Smoking involves inhaling burned substances like cigarettes, pipes, or cigars, where chemicals are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Smoking is linked to over 5,000 identified chemicals, many of which are toxic, and is a leading cause of preventable death globally due to diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, and COPD. When smoking, carbon monoxide reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen and nicotine binds to brain receptors, while long-term damage occurs over time in organs like the lungs, heart, and skin.