The Effects of Tobacco on Surgical Operations
Doctors, psychologists and even religious scholars are unanimous on the harmful effects of tobacco, which can damage the mouth, teeth, pharynx and lungs of smokers and those around them.
Many researches as well as medical statistics published by the World Health Organization, WHO in cooperation with Newcastle University in Australia and The World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists WFSA have monitored the health of smokers and the reaction of their bodies during surgeries, and have confirmed that smokers may be exposed to different symptoms than non-smokers are exposed to.
Many research centers have recommended that patients quit smoking for a period of four to six weeks before and after surgery because of the risks they are exposed to, including for example:
1) Increased heart rate and hypertension due to the presence of nicotine in the body.
2) Increased amount of mucus in the airways.
3) Spasms in the vocal cords.
4) Blood contains poisonous carbon monoxide, which is associated with hemoglobin, which slows oxygen to major body organs such as the brain and heart, doubling the risks of the operation.
5) Nicotine prevents the blood from clotting, thereby delaying healing.
6) Smoking hinders the metabolism process which does not allow the body to get the necessary energy it needs after the operation.
7) Scars caused by plastic surgery do not heal and remain visible.
8) Smoking slows anesthesia, causing severe pain after general anesthesia.
9) Less effective and less satisfactory results for patients during facelift, breast reduction, abdominoplasty and facelift.
10) Low oxygen, which increases the patient's risk of heart attack by 77% compared to non-smokers.
12) Lungs deteriorate under general anesthesia.
13) Delayed healing of wounds after surgery.
14) Difficulty of recovery in the smoker.
15) Difficulties encountered by health care teams during the follow-up of patients who smoke.
16) The body absorbs food less well.
17) Smoking suppresses the appetite, which may prevent the patient from getting enough food contrary to the doctor's recommendations.
18) Smoking weakens the immune system and increases the risk of infection.
19) Slow blood flow, which poses a danger to the body during surgery.
20) Lung damage and inability to absorb oxygen during and after the procedure.
Studies have confirmed that quitting smoking before surgery increases the chances of success by 19%.
