What are the risks of smoking?
There is an endless list of the risks associated with smoking tobacco as they harm the body and the overall health of smokers. Long-term smokers put themselves at a much higher risk of developing a range of potentially deadly diseases and illnesses. Smoking is known for causing many types of cancer such as cancer in the lungs, mouth, nose, throat, oesophagus, pancreas, kidney, liver, bladder, bowel, ovary, cervix, bone marrow, and stomach. Smoking also puts individuals at risk of developing lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking can also cause heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and poor blood circulation. In addition to this, smoking also reduces an individual’s life expectancy.
Who is most likely to become addicted to smoking?
Unlike many other drugs, when an individual smokes for the first time they often don’t enjoy their first experience with tobacco. In saying this, the nicotine in the cigarette is so addictive that anyone who starts smoking is at risk and can become addicted to tobacco smoking. Research has shown that among other drugs, smoking is the most commonly addictive drug so it is highly likely that an individual will become dependent on tobacco.(Watkins, 2016) Adolescences have a high risk of becoming smokers due to various factors such as peer pressure, therefore becoming more likely to become addicted and suffer from health problems caused by smoking.
What does nicotine do?
Nicotine is the active drug in tobacco and cigarettes. It is a poison and when taken in large doses can kill a person as it paralyses the breathing muscles inside the body. When smoking in a smaller dose, nicotine is only put in the body in small amounts to allow the body to quickly break it down. (Rebecca , 2013 ) When first consuming nicotine the effects on the body initially works like caffeine, making an individual feel awake and alert but later it results in feeling calm and relaxed, which is why it is very common for people to smoke when they are stressed. Nicotine can make smokers and new smokers who intake too much nicotine feel dizzy and nauseous. Nicotine poses many risks to the body affecting the resting heart rate, skin temperature and blood flow.
What chemicals in a cigarette are harmful?
Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals such as tar, carbon monoxide and nicotine. Many of the chemicals in cigarette smoke come from burning tobacco, whilst the remaining chemicals come from burning cigarette paper, agricultural chemicals left on the tobacco leaves, and chemicals added during the cigarette making process. (Quit Victoria, 2003) One of the most dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke is tar. Tar is made of many particles, which contain both organic and inorganic chemicals, many of which are known for causing cancer. As tar is a brown, sticky substance it often stains smokers fingers and makes their teeth yellow, as well as staining the lung tissue. Once the chemicals in cigarette smoke are inhaled into the lungs, they are pumped around the body causing many diseases and illnesses.
How does smoking affect pregnant women and their babies?
Women who smoke during pregnancy place a greater risk on the lives of their unborn babies. A woman who smokes whilst being pregnant has an increased risk of facing problems such as having an abnormal pregnancy, miscarriages and premature labour. Children who have mothers that smoked during pregnancy are likely to develop asthma, have a decreased lung function, and have a higher chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and are more likely to have a heart defect at birth. The baby may also have a low birth weight resulting in a higher risk of death, infections, breathing difficulties and long-term health problems in adulthood.
(Better Health Channel , 2016)
(Better Health Channel , 2016)