The Effects of Cigarette Smoking

INTRODUCTION

Many people nowadays smoke cigarette even teenagers smoke. Some people have no idea about the chemical of a tobacco and what it can cause to a human body. This paper is intended to give the readers an idea of the effects of cigarette, like cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. The researchers also included the cigarette components like nicotine and how many percent of it in a tobacco. The reasons why people smoke cigarette is also in this paper. By reading this paper, a person can gain knowledge about the effects of smoking cigarette. So when a person reads this especially those who smoke, he or she may quit or lessen smoking because he or she will know the bad effects of cigarette smoking.

Discussion

Cigarette Smoking Smoking is a highly addictive trend in 21st century America. It is responsible for any array of illness including a multitude of cancers, heart disease, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Although the whole body is negatively affected by smoking, the hear t and lungs are the most adversely affected organs.( One Billion people killed by smoking) Its easy to appreciate that the 43 cancer causing chemicals in each and every puff are slowly building an internal time bomb. Smoking will cause some portion of their body’s blood piping to completely clog, with downstream oxygen deprived tissues suffocating and dying. Nicotine ability to dock at millions of acetylcholine receptor cites grant it control over the flow of a host of neurochemicals including those associated with preparing the body for fight. The is inhaling large quantities of highly toxic carbon monoxide.(Polito,2005)
Cigarette Components Nicotine. A dry weight of tobacco has 0.6-3.0% of nicotine. An average cigarette yields 1 mg of absorbed nicotine. Nicotine addiction has historically been one of the hardest addiction to break. Nicotine is both relaxant and a stimulant. Nicotine has very powerful effects on arteries throughout the body. Nicotine raises blood pressure and is a vasoconstrictor making it harder for the heart to pump through the constricted arteries. When a smoker feels the need to smoke and feels uncomfortable, the reason is that the level of nicotine in the body has been reduced below some value. After the first puff on a new cigarette, nicotine is back in the brain within 7 seconds. So the effect of a new dose of nicotine is quickly noticeable. The body wants to get the new substance over and over again.(Moelker,1994) Carbon monoxide. Which is a major component of cigarette, it binds to the hemoglobin and therein prevents oxygen from doing so. This causes a lower amount of oxygen to be transported through the blood and carried to the cells of the body.( One Billion people killed by smoking) Hydrogen cyanide. Another major component of in cigarette, prevents lungs from cleaning themselves. This allows the cilia, the tiny hairs in the lungs that are responsible for ridding the lungs of toxins, to become damaged. With the cilia damaged, the lungs are not as effective at transferring oxygen into the bloodstream, which again causes blood to carry less oxygen than is needed. Because of these two factors, the blood oxygenation level of a smoker is going to be noticeably less than that of a non-smoker. Testing the blood oxygenation levels of smokers and non-smokers should demonstrate that smoking does cause the body to less effectively transport oxygen from the lungs to the cells of the body.(One Billion people killed by smoking)

Reasons why people smoke cigarette(Witting,2008)

Peer pressure. One bad apple is enough to make a whole barrel of apples bad. When peers compel others to take a puff, one just has to take a puff or else face the danger of being branded as a chicken. Availability. Cigarettes are available everywhere and almost anyone can get them. Aping. Movie stars and other celebrities who smoke look so cool, and this is more than enough reason for youngsters to start smoking just to copy their idol. The feel good syndrome. Cigarettes are often indentified with the cool factor and so it is a great way to impress others if you can delicately balance the cigarettes between two of your fingers.

Effects of Cigarette Smoking(Holey,1997)
Bad skin. Because smoking restricts blood vessels, it can prevent oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin — which is why smokers often appear pale and unhealthy. Studies have also linked smoking to an increased risk of getting a type of skin rash called psoriasis.
Bad breath. Cigarettes leave smokers with a condition called halitosis, or persistent bad breath.
Reduced athletic performance. People who smoke usually can't compete with nonsmoking peers because the physical effects of smoking (like rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath) impair sports performance.
Greater risk of injury and slower healing time. Smoking affects the body's ability to produce collagen, so common sports injuries, such as damage to tendons and ligaments, will heal more slowly in smokers than nonsmokers.
Increased risk of illness. Studies show that smokers get more colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia than nonsmokers. And people with certain health conditions, like asthma, become more sick if they smoke (and often if they're just around people who smoke). Because teens who smoke as a way to manage weight often light up instead of eating, their bodies also lack the nutrients they need to grow, develop, and fight off illness properly.
Respiratory Difficulties. Smoking affects the heart and lungs. While some of the effects are reversible, this is only the case if you stop smoking before the damage is very bad. With every inhalation of cigarette smoke, the lining of the bronchial tubes become irritated. This causes them to produce mucus. This mucus then leads to chronic coughing. It can also cause asthma-like symptoms in a non-asthmatic. COPD is another complication caused by smoking. With these effects on the lungs, walking or any activity may become very difficult.
Cancer. Cigarettes contain additives that are known carcinogens, which means they are known to cause cancer. These carcinogens include formaldehyde and hydrocarbon. Lung cancer, mouth cancer and throat cancer are the three most prevalent cancers that have a direct link to cigarette smoking. In some cases, the cancer may not be caught until the point where it is untreatable.
Circulatory System Problems. When you smoke, the cigarette fumes replace oxygen in the body. This means that less oxygen gets to the heart. This can cause an irregular heartbeat and other complications. The chemicals in cigarettes also deposit plaque. As this plaque builds up, the risk of having a heart attack increases because blood supply to the heart is restricted.
Social Effects. The negative effects of smoking aren't limited to only health-related issues. Cigarette smoking also causes certain social effects. As people are becoming more health conscious, smoking is becoming a taboo. Secondhand smoke dangers, as well as the unpleasant smell of cigarette smoke, are contributing factors to the social stigma.
Effect on Possessions. Cigarette smoke affects household belongings. Glass on mirrors, windows and furniture will become hazy when exposed to cigarette smoke for an extended period. Cloth furniture, carpet and other items with porous surfaces absorb the cigarette smoke, which causes the items to hold the smoke smell. This smell will become stale as time progresses.