Cigarette Smoking (cont.)
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Cigarette Smoking Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of tobacco use depend on the specific illnesses they cause.
- Shortness of breath may be a sign of emphysema or heart disease.
- Chest pain may signal angina pectoris caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart or a heart attack.
- Difficulty swallowing, or persistent hoarseness, may signal a cancer in the mouth or larynx.
- Painless bloody urination may mean bladder cancer.
- The presence of any of the following common symptoms associated with tobacco use should prompt a visit to the doctor or hospital’s emergency department:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent cough
- Coughing up blood
- Frequent colds and upper respiratory illness
- Persistent hoarseness
- Difficulty or pain on swallowing
- Change in exercise capacity
- Sudden weakness on one side of the face or body, or difficulty speaking
- Leg pain while walking that goes away when you rest
- Unexplained weight loss
- Persistent abdominal pain
- Bloody urine
Next: When to Seek Medical Care »
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Cigarette smoking is a major preventable cause of disease worldwide, and it is the major cause of premature death in North America.
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