Tobacco Smoking

Considering the globe, the adverse effects of tobacco

smoking out number all the effects of other pollutant. It is
considered as one of the most important preventable
causes of death in the United States. In our society also
even though its health impacts are not so pronounced it
still has series health damage.

Tobacco smoking affects not only those who are

actively smoking but it also has an adverse consequence
on the health of those who are by the vicinity of the
smoker. These individuals are termed as passive Smokers.
 The cigarette smoke that is taken the mouth into the lung has
several types of chemicals that have diverse and serious effects on
our health. The composition depends on the type of tobacco , length
of the cigarette , and the presence and effectiveness of filter tips.

Usually present are:

1. Carcinogens whose effects have been verified in lower animals

2. Cell irritants and toxins
3. Carbon monoxide
4. Nicotine, which has various effects on the sympathetic nervous
system, blood pressure heart rate.
 The more common adverse health effects of tobacco are lung
cancer, coronary heart disease, COPD, and systematic atherosclerosis.
The less common effects are peptic ulcer, Cancer that can
originate from larynx, esophagus , pancreas , bladder and kidneys.
Cigarette smoking also causes COPD , which are chronic
bronchitis and emphysema, which have tremendous health impact.
Systemic arteriosclerosis and other forms of cancer are also diseases
caused by cigarette smoking, which is collectively contribute to many
deaths. In general smoking is the single most important cause of
cancer mortality in the US.
Fetuses are also adversely affected by maternal smoking.
Several studies have shown that maternal smoking could cause low
birth weight, prematurity, still birth and infant mortality.
CHD (coronary heart disease) causes most of the deaths when it
comes to effects of cigarette smoking. Lung cancer closely follows
causing a huge number of deaths.
 The effect of passive smoking has been identified during the
last few decades. Its effect comes when non smoking people
inspire the ambient air, which is polluted by cigarette smoke. The
health impact depends on the volume of the air in the room,
number of active smokers, rate of air exchange and duration of
exposure. Data from different countries show that the risks of lung
cancer increase by 1.5 due to passive smoking. There is also
increased risk of cardiovascular disease specially MI and high
incidence of lower respiratory tract diseases in infants and
children of smoking parents. Children and infants of smoking
mothers will have an obvious intense exposure and hence
retardation of physical and intellectual growth is likely to occur.
 When a person stops smoking the risks of diseases and
subsequent death start to decline. The risk to teach to that of non
smoking people may take 20 years of smoke free period. The amount of
cigarettes smoked daily, and duration of smoking determines the rate of
decrease of risks. The relative risk of lung cancer and laryngeal cancer
start to decline after 1 to 2 smoke free years. However considering lung
cancer former smokers will have slightly higher risk than non smokers
even after 30 years of smoke free years.
When it comes to coronary diseases the decline of risk is rapid
and it can level with those of non smokers after 5 to 20 years. Once
COPD has been developed quitting does not have any significant effect
in reversing the situation.