Essays

Cigarette smoking is one of the major killers in the world. The biggest side effect from smoking is cancer. Cancer is a group of many related disease. All forms of cancer involve out-of-control growth and spread of abnormal cells. The risk' of dying from lung cancer is 22 times higher for males and 12 times higher for female smokers as opposed to non-smokers. Additionally, smokers are at an increased risk of cancer of the larynx oral cavity, oesophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas.

Smoking causes a five time increase in the risk of dying from chronic bronchitis and emphysema and a two-time increase in deaths from diseases of the heart and coronary arteries. Smoking also increases the risk of stroke by 40-50% in men and 60% in women. Researchers have also proven that mothers who smoke while pregnant or before they got pregnant usually give birth to babies with birth defects, who are premature or are underweight. This is probably because of a decrease in blood flow to the placenta.

The ways in which tobacco smoke affects the human body has been under extensive research and study for many years, recent findings may explain why cigarettes are so addictive. An unknown component or part of tobacco smoke appears to destroy an important enzyme in Die brain called monoamine oxidize B (MOA B). The enzyme is essential in breaking down excess amounts of the chemical dopamine, a nerve cell messenger chemical and one that is involved in pleasure- seeking behaviour. Apparently smokers have low levels of MOA B and have exceptionally abnormal levels of dopamine, which most likely encourage the smoker lo go for the more pleasure seeking things such as smoking and sometimes experimenting with more mind-altering drugs.

Recent research has focussed on the effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS). This is the effect of Smoke in the atmosphere and the environment and how it affects the non-smokers. It has been estimated that exposure to ETS, which contains all of the same toxic chemicals that the smoker inhales, causes 3000 cancer deaths a year in non- smokers. It can also provoke less serious diseases such as asthma, impaired blood circulation, bronchitis and pneumonia. According to a study, smoking is one of those addictions that you gel before you reach adulthood (18 years). 89% of all people who have ever smoked started doing it before they reached the age of 18. Barely anyone starts to smoke after that age (adulthood). 70% of adolescent .smokers wish that they hadn't started and have tried to quit but did not succeed.

More than 80% of adolescent smokers, who smoke more than a pack a day, report that they need or depend on cigarettes. Several studies over the years have suggested and have shown that cigarette smoking increases risk of leukaemia, as it does for other cancer prone areas. They say that risk may increase about thirty per cent in active smokers and may cause up to 3,600 cases of adult leukaemia a year. The report combines the results of 15 studies, including the cancer prevention studies. This combined analysis strengthens the evidence that smoking may cause adult leukaemia, especially myelocytic or non-lymphocytic forms.

Cigar smoking is currently the latest trend in rich people, especially among young men and women. It is fuelled in part by the efforts of tobacco companies trying to glamorize them. Especially for women, the industry seems to have risen. Teenagers or young adults may be particularly vulnerable' because of the mistaken idea that cigars are safer than cigarettes. From 1973 to 1993 cigar smoking had been on the decline. The greatest increase in adult cigar smoking is among the young and middle-aged white men (ages 18 to 44) with higher than average incomes and education. There is a boom in the popularity of premium cigars. The health risks of cigar smoking are, again, ignored in this effort of making cigars look 'cool' or 'better than cigarettes'. Smoking as little as 'one' cigar per day can increase the risk of several cancers, including cancer of the oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, and throat), oesophagus, larynx and lung. Cigar smoking may be linked to the cancer of the pancreas as well. Daily cigar smoking, especially for people who inhale, also increases the risk of heart disease and a type of lung disease known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Just smoking one or two cigars a day doubles the risk for oral cancers and oesophageal cancer, compared to someone who , has never smoked in his life- And smoking as few as one or two a day increases the risk of cancer to the voice box (larynx) by more than six times that of a non-smokers.

There are some differences between cigar and cigarette smoke, though. These difference's, are due to the long ageing and fermentation process used for cigar tobacco. The cigar wrapper is also not quite as porous as the cigarette paper. Cigar tobacco has a high concentration of nitrogen compounds (nitrates and nitrites). Also, because the cigar paper isn't as porous as the cigarette paper, the tobacco doesn't burn as well- The result is a higher concentration of nitrogen oxides, ammonia, carbon monoxide and tar. They are all very harmful to the smoker and to the environment.

