The Effects of Smoking on Your Health

 Smoking has consequences for both short and long term health. Short-term effects include bad breath, stained teeth, and reduced athletic performance due to decreased lung function. Long term smokers, even those who smoke only a few cigarettes per day, are at much higher risk for respiratory disease, heart disease, stroke, and various types of cancer. Smoking can also cause birth defects in babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant. Quitting smoking is one of the best things a person can do for their health, no matter how long or how much they’ve smoked.