Dangers of Smoking

Smoking Statistics – Alarming Enough to De-motivate Smokers

• About 33% of male adult global population smokes.
• Time cut down from one’s lifespan is approximately equal to the time indulged in smoking.
• Every minute, seven people die of tobacco use.
• 49 known carcinogenic compounds and 4000 other toxins constitute a single cigarette.
• More than 90 % of lung cancer deaths are due to cigarette smoking.
• The cost that smokers impose on US economy is more than $150 billion a year.

Hazardous Effects of Smoking

Most Deaths Due to Smoking are Caused by Cancer
It has been proven that smoking causes lung cancer and cancers of oral cavity, larynx, esophagus and bladder. More than 95% of lung cancers are detected in smokers or those exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. 90% of smokers with lung cancer die within 3 years of diagnosis. The risk increases steadily with the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

Breathing Problems and Lung Disorders Caused By Smoke
The toxins in smoke can cause lung disorders like emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, and significant reduction in lung functioning. Smoker’s cough is common symptom that develops as the defense system tries to expel the chemicals accumulated in the air passage and lungs. Gradually, the respiratory system becomes more prone to infections due to lowered immunity.

Smoking and Heart Disease
Cigarette smoking is one of the major risk factors for high blood pressure and fatal heart attacks. Chemicals in the smoke develop atherosclerosis and lowers supply of oxygen to the heart leading to cardio-vascular diseases. The damage already caused due to smoking is reversible. The risk of developing a heart disease or stroke once you quit smoking successfully is the same as you never smoked. Of course this doesn’t mean that you wait till a later age to quit until completely smoke-dried.

Stroke and Gangrene
The effects of smoking in causing all forms of stroke and brain hemorrhages are apparent. Smoking causes peripheral arterial disease by plaque deposition leading to clogged arteries.

Infertility and Obstetric Issues Related to Smoking
Smoking impacts women’s health substantially by causing infertility, miscarriages, complicated pregnancies and early menopause. Smoking during pregnancy and breast-feeding can have hazardous effects on the baby in early childhood and also as they grow up. Smoking is known to cause sperm abnormalities and hence male infertility.

Effects on Musculo-skeletal System
Nicotine affects the bones, joints and muscles of the body. It causes Osteopenia, osteoporosis, and hence increased chances of fractures and tissue injuries.

Oral Hygiene and Smoking
Smoking can cause loss of taste, bad breath, dental caries, stained teeth, mouth sores and receding gums.

Chain Smoking
As seen with most of the other addictions, maintaining the thin line between mild smokers and chain smokers is very difficult. Practical sense of judging and refraining oneself from a particular thing is completely lost with dependency. Also, research has proved that fewer cigarettes cause the same damage as higher tobacco use.

Gateway Effects and Health risks for Second Hand Smokers
Effects of smoking are increased by manifold due to the gateway effects. Two important gateways are children choosing to smoke due to their parents; and the second gateway leading to many other addictions and drug abuse. Environmental tobacco smoke has large amount of toxins that cause harmful effects on non-smokers too.

Effects on National Growth and Economy
Medical costs incurred from the tobacco-related illnesses and complicated pregnancies could be the direct costs affecting the national economy. Lower work-efficiency, droppings off earnings, higher medical expenses, early retirement (if ever) put an additional burden on the growth and economy.

Gradual step-down in smoking should be the initial goal and eventually lead towards complete smoking cessation. Ignorance isn’t a bliss; informed decision to continue smoking even after being educated about its dangers would be more upright and real challenge too!