Introduction
For decades, health hazards of smoking have been widely
discussed among the population. Despite all possible warnings, millions of
people keep on smoking. According to WHO, over 8 million people die from
tobacco usage each year. Moreover, 1.3 million deaths happen to be those of
people who do not use tobacco themselves but become victims of passive smoking.
To comprehend how smoking can be such a life-threatening
practice, it is necessary to consider the mechanisms of the process in details.
Thus, we will examine the impact of the toxic substances contained in cigarette
smoke on a human body.
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The Poisonous Cocktail in Cigarette
Smoke
It is known that there are over 7000 toxic chemicals contained
in cigarettes, including over 250 carcinogens and 69 substances that are
responsible for causing cancer. The most dangerous compounds produced during
the burning of cigarettes are:
Nicotine – the addictive substance that reaches the brain
right after the first puff;
Tar – the sticky substance that adheres to the cilia in
lungs, preventing them from cleansing;
Carbon monoxide – the poisonous gas that decreases oxygen
transportation by the blood.
The Cardiovascular System and Heart
Diseases
The effects of smoking on the cardiovascular system are
devastating. The toxic fumes from cigarettes affect the heart and blood
vessels, increasing the risk of various diseases.
Smoking Toxins Inhaled ➔ Blood Vessel Inflammation ➔
Atherosclerosis ➔ Reduced Blood Flow ➔
Heart Attack or Stroke
Once absorbed in the body, the toxins start damaging the
interior layers of blood vessels, thus making them less elastic. People are at
risk of developing atherosclerosis, which is a disease caused by the formation
of plaques in the blood vessels. Carbon monoxide causes a reduction in the
oxygen supply via the blood stream. This results in extra workload for the
heart to circulate blood throughout the body. Thus, coronary heart disease,
stroke, and peripheral artery disease develop as consequences.
Coronary heart disease is one of the serious disorders in
which the arteries that provide blood to the heart become narrower because of
atherosclerosis. This is a critical disease that leads to the immediate death
from a heart attack. Stroke is a condition in which the flow of blood is
disrupted to a certain area of the brain, which can cause either death or loss
of consciousness. Peripheral artery disease results in poor circulation of
blood in the legs and arms, which can cause numbness or death of body tissue.
In some cases, the tissue may be amputated.
The Effects of Smoking on the Other
Parts of the Body
Apart from causing respiratory diseases and adverse
cardiovascular effects, tobacco consumption has a detrimental effect on other
body systems.
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Reproductive System and Fertility
Cigarette smoking is detrimental to the fertility of both
males and females. Among the negative impacts of cigarette smoke are harm to
the reproductive system organs, narrowing of blood vessels, and reduced flow of
blood resulting in erectile dysfunction. In men, the prolonged exposure to
cigarette smoking has negative impacts on the levels of testosterone hormone
while, in women, it leads to anovulation and disorders in the fallopian tubes
and ovaries. Cigarette smoking has the following consequences: ectopic
pregnancies, miscarriages, placenta abruption, preeclampsia, poor nourishment
of the fetus, underweight newborn, malformations, and infertility in women.
Immune System
Smoking cigarettes is detrimental to the normal functioning
of the cilia in the respiratory system, thereby increasing the susceptibility
to different diseases. Moreover, the presence of harmful substances in the
smoke influences the activities of the immune system and lowers its
effectiveness. The smoking of tobacco causes inflammation in all parts of the
body and results in autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Diabetes
It is also possible that there could be an increase in the
chance of having type 2 diabetes of 30-40%. It is due to the presence of
nicotine in the body, working in conjunction with insulin and insulin
receptors, leading to hyperglycemia. This is dangerous for the health of humans
since it leads to myocardial infarction, stroke, and kidney failure.
Does Second-Hand Smoke
Affect Health?
Moreover, the effect of second-hand smoke is not only
experienced by those who smoke, but also it affects other people who get the
effect of this second-hand smoke. It can be said that the chemicals from the
second-hand smoke have the same effect on the human body as that which is
experienced by the smoker. In this sense, the effects of the second-hand smoke
are similar to the effects of the smokers; however, these effects become even
more dangerous for the nonsmokers. As a result, the effect of the second-hand
smoke causes respiratory and circulatory disorders in the children and even
causes suffocation. Second, the effects of the second-hand smoke become more
dangerous in relation to the cases of stroke and lung cancer among the adults.
What Happens to the
Body When You Quit Smoking?
However, the effects that arise in case one stops smoking
are as amazing as the side effects that come about when one uses tobacco
products. The body starts to mend itself following the destruction caused by
nicotine.
The advantages of smoking cessation in a year since quitting
In 20 minutes after quitting smoking Blood pressure and
heart rate start to return to normal
In 12 hours The level of carbon monoxide in the blood falls
In 2-12 weeks Better circulation and functioning of lungs
In 1-9 months Cessation of coughing and breathing problems
owing to cilia recovery
In 1 year The risk of coronary heart disease is cut by half
In 5-15 years The risk of having a stroke lowers to that of
someone who has never smoked
In 10 years The risk of dying from lung cancer is cut by
half
References
World Health Organization. (2017). Tobacco.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Lung
Cancer.
Conclusion
Smoking is extremely hazardous to one’s health due to
causing respiratory disease, lung cancer, as well as other forms of cancer. In
addition, it is harmful to the cardiovascular system and reduces one’s lifespan
on average. Yet there is one important drawback to smoking that is clearly seen
from the timeline, namely the fact that second-hand smoking is hazardous to
one’s health as well. Still, as we can see from the timeline, stopping smoking
can increase life expectancy.
FAQ’s
1. How exactly does nicotine cause addiction so quickly?
Nicotine works on the body instantly once it finds its way
into the body system. Within a few seconds, it gets into the brain and makes
one feel happy and relaxed due to the production of a hormone known as dopamine
which transmits pleasure messages through the body. This effect only lasts for
a while; therefore, another dose is required to achieve the same feeling.
2. Can the damage to the lungs caused by smoking be reversed after you
quit?
It is dependent upon the degree of damage. There are some
areas of the lungs that can heal in a few weeks' time. When you stop smoking,
there is growth in the number of cilia which are required for moving the mucus
from the respiratory pathways. The inflammation reduces, and the performance of
the lungs becomes better. But there are some damages that cannot be healed at
all.
3. Is second-hand
smoke just as harmful as first-hand smoking?
It certainly is. The toxins and carcinogens present in the
second-hand smoke are just as dangerous as those that the smoker inhales. What’s
more, constant exposure to second-hand smoke can increase one’s chances of
developing lung cancer, having a stroke, and suffering from heart attacks if
one does not smoke at all. People who breathe in second-hand smoke are at an
increased risk of lung cancer, particularly kids.
4. Why does smoking
raise the risk of developing Diabetes?
This happens because the toxins present in the smoke damage
the receptors responsible for receiving the insulin in the body cells.
Consequently, the body does not utilize glucose to produce energy. There will
be increased amounts of sugar in the blood, which makes the individual prone to
Diabetes.
5. Is it too late to gain any benefits for
your body after you have quit smoking for some time?
It is never too late to stop. Even if the individual smoked
for many years, he will have his heartbeat decrease within 20 minutes, while
after one hour, he will experience the reduction of carbon monoxide
concentration in the bloodstream. The sooner the individual stops smoking, the
more benefits he will receive. However, even if an individual stops smoking in
his sixties or older, he will be able to decrease the risks of sudden death and
decrease blood pressure. In addition, his quality of life will be improved due
to good blood circulation and increased energy level.
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