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Smoking Is the Most Hazardous Health Condition

Posted by on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 22:54
This item was posted in Disease & Condition and has 0 Comments so far.

As per the latest survey, smoking is supposed to be the reason for the maximum health problems. Many of the abnormal health conditions arise only due to the smoking that deteriorates the health completely. It has been noted that many hazardous fatal disease are caused by smoking. It is a practice of inhalation and exhalation of fumes from burning tobacco in cigars, cigarettes and pipes. Once the individual starts smoking he becomes addicted towards it. A smoking addiction means a person has formed an uncontrollable dependence on cigarettes to the point where stopping smoking would cause severe emotional, mental, or physical reactions. It is very shocking to know that 40% of men and 25% of women in the world smoke and they are addicted to smoking. It is considered as a very bad habit as once you start it, you get addicted towards it. Smoking is one of the most common forms of recreational drug use. Tobacco smoking is today by far the most popular form of smoking and the less common drugs for smoking include cannabis and opium. Nicotine is a drug that is naturally present in the tobacco plant and is primarily responsible for a person’s addiction to tobacco products, including cigarettes.

Smoking is hazardous to your health, but still many individuals smoke habitually. Chances are that about one in three smokers who do not stop will eventually die because of their smoking. Here are some health hazards of smoking:

1. Cancer

Smoking is considered to be the main cause of the lung cancer. Nearly 85% of the smokers die because of the lung cancer. Smoking is responsible for about 30 percent of all cancer deaths annually in the United States. Countless studies have proved that smoking causes lung cancer, and we now know that it substantially increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the larynx, pharynx, oral cavity, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas. But this doesn’t mean that all smokers will definitely get cancer or that all non-smokers won’t. It means that smoking greatly increases the risk of this disease. Smokers are, on average, much more likely to get cancer than non-smokers. The fact is that half of all smokers eventually die from cancer.

The smoke of the Tobacco contains around 70 different substances that cause cancer. The smoke enters your body when you smoke and spread these chemicals in your lungs finally leading to the lung cancer or mouth cancer. Lung cancer and mouth cancer are found to the most commonly occurring diseases by the smoking. Cancer is the most dangerous disease caused by the smoking.

2. Heart diseases

Smoking is one of the causes of the Heart diseases. Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing several heart diseases. Atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty substances in the arteries) is a chief contributor to the high number of deaths from smoking. A person’s risk of heart attack greatly increases with the number of cigarettes he or she smokes. Cigarette smoke has maybe 5,000 different chemical compounds, and 60 perhaps are identified as being particularly toxic. In regard to heart disease, these toxins can float within the blood and accelerate the hardening of the arteries, put people at a greater risk for having heart attacks, and ultimately, sudden death because of the heart failure.

3. Emphysema

Emphysema is a chronic disease that destroys parts of the lungs and results in shortness of breath, hyperventilation, and asthma-like attacks. Breathlessness is caused by damage to the air sacs (alveoli).

4. Bronchitis and common cold

The immunity of the smokers is reduced due to habitual smoking of tobacco. The formation of the IgA and IgG antibodies in the body of the smokers is greatly reduced. Thus, the smokers are more prone to the common cold and bronchitis. Sometimes chronic bronchitis is also observed among them.

5. Cataracts that may cause blindness

The blood vessels in the eye are sensitive and can be easily damaged by smoke, causing a bloodshot appearance and itchiness. Smoking is a major factor contributing to the early development of age-related macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness.

6. Erectile dysfunction

Men who smoke a lot are more prone to the erectile dysfunction. Because of the smoking the arteries that are necessary for the blood supply to the all parts of the body are damaged. The arteries that supply blood to the penis are also damaged and as a result the men are not able to get the erection during the sexual activity. This condition is called as the erectile dysfunction.

7. Infectious diseases

Smokers who smoke more than 20 cigarettes in a day suffer from the one or other infectious diseases. Tuberculosis is found to be very common among the smokers. About 26% of the smokers suffer with Tuberculosis.

8. Reduces the mouth hygiene

Smoking increases your risk of periodontal disease, which causes swollen gums, bad breath and teeth to fall out. Smoking causes an acid taste in the mouth and contributes to the development of ulcers.

These are the hazards of the smoking. Thus, to remain healthy and to live life to its fullest we should try to quit smoking. You can use the oral medication like Zyban to get rid of the unhealthy habit of smoking.