Effects of Smoking

Tobacco contains over 4,000 chemicals most of which are harmful to the body. Smoking is the risk of four different types of cancer and several other illnesses. Smoking affects the lungs, heart, circulatory system, brain, and several other organs. Cigarettes and cigars can--and does--harm you physically, mentally and socially and even others around you.

First of all the main problem with smoking is how it harms you physically. Smoking physically harms the main organs and organ systems of your body. The most important organ of all affected is the brain, the more you smoke the more likely you are to have a stroke or a tumor may form in your brain from the chemicals in the tobacco. According to studies performed by the North East Valley Division General Practice, your heart is at great risk as well heart disease and coronary occlusion (heart attack) are 25 percent more likely to occur in smoking males. You may be diagnosed with emphysema and asthma because smoking affects your lungs more than any other organ. Men who smoke are ten times more likely to die from lung cancer than non-smokers. Also a 20 a day smoker breathes in up to a full cup (210 grams) of tar a year (Quit-Smoking-Stop.com , 2001-2005). The circulatory system is also greatly affected- vessel damage, gangrene, narrowing of the arteries, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and peripheral vascular disease in hands and feet. Diabetes, stained skin and nails, stained teeth are all other affects of smoking. For female smokers’ menstrual problems, early menopause, higher risk of osteoporosis, fertility problems (poorer outcome), and miscarriage, pregnant outside the uterus, retard growth and malformations. On top of everything mentioned, all are susceptible to cancer as well as the stomach, anus, pancreas, lip, mouth, throat, bladder, and kidney. For women the cervix, uterus, and vuluar are all vulnerable as well. Smoking also affects smokers mentally and socially.

First cigarettes and cigars contain a highly addictive substance called, nicotine. Three out of four people who use tobacco daily continue to do so because, they find it hard to quit. Then with the withdraw of nicotine the body manifest irritability, anxiety, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, sleep disturbance, headaches, dizziness, tremors, nausea, and upset bowels. According to “Good Housekeeping,” the best way to stop smoking is to not start in the first place. Mentally smoking makes the brain think that your stomach is not hungry (loss of appetite) so therefore instead of eating a meal a person will smoke a cigarette. Socially smoking is now starting to be frowned upon by society due to the smell, looks, and smokers have difficulty keeping up with healthy people. Smoking not only affects the smokers themselves but all the people around the smoke.

People that are around other people smoking are inhaling what doctors like to call second hand smoke and it is becoming more recognized in society. The second hand smoke contains thousands of chemicals the worst of which are carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and cyanide. These chemicals are the reason why smoking has been banned from workplaces for over thirty years now. Another extremely dangerous chemical that most people are affected by