premature ageing. While these can be devastating many people don't worry about them because they don't seem like an immediate threat. It's important to understand that in the short term smoking cigarettes can be every bit as dangerous.

The following are 6 of the most dangerous short term side effects of smoking:

• Increased blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Narrowing of the arteries
• Reduced amount of oxygen the blood can carry
• Carbon monoxide levels in the blood rise
• Creates an imbalance in the demand for oxygen by the cells

Nicotine is considered one of the most addictive drugs in our society. It's one of the major reasons people continue to smoke. This is why it's so important to quit as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to finally stop.

Understanding all the negative effects smoking has on the body is the first step to quitting. For more information please visit our Effects of Smoking Page.