Harmful health effects of cigarette smoking.

This is a comprehensive review on the harmful health effects of cigarette smoking. Tobacco smoking is a reprehensible habit that has spread all over the world as an epidemic. It reduces the life expectancy among smokers. It increases overall medical costs and contributes to the loss of productivity during the life span. Smoking has been shown to be linked with various neurological, cardiovascular, and pulmonary diseases. Cigarette smoke not only affects the smokers but also contributes to the health problems of the non-smokers. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke contributes to health problems in children and is a significant risk factor for asthma. Cigarette smoke contains several carcinogens that alter biochemical defense systems leading to lung cancer.