As the smoke travels up the bronchi, it releases harmful chemicals that bind along the bronchi, causing chronic smokers to cough. “Smokers are 10 times more likely to develop lung cancer and emphysema than non-smokers” (How Smoking Affects Your Body). Halfway through the journey, the smoke travels along the blood vessels while the heart struggles fiercely to pump blood through the system from the nicotine. “Forty percent of men who are heavy smokers will die before reaching retirement age, compared to just 18 percent of non-smokers.” (How Smoking Affects Your Body) Considering the fact that smoking leads to bad breath and tooth decay, self-esteem will be affected due to the fact that they are insecure about their physical health.