What are some of the short and long-term effects of smoking cigarettes?
Smoking causes many types of cancer, which may not develop for years. But cancers account for only about half of the deaths linked to smoking. Long term, smoking is also a major cause of heart disease, aneurysms, bronchitis, emphysema and stroke, and it makes pneumonia and asthma worse. Wounds take longer to heal and the immune system may be less effective in smokers than in non-smokers. Male smokers have a higher risk of sexual impotence (erectile dysfunction) the longer they smoke. Smoking also causes many short-term effects, such as poor lung function. Because of this, smokers often suffer shortness of breath and nagging coughs. They often will tire easily during physical activity. Some other common short-term effects include decreased ability to smell and taste, premature aging of the skin, bad breath, and stained teeth. Are menthol cigarettes safer than other brands? Menthol cigarettes are not safer than any other brand. In fact, they may even be more dangerous. The added menthol
