All the parts of the body that are attacked when you smoke cigarettes

Sorry for the grim reminder, but smoking remains the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK, killing around 78,000 Brits a year.

Lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease are listed as some of the leading causes of smoking-related deaths.

Nine body parts can be damaged from smoking and it's important to be wary of the different outcomes if you don't ditch the habit, as reported by WebMD.

Joints

Smokers who suffer with pain and inflammation in their joints are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Notably, medication for RA does not work as well on people who smoke, according to advice reviewed by medical expert Zilpah Sheikh MD.

Smoking causes issues all throughout the body. (Getty Stock Image)

Skin

Smoking can speed up the skin aging process and once the damage is done, there's no natural remedy to bring your old skin back.

Someone who is 40 could have the skin of a 70-year-old.

More importantly, you can develop skin cancer and other fatal skin conditions along the way.

Eyes

Those who smoke are more likely to get macular degeneration - an eye condition that slowly limits your ability to read and write.

Blurry vision is also more of a possibility.

Smoking impacts multiple areas of the body. (Getty Stock Image)

Sex Organs

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is more likely for male smokers, along with testicular cancer.

Female smokers are also more likely to develop cervical cancer.

Gums

Apologies, as this list isn't getting any better, but smoking can increase your chances of gum disease, which makes your gums bleed, your teeth fall out and can cause smelly breath.

Smoking still kills. (Getty Stock Images)

Brain

Strokes, blood clots and aneurysms are all more likely if you don't pack the smoking in.

Issues such as blurred vision and trouble walking are all a possibility.

Digestive System

There is a 35 percent more chance you will get type 2 diabetes, which affects your liver and pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer is also more likely if you smoke.

Strokes are more likely if you don't ditch the cigarettes. (Getty Stock Image)

Lungs

Lung cancer, which is almost always linked to smoking, is the most common cause of cancer in the US for both men and women.

Mouth, kidney, liver, bladder, pancreas, stomach, colon, and rectum cancer all become more likely.

Heart

Smoking can cause heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide in 2019.

This might come as a shock, as an estimated 80 percent of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, is preventable.

In total, WHO stats show that more than eight million die from tobacco use every year.

Quitting smoking might be one of the hardest things to do, but it's safe to say your body will thank you for ditching the nicotine.