Simulation shows devastating impact 'the worst thing you can do to your body' can have

People have been left feeling perturbed after seeing a sobering simulation of the toll smoking can take on the human body.

Experts have long warned of the tons of health risks associated with the habit, but seeing a visual representation of the damage it can do internally seems to have really hammered the message home for a lot of folks.

One of the doctors who has been shouting about the dangers of sparking up cigarettes from the rooftops is US-based cardiovascular surgeon, Dr Jeremy London.

He previously described smoking as 'the single worst thing you can do for your body'.

"It damages nearly every organ system, increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and is responsible for the vast majority of lung cancer deaths," he said in an informative YouTube clip.

"Roughly one in five deaths are linked to tobacco use. If you smoke, think long and hard about quitting. It's the most powerful step you can take for your health."

Dr London warned that smoking is the worst thing you could do for your health (Getty Stock Image)

Scientific studies suggest that each time you smoke, you are shortening your life by about 20 minutes - which is quite the high price to pay for a bit of baccy rush.

And there's also the shocking results of research which concluded that smoking accelerates aging, if you're in search of a vainer reason to stop buying 20 decks on a weekly basis.

Or, failing all that - you could take a look at this chilling simulation and get an idea of the havoc cigs might be wreaking on the inside.

The creators behind the YouTube channel Dr Wealz - which offers 'easy to understand explanations' of medical mumbo jumbo and the human anatomy - really made an impact with this short clip.

It begins by showing a healthy-looking pair of lungs, which gradually begin to darken as the narrator explains what impact smoking can have.

By the end of the short clip, the human breathing apparatus depicted in the situation resemble two tar pits rather than lungs.

But it's the simulation which has really scared people straight (YouTube/Dr Wealz)

The clip explains: "Each cigarette puff contains a blend of approximately 6,000 chemicals.

"When you inhale, the smoke hits your lungs rapidly and the blood that is subsequently transmitted to the rest of your body carries these deadly compounds.

"Smoking tobacco releases carbon monoxide, a dangerous gas that displaces oxygen in your blood and deprives your organs of the oxygen they require."

It's hardly new information, but for some reason, the simulation really seemed to resonate with ton of social media users - as several even vowed to give smoking up immediately after watching it.

One spooked viewer said: "This hurts my stomach."

Another wrote: "I watch this kind of videos to not smoke ever again."

A third added: "My mom's lungs are probably gonna look like that one day..."

A fourth wrote: "Why do cigarettes even exist?"

And a fifth former smoker chimed in saying: "It feels great having clean lungs."