Smoking: Effects on Your Body in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Nicotine is the addictive drug in tobacco that keeps people smoking, even when they want to quit. Each time you smoke a cigarette, you inhale nicotine along with about 7,000 other chemicals. Many of these chemicals are created when the tobacco leaf and additives burn.

More than 70 of the chemicals in cigarette smoke are known to cause cancer. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, causes many serious diseases, and reduces overall health. In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, smoking is a leading risk factor for heart disease, lung disease, and cancer—conditions commonly treated at local hospitals such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health.

Dangerous Chemicals in Tobacco Smoke

Some of the most harmful components of tobacco smoke include:

Tar

  • Tar is the name for the solid particles in tobacco smoke.
  • These particles contain many toxic chemicals, including cancer-causing substances (carcinogens).
  • Tar is sticky and:
    • Stains teeth, fingernails, and lung tissue
    • Contributes to chronic lung damage and cancer

Carbon Monoxide

  • Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas found in cigarette smoke.
  • It is odorless and colorless.
  • In high doses, it can quickly cause death because it takes the place of oxygen in the blood.
  • In people who smoke, carbon monoxide:
    • Reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the blood
    • Makes it harder for oxygen to reach organs and muscles
    • Worsens breathlessness, especially in cold Michigan winters when lungs are already stressed by dry, cold air

Oxidizing Chemicals

  • These are highly reactive chemicals that damage heart muscle and blood vessels.
  • They react with cholesterol, leading to the build-up of fatty material on artery walls (atherosclerosis).
  • Over time, this can cause:
    • Heart disease
    • Stroke
    • Peripheral artery disease (poor circulation to legs, feet, hands)

Metals

Tobacco smoke contains several metals that are known to cause cancer, including:

  • Arsenic
  • Beryllium
  • Cadmium
  • Chromium
  • Cobalt
  • Lead
  • Nickel

Radioactive Compounds

  • Tobacco smoke also contains radioactive substances that are carcinogenic (cancer-causing).
  • Long-term exposure increases the risk of lung and other cancers.

How Smoking Affects Your Body’s Systems

Effects on the Respiratory System (Lungs and Airways)

In a city like Grand Rapids, where winter air is cold and dry and seasonal respiratory infections are common, smoking places extra stress on your lungs. The effects of tobacco smoke on the respiratory system include:

  • Irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box)
  • Reduced lung function and capacity
  • Breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the airways
  • Increased mucus in the lung passages
  • Impaired lung clearance systems, leading to build-up of poisonous substances
  • Increased risk of lung infections, with symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
  • Permanent damage to the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs
  • Higher risk of:
    • Chronic bronchitis
    • Emphysema
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Local health providers in Grand Rapids frequently treat COPD and asthma that are made worse by smoking, especially during winter inversions when air quality can be poorer.

Effects on the Circulatory System (Heart and Blood Vessels)

Smoking is a major cause of heart disease and stroke, both of which are leading causes of death in Michigan. The effects on the circulatory system include:

  • Damage to the lining of the arteries
  • Contribution to atherosclerosis (fatty deposits on artery walls)
  • Increased blood pressure and heart rate
  • “Stickier” blood that is more likely to clot
  • Constriction (tightening) of blood vessels in the skin, leading to:
    • Drop in skin temperature
    • Reduced blood flow to extremities (fingers and toes)
  • Increased risk of:
    • Heart attack due to blocked blood supply
    • Stroke
    • Peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation that can lead to pain, ulcers, and even gangrene or amputation in severe cases)

Effects on the Immune System

In Michigan’s cold and flu season, a strong immune system is especially important. Smoking weakens your body’s defenses by:

  • Lowering levels of protective antioxidants (such as vitamin C) in the blood
  • Increasing susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and influenza
  • Causing more severe and longer-lasting illnesses

Effects on the Musculoskeletal System (Bones and Muscles)

Smoking affects your bones and muscles by:

  • Reducing bone density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures (including hip fractures)
  • Tightening certain muscles, which can contribute to pain and stiffness

Older adults in Grand Rapids who smoke are at higher risk of falls and bone fractures during icy winter months.

