If you are a smoker, you probably know you should stop. That is a good start toward quitting, but you need a powerful motivator to follow through. Knowing the truth about how smoking harms your health may be what it takes.Its never too late to put the ex in front of smoker, said Aspirus Respiratory Therapist Sarah Schroeder. Quitting smoking will reduce your risk of infections like colds, the flu, bronchitis and pneumonia.An alarming fact is that smoking affects nearly every part of your body, including your: Airways. Delicate tissues in your lungs become inflamed because of smoking. This can lead to serious disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking can also cause cancer to develop in your lungs, throat, and mouth. Heart. Smoking harms the cells lining the blood vessels and heart and can increase the risk of clots that cause heart attacks. Smoking can also contribute to an abdominal aortic aneurysmthe weakening of the major artery near the stomach. Other blood vessels. Damage to vessel linings can cause them to narrow, restricting blood flow to the kidneys, stomach, arms, legs, and feet. This can lead to a range of problems, including pain and gangrene. Brain. Blood clots that form in damaged arteries can travel to your brain and cause potentially fatal strokes. Bones and tendons. Smoking increases the risk for osteoporosisweak bonesand fractures in both men and women. Overuse injuries, such as tendinitis, and traumatic injuries, such as sprains, are also more likely among smokers, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Immune system. Smokers have smaller amounts than nonsmokers of some types of cells that destroy germs. That leaves you more vulnerable to infections.

In addition, smoking can cause cancer of the pancreas, kidneys, cervix, and stomach. It also can cause leukemia, which is cancer of the blood. And smoking increases your risk for eye diseases and dental problems.Women who smoke tend to have more complications with pregnancy, including premature births, low-birth-weight babies, and stillbirths. And their babies are more likely to die of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) than babies whose mothers do not smoke.Turn your risks around-There is another list that is much more encouragingthe benefits of giving up smoking. Check it out, along with the American Cancer Societys guide to quitting smoking, at http://morehealth.org/quit4good.By quitting, your health risks decrease immediately and continue to diminish over time, no matter how long you have smoked. A tobacco Quitline can also help you quit for good. Call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669).Once you quit smoking, you will have more energy and feel healthier, Schroeder said. Dont put off quitting. Ask for help.For more information on the smoking cessation program, visit aspirusarise.com or visit aspirus.org.

About Aspirus Health Care System-Aspirus is a non-profit, community-directed health system based in Wausau, Wisconsin. Its 8,700 employees are focused on improving the health and well-being of people throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Aspirus serves communities through four hospitals in Michigan and six hospitals in Wisconsin, 50 clinics, home health and hospice care, pharmacies, critical care and air-medical transport, medical goods, nursing homes and a broad network of physicians. Aspirus has been recognized for three consecutive years by IBM Watson Health as a Top 15 Health System in its annual study identifying the top-performing health systems in the country. For more information, visit aspirus.org.

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The anatomy of smoking: How tobacco affects your body - Merrillfotonews