SUMMARY
Scientific studies proving the harmfulness of smoking to health represent a current challenge for intensive promotion of anti-smoking activities in Slovak society, but also worldwide. Smoking is a risk factor especially for cardiovascular and cancer diseases, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, stomach ulcers and Alzheimer‘s disease. The most significant improvement in population health can be achieved by preventing the initiation of smoking in young people. The paper presents the negative effects of smoking on cardiovascular diseases, oncological diseases, respiratory diseases, pregnancy, skin. Several studies point out that the health benefits of smoking cessation start immediately. Quitting smoking at any age does not just slow the accumulation of further damage, but can also restore cells that have been damaged as a result of an inappropriate lifestyle in the past.

Key words: smoking, tobacco, health, cardiovascular diseases, oncological diseases, respiratory diseases, pregnancy, skin.

Lek obz, 2020, 69 (6): 218-223

1 Tatiana KIMÁKOVÁ, 2 Silvia FARKAŠOVÁ IANNACCONE, 3 Peter HARICH, 4 Iveta CIMBOLÁKOVÁ, 5 Marián BERNADIČ

1 Ústav verejného zdravotníctva a hygieny, UPJŠ LF, Košice, prednostka doc. MUDr. K. Rimárová, CSc., mim. prof.
2 Ústav súdneho lekárstva UPJŠ LF, Košice, prednostka MUDr. S. Farkašová Iannaccone, PhD.
3 I. stomatologická klinika UPJŠ, UPJŠ LF, Košice, prednostka MUDr. S. Timková, PhD.
4 Ústav telesnej výchovy a športu UPJŠ, Košice, riaditeľka Mgr. A. Buková, PhD.
5 Ústav patologickej fyziológie LF UK, Bratislava, prednosta prof. MUDr. F. Šimko, CSc., FESC