The Effects of Smoking Cigarettes

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The Effects of Smoking Cigarettes
Smoking, whether active or passive, is a habit that causes numerous health risks and deaths. It leads to disability and harms almost every body organ. Studies show that cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease worldwide (Perez-Warnisher, Miguel, and Seijo 571). The latest report by World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that cigarette smoking kills more than eight billion people yearly, with many living with debilitating smoking-related illnesses. Over seven million of those deaths result from active smoking, while close to 1.2 million deaths occur due to second-hand smoking (Perez-Warnisher, Miguel, and Seijo 571). The reason cigarette smoking is harmful to human health has been a major concern, calling for public awareness of the adverse effects. Tobacco contains highly toxic substances, including carbon monoxide, nicotine, tar, oxidizing chemicals, metals (lead, mercury, cobalt, nickel, beryllium, arsenic, chromium, cadmium), and radioactive compounds known to be carcinogenic (Ziarati, Mousavi, and Pashapour 2). Due to the carcinogenic compounds in tobacco, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified this product as a human carcinogen because it causes cancer. The toxic substances released by tobacco damage the body tissues, lungs, and blood vessels. These damages lead to diseases and death.
Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking
Cancer
As noted earlier, the IARC has classified tobacco use as a group one carcinogen for many cancers, including lung, liver, stomach, pancreas, kidney, uterine cervix, myeloid leukemia, stomach, colorectal, larynx, esophagus, and oropharynx. Evidence shows that tobacco contains toxic chemicals such as radioactive compounds (polonium-210 and lead-210), metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, beryllium, nickel, chromium, and cobalt) and tobacco-specific nitrosamines that are highly carcinogenic (Ziarati, Mousavi and Pashapour 2). These substances damage an individual’s DNA and interrupt normal cell growth, causing abnormal cell division and development.
DNA is the cell’s instruction manual containing a cell's normal growth and function. A damaged DNA makes cells start growing out of control, creating a cancer tumor. The toxins from smoking also weaken the body’s immune system, diminishing the body’s defense against cancer. When this occurs, cancer cells continue developing without the possibility of being stopped. There is no safe way of using cigarettes. Brief exposure to smoke increases cancer risks. For instance, exposure to second-hand smoke makes non-smokers inhale most of the same cancer-causing chemicals inhaled by active smokers.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. IARC estimated 18.3 million cancer cases and nearly 10 million cancer deaths globally (Sung et al. 209). Cigarette smoking accounts for about 25% of all cancer deaths and is the primary cause of lung cancer (Singh and Kathiresan(163). Lung cancer is an aggressive and heterogeneous disease commonly associated with tobacco use. Smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer in their lifetime than non-smokers (Gandini 155). Nearly 87% of lung cancer cases are linked to cigarette smoking (Singh and Kathiresan 163). Around 85% of lung cancer smokers are likely to die within 5.5 years, according to Singh and Kathiresan (163). Cancer-related deaths will probably be higher in the future due to the increasing prevalence of cigarette smoking.
Cardiovascular Diseases
Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, which is also one of the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide. In the United States, cardiovascular disease is responsible for over 800,000 deaths yearly and more than 16 million associated illnesses (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.). Studies show that chemicals in cigarette smoke cause swelling and inflammation of endothelial cells. This effect leads to the narrowing of the blood vessels, causing many cardiovascular conditions, including atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and stroke (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.). For example, nicotine tightens the blood vessels, restricting blood flow to other body parts. Continuous narrowing and damage to the blood vessels can lead to peripheral arterial disease. Smoking also increases blood pressure, weakens blood vessels, and raises blood clots. This increases the risk of stroke.
Respiratory Conditions
Smoking damages the airways and smaller air sacs in the lungs, limiting the lung’s ability to transport oxygen to other body parts. This leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema (Khan, Fell, and James 267). Chronic bronchitis is a common condition in cigaret...