Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, and quitting brings benefits within hours.

Quitline is available on 13 7848 (13 QUIT).
Circulation and lung function improve within 2 to 12 weeks of quitting.
After 10 years without smoking, the risk of lung cancer is about half that of a smoker.

How it works

Smoking is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, sleep apnoea and osteoporosis, and it raises the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. People who smoke need more vitamin C, because smoking increases the vitamin C the body needs to repair damage from free radicals.

healthdirect describes how the body recovers after quitting. Within 20 minutes your resting heart rate starts to fall, within 12 hours blood oxygen improves, after 1 year your heart disease risk is about half that of a smoker, and after 15 years your risk of heart attack and stroke is almost the same as someone who has never smoked.

Connections

12 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.

Smoking can raise

Oxidative stress
Smoking increases the amount of vitamin C the body needs to repair damage caused by free radicals.
Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin C fact sheet for consumers
Stroke
Smoking cigarettes doubles the risk of having a stroke.
Source: healthdirect Australia, Stroke
Dementia Supported
Smoking tobacco increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and dementia.
Source: Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), Dementia: reducing your risk
Bowel cancer
Smoking increases the risk of bowel cancer and bowel polyps.
Source: Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), Bowel cancer

Smoking can worsen

Asthma
Cigarette smoke is a common asthma trigger.
Source: Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), Asthma
Heartburn and reflux (GORD)
Smoking cigarettes can trigger heartburn.
Source: healthdirect Australia, Heartburn
Psoriasis Supported
Smoking can trigger psoriasis or make it worse.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Psoriasis; Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), Psoriasis

Smoking affects

Lungs and breathing
Quitting smoking can help prevent lung problems, and lung function improves within weeks of quitting.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Shortness of breath; healthdirect Australia, Quit smoking and vaping
Vitamin C
People who smoke need 35 mg more vitamin C a day, because smoke raises the vitamin C the body needs to repair damage from free radicals.
Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin C fact sheet for consumers

Smoking can lead to

Coronary heart disease
Smoking is a lifestyle risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Source: healthdirect Australia, Coronary heart disease

Smoking is linked with

Rheumatoid arthritis
Your risk of rheumatoid arthritis is higher if you smoke.
Source: healthdirect Australia, Rheumatoid arthritis

Smoking can cause

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Smoking is the most common cause of COPD, and about 1 in every 4 or 5 people who smoke develop it.
Source: healthdirect Australia, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Sources

Quit smoking and vapinghealthdirect Australia, last reviewed February 2024
Coronary heart diseasehealthdirect Australia, last reviewed June 2024
Obstructive sleep apnoeahealthdirect Australia, last reviewed June 2024
Osteoporosishealthdirect Australia, last reviewed March 2025
Rheumatoid arthritishealthdirect Australia, last reviewed November 2023
Vitamin C fact sheet for consumersNIH Office of Dietary Supplements, last reviewed March 22, 2021

Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.

Summarised from healthdirect and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Sources read on 12, 13 and 16 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.

In brief