Cyanide, a chemical found in tobacco smoke, interferes with thyroid hormone production. Smoking triples the risk for developing thyroid disease, particularly hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Women smokers with subclinical hypothyroidism (a symptom-free condition in which the thyroid gland is mildly underactive) have a higher risk for developing full-blown hypothyroidism than their nonsmoking peers. Smoking has also been linked to goiter, a swelling of the thyroid that occurs in people who do not get enough iodine.

Click the icon to see an image of the thyroid.

Smoking and Surgical Recovery

Smokers are at increased risk for heart and circulatory problems and delayed wound healing after surgery. Patients who are able to cut down or quit smoking 6 - 8 weeks before knee or hip replacement surgery are much less likely to have complications.

Smoking and Age-Related Disorders

The following age-related conditions are thought to occur at higher rates in smokers than nonsmokers:

• Cataracts. Quitting smoking reduces your chances of needing cataract surgery in the future, although not to the level seen with nonsmokers.

Click the icon to see an image of a cataract.

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of blindness in older people. Symptoms of macular degeneration include a loss of central vision, which makes it difficult to read. Smoking is the second leading risk factor for AMD, after age. Heavy smoking over a long period of time can significantly increase AMD risk.
• Gum disease and tooth loss. One-half or more of the cases of severe gum disease in adults in the United States may be due to cigarette smoking.
• Wrinkles. Smokers are nearly five times more likely to develop more and deeper wrinkles as they age compared to nonsmokers.
• Baldness and premature gray hair. Certain chemicals in smoke break down in hair cells, which leads to hair damage.
• Hearing loss, particularly high-frequency hearing loss.
• Incontinence.

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Health Risks of Smoking Secondhand Smoke

Review Date: 09/08/2010
Reviewed By: Reviewed by: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)