Smoking and the Chronic Diseases That Follow
It doesn’t just kill you — it makes you suffer first.
Within just 10 seconds of your first puff, toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke spread to your brain, heart, and vital organs. And that’s just the beginning. A single cigarette contains over 100 harmful substances—many of them are carcinogenic.
You’ve seen the warning on the cigarette pack: “Smoking kills.” But a more accurate version might be: “Smoking kills you slowly, after making you suffer through multiple chronic diseases.”
Nicotine is highly addictive. It stimulates the brain to release dopamine, a hormone that makes you feel good, alert, and energized. But as the nicotine level drops, your brain starts craving more dopamine. The result? You need more nicotine to feel normal. That’s how addiction begins.
Once you're hooked, quitting isn't just about willpower. Your brain chemistry has changed. Withdrawal symptoms—like anxiety, irritability, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating—can drive you right back to smoking.
Quitting smoking is a journey that requires more than good intentions—it takes support, understanding, and action.
Chronic diseases caused by smoking
1. Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer worldwide, and smoking is the leading cause. Nearly 90% of lung cancer cases are linked to smoking.
In Indonesia, lung cancer is among the top causes of cancer-related deaths in men. According to The Global Cancer Observatory (2020), lung cancer ranks third in new cancer cases after breast and cervical cancer.
2. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
COPD causes progressive breathing difficulties, chronic coughing, and permanent lung damage. You may start feeling winded from mild activity, and over time, even climbing stairs becomes a struggle.
Smoking is responsible for up to 90% of COPD cases. In Indonesia, around 10 million people are estimated to live with undiagnosed or untreated COPD, with high prevalence among young adults and the elderly.
3. Heart disease
Smoking damages nearly every organ, including your heart. The chemicals in tobacco cause blood vessels to narrow and blood pressure to rise, leading to heart attacks or strokes.
In Indonesia, ischemic heart disease remains the top cause of death. The national health insurance program (BPJS Kesehatan) reports heart disease as the most considerable expense, costing over Rp12 trillion annually, much of it linked to smoking.
4. Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. It can cause paralysis, speech difficulties, and even death.
Smoking significantly increases the risk of stroke. In Indonesia, stroke is the leading cause of disability and a significant cause of death.
5. Asthma
Cigarette smoke irritates and inflames the airways, triggering asthma attacks. Secondhand smoke also puts children at higher risk of developing asthma early in life.
6. Reproductive issues
Smoking raises the risk of ectopic pregnancy, reduces fertility, and complicates conception. Female smokers are more likely to experience miscarriage and menstrual irregularities.
7. Premature birth and low birth weight
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of having a baby born prematurely or with low birth weight. These babies are more vulnerable to serious health complications or even death.
8. Type 2 diabetes
Smokers are 30–40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Smoking also worsens diabetes-related complications, such as nerve damage, kidney disease, amputations, and blindness.
9. Vision problems: cataracts and macular degeneration
Smoking speeds up the development of cataracts and increases the risk of macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in older adults. Indonesia has over 3 million blind individuals, and smoking plays a significant role in that number.
10. More than 10 other types of cancer
Beyond lung cancer, smoking causes cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, cervix, colon, bladder, and more. Even cancer survivors who smoke are at a higher risk of developing a second primary cancer.
Quitting is hard, but possible
Smoking harms nearly every part of your body. But here’s the good news: you can stop.
It won’t be easy, but it’s absolutely possible. Start small. Seek support. Do it for yourself, your family, and the people who care about you.
Every step away from smoking is a step toward a healthier life. Clearer lungs. A stronger heart. Lower disease risk. You don’t have to be perfect—just start.
