Smoking and Our Body - Some Facts

There are approximately 4000 chemicals in cigarettes, hundreds of which are toxic. The ingredients in cigarettes affect everything from the internal functioning of organs to the efficiency of the body's immune system.

Smoking Effects on the Human Body:

1. Nicotine reaches the brain within 10 seconds after smoke is inhaled. It has been found in every part of the body and in breast milk.

2. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing affected cells from carrying a full load of oxygen.

3. Cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke damage important genes that control the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally or to reproduce too rapidly.

4. The carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene binds to cells in the airways and major organs of smokers.

5. Smoking affects the function of the immune system and may increase the risk for respiratory and other infections.

6. There are several likely ways that cigarette smoke does its damage. One is oxidative stress that mutates DNA, promotes atherosclerosis, and leads to chronic lung injury. Oxidative stress is thought to be the general mechanism behind the aging process, contributing to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and COPD.

7. The body produces antioxidants to help repair damaged cells. Smokers have lower levels of antioxidants in their blood than do nonsmokers.

8. Smoking is associated with higher levels of chronic inflammation, another damaging process that may result in oxidative stress.

 

 

      

 

                    

Smokers have an increased risk of the following:

01. Lung cancer

02. Lung disease

03. Heart attack

04. Heart disease

05. Hypertension

06. Stroke

07. Oral cancer

08. Bladder cancer

09. Pancreatic cancer

10. Cervical cancer

11. Pregnancy complications

12. Low birth weight babies

13. Early menopause

14. Lower estrogen level for women

15. Facial wrinkles

 

Children of smokers have an increased risk of the following:

1. Sudden infant death syndrome

2. Respiratory infections

3. Lung cancer

4. Ear infections

 

Is There a Good Side to Smoking?

 

Most of the people know a huge list of the disadvantages of smoking. They cannot comprehend as to why a person cannot give up smoking. But there are some benefits that smokers associate with smoking, including the following:

1. Smoking is enjoyable: For smokers there is nothing more enjoyable than puffing on their cigarette. Smoking is known to clear the head and bring about a joy known only to the smokers.
2. Smoking alleviates stress and anxiety: The nicotine present in tobacco acts as an anti anxiety and anti stress medication. The nicotine present in the inhaled smoke travels to the brain and causes a chemical reaction which lessens anxiety and calms the person.
3. Smoking combats loneliness and boredom: Smoking is an enjoyable pastime and is something which is enjoyed even when one is alone. Lighting up a cigarette is an easy and preferred way to drive away boredom.
4. Smoking encourages weight loss: Smoking is known to speed up the metabolism and suppresses one’s appetite. It helps in keeping food in the stomach for longer periods thereby making the person eat less.

Active and Passive smoking :

Active smokers directly use cigarette, cigar or bidis for smoking. There are many negative effects of active smoking. Cancer of different body organs is largely associated with smoking. The affected organ may be lungs, esophagus, liver, kidney, cervix, pharynx, larynx, throat, bladder, or even bone marrow. Other biological effects include various complications during pregnancy, damage of digestive system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system etc.

Passive smoking is only inhaling the smoke just by standing beside a person who is smoking or may be from the environmental tobacco smoke. By inhaling the second hand smoke, nicotine and other carcinogens and toxins are going inside the lung of the passive smokers. As a result they may experience sore eyes and throat, frequent headache, coughing, sneezing, dizziness, nausea and irritation in nasal area and many more unusual symptoms. Though passive smokers do not get addicted to smoking by this process, but for sure they share the effects of active smoking. They also are prone to all the diseases mentioned for active smokers, but in a slower rate.

 

 SO PLEASE STOP SMOKING.  

 

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