Dangers of Smoking

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By nikoman

Smoking is a down right filthy habit that affects not only your health, but the health of others around you. A pity on your children if you smoke around them.

And as governments continuously impose higher taxes on tobacco, the costs of lighting up can run into the thousands per year for each smoker. So why do people still smoke? Simple answer - nicotine addiction!


Nicotine Levels on the Increase
Nicotine Levels on the Increase

Nicotine

Nicotine addiction has been found to be one of the hardest addictions to kick. With an increase in anti-smoking campaigns, tobacco companies are upping the levels of nicotine in their cigarettes to make it all that harder to quit smoking.

Nicotine is odorless and colorless and varies in concentrations from 1 to 16 grams per cigarette.

Nicotine enters the bloodstream together with tar, reaching the brain in less than 10 seconds. In less than a minute, nicotine spreads throughout the entire body. It then increases the heart rate and blood pressure, providing the smoker with alertness and a relaxing effect. In less that 30 minutes, the nicotine effects decrease, and the smoker becomes irritable and less alert. That’s why they have the tendency to grab and light another cigarette to get a new "fix" from nicotine. This explains the addictive effect of smoking. Before a person knows it, they have lit more than 10 cigarettes in one day.


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Tar

Tar attaches to the linings of the lungs and destroys its hair like projections (cilia) which traps harmful particles inhaled into the lungs. Tar also decreases the lung's elasticity, making it harder to pump much needed oxygen throughout the body.

Carbon Monoxide

Yet another toxic chemical released into your body when inhaling the smoke of cigarettes. Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin, decreasing the ability of red blood cells to supply large amount of oxygen to the body. That’s why smokers easily get tired because they need to take more breaks in order to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the body.

Long-Term Effects

As time goes by, the long-term effects of smoking become even more clear. Effects on the skin are apparent. A smoker develops stains on their teeth and fingers and develop halitosis (bad breath). Even the smoker’s clothes and environment smells like cigarette smoke.

Cardiovascular diseases develop because of the accumulation of plaque in the lining of blood vessels, especially on the coronary arteries, causing atherosclerosis.

A decrease in the functioning of the lungs can lead to diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which are irreversible diseases of the respiratory system.

Cancer, heart disease, increased risk of illness and reduced athletic performace is what a smoker really orders each time they buy their next packet of cigarettes.

Quit Smoking Advice - watch this!

Comments

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monitor profile image

monitor  says:
7 months ago

Oh man after seeing this any one smoking should really think about what they are doing. Please, please give up. Mon.

stopsmokingtoday profile image

stopsmokingtoday  says:
5 months ago

Excellent information and stats. Hopefully smokers will read this and take note. Good work mate.

phil  says:
4 months ago

there is little that can be done to stop smokers smoking tbh few will see this page unless they are looking thought things like this for kicks

Toms Cabin profile image

Toms Cabin  says:
2 months ago

It sounds so simple. Just go 48 hours without a smoke and the nicotine is gone and the health starts to improve.

Just wish I could do it.

Oh well you have motivated me to try again.

Thanks Nikoman

Chris A  says:
8 days ago

Amazing! i,ve been wanting to quit for so long but with work being so hectic it just became second nature to have a ciggie in my hand all day long.. i "WAS" smoking at least 3 packs a day (60) and i emphisize on WAS because after everything i,ve just read.. I WILL QUIT, I WILL DO IT & I WILL NOT LET NICOTINE BRING ME DOWN! It,s funny because i tried a few times but never succeeded, i just feel so positive right now and i really want to start enjoying my life and not worry that my time could soon be up with every puff i'd ever taken....

TO ALL SMOKERS, YOU CAN DO IT! WE ONLY LIVE ONCE AND WE HAVE TO START RESPECTING OUR BODIES & F**K THOSE B*****D TOBACCO COMPANYS, THEY KILLED A FAIR AMOUNT OF MY FAMILY.. I'D LOVE TO GET MY OWN BACK ONE DAY.

BLESS 2 U ALL

Chris

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