Smoke If You Want to Die
An
agricultural product that is processed from the leaves of plants in the genus
Nicotiana is named tobacco. Tobacco is burned and the vapours are either
savoured or inhaled. The practice of tobacco smoking began way back since 5000
- 3000 BC. Tobacco affects almost every organ of the human body. According to
surveys, the usage of tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death
worldwide, resulting in about 6 million deaths every year. Second-hand smoke
which is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), results in
approximately 3000 lung cancer deaths yearly in non-smokers. Second-hand smoke
is exhaled by smokers at the end of the burning cigarette. In fact, smokeless
tobacco consumers and cigar smokers have the similar health risks as cigarette
smokers.
Cigarette
smoking causes both short-term and long-term effects. Short-term smoking
effects include frequent respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, bronchitis,
coughs, and colds. Children and youths that are exposed to second-hand smoke
are more prone towards asthma, lower respiratory infections, and ear
infections. Long-term smoking effects are widespread. Numerous diseases linked
to smoking include lung cancer, increased risk for stomach cancer, bladder
cancer, mouth and throat cancer, cervical cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
Tobacco usage is linked to about one third of all cancers and 90% of lung cancer
cases are caused by smoking.
Chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also caused by smoking. COPD refers to
severe lung damage. Smoking results in reduced blood circulation and blood
vessel narrowing in the body. Oxygen levels in the body are deprived, thus
increasing risk of heart disease. Non-smokers are 25% more likely to develop
heart diseases because of being exposed to second-hand smoke. Besides, the
risks for stroke and developing cataracts are doubled by smoking. Additional
health risks are also posed for women. Risks for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
leads to osteoporosis, thus increases the chances of spine and hip fractures in
women having post menopause. Smoking habits during pregnancy increases the
baby's health risks and results in low birth weight, premature birth, or
respiratory illnesses.
Cigarette
smoking must be prevented and can only be accomplished with every individual's
realisation towards smoking effects and through their own strong will to quit
smoking.
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