Tobacco Smoking
By: Fonta • Essay • 670 Words • February 16, 2009 • 1,814 Views
Essay title: Tobacco Smoking
Tobacco smoking first started sometime in the 1400s. It was
invented by natives in the Bahamas Islands. Instead of just pulling out a
paper rolled cigarette, they had pipes. One end of the pipe was filled with
burning tobacco leaves, while the other end of the pipe was where they
inhaled the smoke. Many people all over the world today have been taken
into this habit. Worldwide, there are approximately one billion
smokers. This habit is extremely addicting because of a substance called
nicotine found within each cigarette. Once a person is sucked into this
dirty habit, it is hard for them to quit.
The smoke from a cigarette, consists of 100 million more harmful
substances than the most polluted air. It also contains chemicals in it that
many people don't know of. Some of these chemicals include acetone
(nail polish remover), ammonia (a household cleaner), cadmium (battery
acid),and formaldehyde (preserves dead bodies). All of these chemicals
are found in just one cigarette. These chemicals aggravate asthma and
allergies by directly bothering the respiratory membranes. Because of this,
it can trigger the production of excess mucus and cause sensitive airways
in the lungs to tighten.
Tobacco smoking is the largest cause of death that can be
prevented. Everyday, about a few thousand people die from this fatal
death stick. This means that every eight seconds. This kills more people
than the worst epidemic diseases. Tobacco even affects your physical
appearance. It can make your skin wrinkled and older looking, cause your
teeth to turn yellow, and give your breath and clothes a dingy odor.
Researchers say that smokers who smoke 10-20 cigarettes a day live on
an average of five years less than non-smokers. To look on the bright
side, if smokers quit, it is possible that the damage done to the lungs can
be repaired.
Cigarette smoke is so dangerous and so powerful that it can cause
17 different kinds of cancer. The cancer that is the most obvious
and seen most often is lung cancer. Other places where cancer can
sprout are in the throat, gullet, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, stomach,
kidney and the bladder. Not only does tobacco smoke cause cancer, it
can cause chronicle cough and bronchitis.
However, tobacco smoke doesn't only cause many harmful and fatal
diseases, but it