Effects of Smoking, Essay Example

The World Health Organization (WHO) released global smoking statistics report for the year 2002 which confirmed that the trend of tobacco smoking sees no signs of slowing down despite huge economical and social costs. According to the report, a third of the male adult global population smokes and 1 in 10 adults die from smoking-related diseases globally. Cigarettes cause more than 1 in 5 American deaths. Among young teens, about 1 in 5 smoke worldwide. About a quarter of the youth in the Western Pacific Region will die from smoking. Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death, being a primary factor in heart diseases, stroke, and chronic lung cancer. Smoking can also cause cancer of the lungs, larynx, oesophagus, mouth, and bladder as well as contributes to the cancer of the cervix, pancreas, and kidneys. At least 25% of all deaths from heart diseases and about 75% of world’s chronic bronchitis result from smoking. The annual cost of smoking-related dieases to the United States is estimated at over 150 billion a year(Martin, 2007).

Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 toxic or carcinogenic chemicals. The most well-known ingredient of cigarette is nicotine which affects the nerve-muscle junctions, causing tremors and shaking. Nicotine causes narrowing and constricting of the arteries, putting additional burden on the heart. Nicotine also decreases the oxygen supply in the blood which adversely affects breathing and limits the efficient functioning of our autonomic nervous system. Smoking permanently damages the alveoli and narrows small blood vessels in the lungs, decreasing oxygen supply as well as increasing blood pressure which causes circulatory problems and premature heart attacks. The average smoker has four to six times the probability of a heart disease if he/she is between the ages of 45 and 54. Breathing problems help explain why smokers have difficulty running and exercising. The body cleans the lungs through cilia but smoking gradually destroys cilia and the smoker is forced to resort to coughing as an alternative to clean lungs. Coughing is not an efficient lung-cleaning mechanism which is why smokers’ lungs become darkened due to the accumulation of tar. Cilia also protect non-smokers from air pollution but smokers face higher risk of lung cancer due to dead cilia.Smoking may also lead to brain damage and premature senility. On the average, smokers lose 8.3 years of their life expectancy or about 12 to 14 minutes per cigarette (Nutri).

Smoking also destroys vitamins, particularly Vitamin C and B. On the average, smokers have 30% less amounts of Vitamin C than their non-smoker counterparts. In addition, smoking also adversely affects the sense of taste and smell which is why smokers have reduced sense of smell as well as ability to distinguish food taste. Smoking also reduces alertness and causes  slower reflexes which is why it increases the risk of accidents while driving. Smokers need more food and sleep because nicotine makes body less efficient and thus, the body is forced to work harder, resulting in faster heartbeat as well as consumption of more energy. Smokers also lose appetite for food which may be why smokers have no trouble maintaining low weight (Nutri). Smoking may also slow off blood flow and cut off oxygen supply to feet and hands. This is why some smokers end up having their limbs amputated. Darkened nails on feet and hands are also a common occurrence among smokers (QuitSmokingStop).

Smoking accounts for approximately 443,000 deaths each year in the United States. Smoking is responsible for more deaths than by all deaths from HIV, illegal drugs, alcohol, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined. Smoking accounts for 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and 80% of lung cancer deaths in women. In addition, smoking also causes 90% of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease. Smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times, stroke by 2 to 4 times, lung cancer in men by staggering 23 times, lung cancer in women by 13 times, and death from obstructive lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema by 12 to 13 times. Smoking also increases the risk of infertility, preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Postmenopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than their non-smoking counterparts and smoking also increases the risk of hip fracture in women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). One of the worst things about smoking is that not only it is injurious to smokers’ own health but it also affects non-smokers who are exposed to the cigarette smoke. A U.S Surgeon General report found that almost half of all nonsmoking Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke. According to American Lung Association (ALA), more than 70,000 heart diseases deaths as well as 3,400 lung cancer deaths occur in the United States due to exposure to secondhand smoke. The Society of Actuaries estimates that the economic cost of secondhand smoke is nearly $10 billion per year in the U.S (Information Research Lab).

By quitting smoking, adults will not only do service to themselves but may also help lower the adoption of smoking by kids. Every day, 3,000 kids in the U.S pick up smoking habit. Worldwide, 20% of teens age 13 to 15 smoke cigarettes. Smoking claims a life somewhere in the world every eight seconds or approximately 5 million deaths (Martin, 20 Shocking Smoking Facts, 2011). The good news is that it is never late to leave smoking. People who quit even at age 50 reduce their risk of premature death by half as compared to non-quitters. But it’s obviously better to quit earlier. Quitting smoking at age 30 reduces the chance of premature death from smoking-related diseases by more than 90% (National Cancer Institute).

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/

Information Research Lab. (n.d.). Secondhand Smoke Kills. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from Secondhand Smoke Kills

Martin, T. (2011, March 3). 20 Shocking Smoking Facts. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/tobaccostatistics/a/tobaccofacts.htm

Martin, T. (2007, January 28). Global Smoking Statistics. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/antismoking/a/statistics_2.htm

National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation

Nutri. (n.d.). Smoking Facts: The Facts About Smoking – How And Why To Quit. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.nutri.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.facts_about_smoking

QuitSmokingStop. (n.d.). Harmful Health Effects Of Smoking Cigarettes. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.quit-smoking-stop.com/harmful-smoking-effects.html