Withdrawal results in many side effects. Some of which include:

• Irritability and anxiety: Emotional changes, such as irritability and anxiety, may be experienced as the body adjusts to surviving without the nicotine. These feelings become less intense as the body adjusts.

• Difficulty concentrating: A feeling of light-headedness and a feeling of disorientation may affect your concentration. The body is now receiving more oxygen than it is used to receiving, but in a few days it should return to normal.

• Tingles, aches and pains: Muscular aches, pains and tingling sensations can happen because there is more oxygen than normal in the body, especially in the smaller blood vessels (fingers and toes).

• Weight gain: Sometimes people who have quit feel more hungry than usual and may gain weight. The temptation to cover the urge to smoke should be avoided for excessive weight gain can occur. Light exercise will also help.

• Difficulty sleeping: Sometimes ex-smokers find that they have insomnia. This is because of the withdrawal from nicotine. After a week or two this should stop.

• Headaches: Quitting can be stressful, so try to relieve the extra pressure by doing stress busting breathing exercises such as yoga and try listening to relaxing music.

• Effects of caffeine: Once the body is free of nicotine, it absorbs about twice as much caffeine. It is best to avoid increasing coffee, tea and cola intake. Using tobacco increases a woman's risk of chronic health problems and prematus-e death.

1. Cancers: Tobacco use accounts for nearly one third of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the lending killer, even surpassing breast cancer. These deaths are due to smoking. The lung cancer death rate has increased by more than 400% over the last 30 years and is continuing to increase. In addition to increasing the risk of lung cancer, tobacco also causes cervical, mouth, larynx, pharynx, oesophagus, kidney; pancreas and bladder cancers.

2. Heart disease and stroke: Women who smoke greatly increase their risk of heart attack and stroke.

3. Reproductive health: Tobacco use has a very damaging effect on a woman's entire body, causing pregnancy problems, early menopause and reduced fertility. A major cancer that affects the reproductive health is cervical cancer.

4. Low birth weight: Recent estimates suggest that quitting smoking during pregnancy could prevent from 17% to 26% of cases of low birth weight. Tobacco use during pregnancy often results in severe retardation.

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is the combination of two forms of smoke from burning tobacco products. Side stream smoke or smoke that comes from a burning cigarette, pipe or cigar between puffs. And Mainstream smoke or the smoke that is exhaled by the smoker. When a cigarette is smoked, about one-half of the smoke generated is side stream smoke that comes from the burning cigarette between puffs. This side stream smoke contains many of the same car cinogenic (cancer-causing) and toxic agents that have been identified in the mainstream smoke inhaled by the smoker- The concentration is much higher in mainstream smoke as opposed to the smoke in side stream smoke.

More than 4000 chemical compounds have been identified in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Many of these chemicals are toxic and several are carcinogenic or tumour initiators (substances that can result in changes in normal cells that can lead to cancer) and tumour promoters (substances that can lead to tumour growth once the cell changes begin). Tobacco smoke includes at least 43 different carcinogenic substances, some of these compounds include: tar, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, phenols, ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene, nitrosamine and nicotine.

The exposure of non-smokers to environmental tobacco smoke (HTS) is referred to as second hand smoke. Non- smokers who are exposed to I'TS absorb just as much chemicals as mainstream smokers do. They don't receive them in such high concentrations, but even the littlest amount is enough to be fatal. ETS causes at least 3000 deaths due to lung cancer in non-smokers. The age range is from approximately 16 and up. If there are family members in a household and they smoke, it is absorbed in the furniture and the surroundings and is always there so long as the members keep smoking. It is especially harmful to children and senior citizens or pets, even if the smoking isn't done near them.

Tobacco companies claim that the advertising is only for the adult smokers. However, these ads also reach children. Eighty six per cent of underage smokers prefer one of the more advertised brands. Adults who buy a variety of brands including unadvertised discount brands are much less likely to have children that smoke the brands. One of the most. effective and one of the easiest ways tobacco companies reach kids is by giving things away, such as T-shirts, posters, baseball caps and other 'trinkets and trash' as it is referred to in the business.