
Women Over 35 Who Smoke Are At Higher Risk Of Consequences
It should come as no surprise that smoking is bad for your health. But you may not know that smoking can cause unique health issues in women. Smoking impacts estrogen levels, which affect many aspects of reproductive health. Women who smoke may experience painful or irregular periods and premature menopause. Smoking can also cause infertility and increase the risk of miscarriage.
Smoking increases your risk of serious blood clots, heart attack, and stroke if you use hormonal contraception. This risk increases as you age, so much so that doctors warn women over 35 who smoke not to use hormonal birth control. Smoking also increases women’s risk of osteoporosis, an age-related weakening of the bones. All smokers are at higher risk of lung and throat cancers. But female smokers are also more likely to develop cervical and breast cancer than non-smokers. So quitting smoking will positively affect your health now and further down the line.