Bollywood actor Aamir Khan is making headlines once again, but this time it’s not for his films. At the trailer launch of his son Junaid Khan's debut film, Loveyapa, Aamir revealed that he has quit smoking—a habit he had struggled with for years. "Smoking is something I loved very much; it was something I enjoyed," Aamir stated.

He continued, "Kitne saalon se main cigarette peeta tha, fir pipe peeta hoon. Tobacco is something I enjoy; it is not good for health, aur kisi ko bhi yeh nahi karna chahiye. Mujhe khushi hai ki maine yeh buri aadat chhod di. Yeh acchi aadat nahi thi, aur iska jo reason hai, woh sach mein khaas hai."

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Aamir's choice to quit smoking serves as a reminder of how giving up the habit can transform your health and life. Smoking has numerous harmful effects on human health and can lead to life-threatening diseases.

Let's discuss some of the severe effects of smoking and explore the reasons to quit, along with insights from experts.

Breathing and respiratory issues

Smoking leads to several breathing problems and respiratory conditions. Several reports have stated it causes one of the main conditions called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is a severe condition where airflow in the lungs is affected.

Dr. Tirathram Kaushik, consultant at Oncosurgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, told FPJ last year, "When harmful toxins get exposed to the lungs, they can cause inflammation and damage to the cells, elevating the risk of lung cancer and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)."

Further, frequent smoking can also cause asthma in adolescents and adults.

Causes cancer

One of the major causes of smoking is its link to various diseases, particularly cancer. Research has shown that tobacco increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, including lung cancer, mouth cancer, nose cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, and more. Millions of people lose their lives each year due to this harmful product.

Dr. Kaushik stated, "People consuming tobacco have a higher chance of developing various types of cancers such as cancer of the voicebox (larynx), lungs, oesophagus, mouth, throat, stomach, bladder, and kidneys.  Tobacco is made with multiple cancer-causing chemicals and toxins that can cause damage to various parts of the body and also weaken an individual's immune system over time."

Further discussing smoking and its connection to cancer, the expert emphasised, "Smoking is one of the primary causes of preventable deaths globally. The harmful cancer-causing chemicals like tar, nicotine, cadmium, and lead can gradually damage an individual's DNA and genetics, which can lead to genetic mutations and the steady development of cancer.'

Menopause in women

It is one of the common reasons behind experiencing early menopause or premature menopause in women. Harmful products like cigarettes, shisha, hookah and others should be avoided during pregnancy, as they can have harmful effects on the baby and the mother.

A National Institutes of Health (NIH) report stated, "Cigarette smoking and menopause have overlapping negative health consequences and may act synergistically to contribute to worse health outcomes in this population."

Fertility problems

Several reports suggest smoking can make it difficult for women to get pregnant and also affect their sperm quality. Women who frequently smoke have a high rate of experiencing fertility-related problems.

Dr. Soumya Shetty, fertility consultant at Nova IVF, said, "Women who actively smoke or chew tobacco are more prone to experience problems related to fertility. Even passive smoking is harmful during pregnancy. Over time, the fertility rate in women starts to decrease drastically, making it essential to plan their pregnancy to avoid future complications."

"They can protect their fertility by opting for various available options like IUI, IVF, and egg freezing in case of any complications or problems while conceiving. It can lead to further problems like irregular periods or completely missing the period cycle for more than weeks," Dr. Soumya Shetty added.