Life's better smokefree

Your body is more likely to develop health problems if you are smoking.

For footballers, that means your performance will suffer. Smoking lowers oxygen in the body and reduces your speed and power. You'll struggle to catch your breath and your muscles will tire sooner – allowing nippy non-smokers to run rings around you. And because smokers are more likely to get injured, you'll end up spending more time on the subs' bench.

It's not just on the pitch. Fans will also feel the effects in their everyday lives. Many find they're out of breath running for a bus, or they struggle to keep up with their kids.

Quitting smoking means you'll get more out of your game. Within 24 hours your blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen levels will return to normal. Within a week your breathing will be noticeably better and you'll be able to exercise for longer.

Roll your mouse over the body to learn more about the effects of smoking.

Mouth and throat Heart Lungs Stomach Circulation Reproduction and fertility Skin and bones Football player

  • Mouth and throat

    Smoking causes bad breath and stained teeth. It can also cause gum disease and damage to your sense of taste.

    Smoking causes a risk of cancer of the lips, tongue, throat, voice box and oesophagus (gullet).

  • Heart

    Smokers are at a greatly increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and aneurysms because veins and arteries narrow and become blocked.

    Aneurysms often lead to amputation or death. Smokers are more than twice as likely as non-smokers to die of heart disease.

  • Lungs

    Lungs are badly affected by smoking. It causes fatal diseases such as pneumonia, emphysema, pleurisy and lung cancer. It also causes coughs, colds, wheezing and asthma.

    83% per cent of deaths from lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchitis are related to smoking

  • Stomach

    The damage smoking does to your stomach area can affect your vital organs. You have an increased chance of getting stomach cancer or ulcers. You are also at risk of developing cancers in your kidneys, pancreas and bladder.

  • Circulation

    Smoking causes arteries and veins to narrow so they become harder and coated with fatty deposits. This can cause problems like low fitness, cold skin, ulcers, gangrene and cramps, pains and blockages in veins, which can cause strokes and heart attacks.

  • Reproduction and fertility

    Smoking can cause impotence, damage sperm, reduce sperm count and increases the risk of testicular cancer.

    For women, smoking can reduce fertility, increase the risk of miscarriage, a low birth weight baby and cot death. Smoking also increases the risk of cancer of the cervix.

  • Skin and bones

    Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen to the skin, which means skin ages quickly and looks grey and dull. The toxins from smoking also cause cellulite.

    Smoking can cause bones to become weak and brittle and increases the risk of osteoporosis.