Health Effects of Smoking on the Mouth, Throat Larynx, Esophagus

The mouth and throat (also called your pharynx) are the body’s entry points for food and air. The esophagus is a muscular tube that moves food from your mouth into your stomach. The larynx allows the passage of air to and from your lungs. The larynx is sometimes called the voice-box because it is used to create the sounds of speech.

The Health Effects of Smoking on the Mouth, Throat Larynx, Esophagus

Smokers have more periodontitis or gum disease than nonsmokers.

Smoking causes oral or mouth cancer.

When people smoke pipes or cigars, they are also at increased risk of getting mouth cancer. Reducing the use of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products could prevent most of the estimated 30,200 new cases and 7,800 deaths from oral cavity and pharynx cancers annually in the United States.

Smoking causes throat cancer.

Smoking causes cancer of the larynx.

In 2003, roughly 3,800 deaths occurred from laryngeal cancer, in the United States.

Smoking causes cancer of the esophagus.

Esophageal cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. Reductions in smoking and in use of smokeless tobacco could prevent many of the approximately 12,300 new cases and 12,000 deaths from esophageal cancer that occur annually in the United States.

Smokers are more likely to have upper respiratory tract infections like colds and sore throats due to viral or bacterial infections. Smoking harms the body’s ability to fight infections.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

The risk of mouth, throat, and esophagus cancers are cut in half five years after quitting smoking completely.

The risk of larynx cancer is reduced after quitting.

Smokers who quit will be at lower risk for upper and lower respiratory illnesses such as colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Smokers who quit may cough less, feel less tired and less short of breath, and have less congestion.

Source: Surgeon General's 2004 Report

Health Effects of Smoking on the Body

What Smoking Does to the Brain - Smoking has physical and psychological effects on the brain. Smoking Affects the Eyes - Smoking increases the risk of developing cataracts. Mouth, Throat Larynx, Esophagus - Are all effected by smoking and secondhand smoke. Smoking Damages the Lungs - Smoking is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Smoking Damages the Heart - Smoking damages the heart and weakens the blood vessels. How Smoking Affects the Stomach - Smoking causes stomach cancer. Smoking and the Kidneys - Smoking also causes kidney cancer. Smoking Damages your Bladder - Smoking is also cause cancer of the bladder. Smoking and the Pancreas - Smoking causes pancreatic cancer. Smoking and Pregnancy - Smoking harms both the mother and the unborn child.

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