Effects on Sexual and Reproductive Health

Effects on the Male Body

Smoking can cause:

  • Impotence (erectile dysfunction), often due to reduced blood flow and damage to blood vessels in the penis
  • Lower sperm count
  • Higher percentage of abnormally shaped sperm
  • Genetic damage to sperm, which can affect fertility and increase risks for offspring

Effects on the Female Body

Smoking increases the risk of:

  • Reduced fertility and difficulty becoming pregnant
  • Menstrual cycle irregularities or absence of menstruation
  • Earlier menopause (one to two years earlier on average)
  • Greatly increased risk of stroke and heart attack in women over 35 who smoke and take the oral contraceptive pill
  • Increased risk of cancer of the cervix

Other Effects of Smoking on the Body

Smoking affects many other parts of the body, including:

  • Mouth and gums:
    • Gum disease (periodontitis)
    • Bad breath and tooth loss
  • Digestive system:
    • Irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines
    • Increased risk of painful ulcers along the digestive tract
  • Senses:
    • Reduced ability to smell and taste
  • Skin:
    • Premature wrinkling and aging of the skin
  • Eyes:
    • Higher risk of blindness from conditions such as macular degeneration

Effects of Smoking on Pregnancy and Babies

In Grand Rapids, pregnant women can access support through local OB/GYN clinics and programs offered by Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and the Kent County Health Department. Quitting smoking before or during pregnancy is one of the most important steps for a healthy baby.

Effects of Maternal Smoking on the Unborn Baby

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of:

  • Miscarriage and stillbirth
  • Premature birth
  • Low birth weight, which can have lasting effects on growth and development
  • Weaker lungs and more breathing problems at birth
  • Increased risk of:
    • Cleft palate and cleft lip
    • Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI)
    • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in childhood

Low birth weight is also associated with an increased risk of:

  • Heart disease in adulthood
  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes

Second-hand Smoke and Babies

  • Passive smoking (when a non-smoking mother is exposed to second-hand smoke) can also harm the fetus.
  • If a parent continues to smoke during a baby’s first year of life, the child has an increased risk of:
    • Ear infections
    • Respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis
    • Meningococcal disease

Long-Term Diseases Caused by Smoking

A person who smokes throughout life is at high risk of developing many serious and potentially fatal diseases, including:

Cancers

  • Lung cancer
  • Mouth, nose, and throat cancers (including larynx, tongue, and nasal sinus)
  • Esophagus (food pipe) cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Bone marrow cancer (myeloid leukemia)
  • Kidney cancer
  • Cervical and ovarian cancer
  • Ureter and bladder cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Bowel (colorectal) cancer
  • Stomach cancer

Lung Diseases

  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including:
    • Obstructive bronchiolitis
    • Emphysema

Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases

  • Coronary heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Peripheral artery disease

Other Long-Term Conditions

  • Ulcers of the digestive system
  • Osteoporosis and hip fracture
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

These conditions are commonly treated in Grand Rapids hospitals and clinics, placing a significant burden on families and the local healthcare system.

Smoking and Grand Rapids’ Climate and Lifestyle

Living in Grand Rapids, MI, brings unique health considerations:

  • Cold, long winters can worsen breathing problems in people who smoke, especially those with asthma or COPD.
  • Seasonal infections (like flu and pneumonia) are more severe and more common in smokers.
  • Outdoor activities around West Michigan and the Great Lakes—such as hiking, biking, and winter sports—are harder to enjoy with reduced lung capacity and poor circulation caused by smoking.

Quitting smoking can improve your ability to stay active year-round and enjoy the many parks, trails, and recreational areas in and around Grand Rapids.

Where to Get Help to Quit Smoking in Grand Rapids, Michigan

You do not have to quit smoking alone. Local and statewide resources are available:

Local Medical Support

  • Your GP (primary care doctor) – can provide counseling, medications, and referrals.
  • Local health systems:
    • Spectrum Health smoking cessation programs
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids tobacco treatment services
    • Metro Health and Mercy Health primary care and pulmonary clinics

Public Health Resources

  • Kent County Health Department – offers tobacco cessation resources and referrals.
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs – may provide community-based support groups and education.

Quitlines and Online Support

  • Michigan Tobacco Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)

    • Free counseling
    • Nicotine replacement therapy for eligible residents
    • Support in multiple languages

  • Pharmacies in Grand Rapids (Meijer, Walgreens, CVS, local pharmacies) can:

    • Recommend over-the-counter nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges
    • Help you understand prescription options

Key Points

  • Nicotine is the addictive drug in tobacco smoke that keeps people smoking.
  • Tobacco smoke contains around 7,000 chemicals, including more than 70 known cancer-causing substances.
  • Inhaling tobacco smoke damages nearly every organ and system in the body, including the lungs, heart, blood vessels, immune system, bones, digestive system, and reproductive organs.
  • Smoking during pregnancy and exposure to second-hand smoke can seriously harm unborn babies and infants.
  • In Grand Rapids, MI, quitting smoking can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and lung disease—and help you stay active in all four seasons.
  • Help to quit is available locally through your doctor, Grand Rapids health systems, the Kent County Health Department, and the Michigan Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW).