Diseases Caused by Smoking

Diseases aren't caused directly by smoking, but smoking increases the risk for diseases. Smoking makes it much more likely that you will get the disease. If you smoke, you are 22 times more likely to be at risk for lung cancer. Emphysema is very strongly associated with smoking. Other cancers, such as of the pancreas, kidney, and bladder, are more common in smokers. Smoking makes it 2 to 4 times more likely you will get heart disease, and twice as likely you will have a stroke. The likelihood of developing gum disease, osteoporosis, and asthma attacks is also higher in smokers. And those are just some of the diseases associated with smoking.