Smoking Facts - Facts about Smoking

Smoking continues to be one of the greatest causes of illness and death in the world. In fact, the effects of smoking are so debilitative, that often the first step of any health improvement program is stopping the habit immediately, and is thought to be even more important than exercise, diet, or vitamins. Here are a few facts about smoking, explaining why it is so harmful.

Deaths related to smoking are due mainly to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart disease and cancers. Smoking related illnesses kill around half of all smokers. The average life expectancy of a long-term smoker is reduced by 8 to 12 years compared to a non-smoker.

The younger one is when smoking is begun, the higher the chances of smoking for longer, and dying early from smoking related diseases.

Nicotine, which is a drug contained in cigarette smoke, stimulates the brain. In people who are regular smokers, when the nicotine levels in their blood falls, they usually experience withdrawal symptoms like craving for a smoke, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, headache, difficulty in concentrating, or just an overall feeling of awfulness. Lighting up another cigarette relieves these symptoms almost instantaneously. Hence, in order to feel 'normal', and not get the withdrawal symptoms, smokers need to keep smoking regularly. This is what addiction to smoking is all about.

Cigarette smoke has more than 4000 chemicals in it, of which fifty are known to cause cancer. Here are some of the poisonous chemicals that tobacco smoke can have: Butane, which is a fuel used in lighters; Benzene, a poisonous gas in the fumes of petrol. It causes leukemia; Ethanol, a substance used in anti-freeze; Ammonia, used in a number of cleaning products; Methanol, an ingredient in rocket fuel; Cadmium, used in the batteries in cars; Toluene, an industrial solvent; Acetone, used as an organic solvent and for making plastic.

The tar in tobacco smoke is deposited deep in the lungs, causing the paralysis of the cilia inside, and is a contributory factor to lung diseases like chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer of the lungs. It can also be carried to various other parts of the body by getting into the bloodstream.

About 90 percent of lung cancer cases and 30 percent of fatalities from cancer is related to smoking. Some of the other cancers caused by smoking are: cancers of the mouth, larynx, throat, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix, kidney, and bladder.

Many of the deaths caused by smoking do not occur quickly. For instance, if a smoker gets lung cancer, it can take many years of suffering from the illness, having to cope with the distressing symptoms, before death occurs.

The chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage the lining of blood vessels, and also affect the lipid levels in the blood. This increases the chances of the formation of atheroma, also known as the hardening of the arteries. Heart disease is mainly caused due to atheroma. It also causes strokes, aneurysms (swollen arteries bursting and causing internal bleeding), and peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation in the legs). All of these illnesses that are related to atheroma are more prevalent among people who smoke.

Smoking results in premature aging. Smokers have a tendency of developing age-lines on their face much earlier than non-smokers. This usually results in smokers looking much older than they actually are.

Smoking reduces fertility in both men and women. It also causes the onset of menopause to occur about two years earlier in women, compared to those who do not smoke.

The other conditions that smoking worsens or prolongs the symptoms of are: the common cold, asthma, flu, tuberculosis, infections of the chest, diabetic retinopathy, chronic rhinitis, multiple sclerosis, hyperthyroidism, Crohn's disease, and optic neuritis.

The risk of developing various other conditions is also increased by smoking. These are: cataract, optic neuropathy, macular degeneration, psoriasis, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, tooth loss, gum disease, and osteoporosis.

However, there is good news for smokers: Stopping the habit makes a great difference to their health, and it is never too late to quit and benefit from its healthy effects.