Pulse and blood pressure go up, skin temperature will go down. More stomach acid and less urine are produced. Initially, the brain and nervous system are stimulated and the smoker may interpret this as relaxation. Appetite and physical endurance decrease. Long-term Effects Smoking over a long period of time significantly increases the risk of developing serious health problems.
Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.
Every year 30,000 Canadians die from the effects of smoking. Emphysema, a condition in which the lungs are abnormally enlarged, is a life-threatening disease that is often associated with smoking. Chronic bronchitis and cancer of the larynx, mouth, bladder, kidney and pancreas occur in many people who have smoked heavily for years. Babies of smoking mothers often have low birth weight, are shorter in length, and have small head circumference. Some studies link smoking with miscarriage and stillbirths.