Facts on smoking hazards have been disseminated. Smoking is hazardous even to people who are just exposed to cigarette smoke. but how come smoking rates are still climbing in some countries?
Addiction to smoking is the sole responsibility of nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addicting psychoactive drug. it only takes a few seconds for nicotine to reach the brain. and once it enters the brain, it becomes hard for the smoker to stop.
Aside from nicotine, cigarettes contain many known carcinogens and mutagens. these substances are responsible for the development of smoking-related diseases and cancers. the most potent of these hazardous substances are acrolein, nitrosamines, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.
What are the smoking hazards that these substances produce?
Lung cancer is a well-known smoking hazard. in the United States, 87% of lung cancer cases are smoking-related. People who smoked at some point in their lives have a 1 in 10 chance of developing lung cancer. If you continue to smoke, your chance increases to 1 in 6. Secondhand smoke increases the lung cancer risk of nonsmokers by 20 to 30%.
Because of the ability of nicotine to narrow blood vessels, smokers have an increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke. a smoker is 5 times more likely to suffer from a heart attack. Secondhand smoke increases the heart disease risk of nonsmokers by 25 to 30%.
Emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are very common among smokers. this is because long term exposure to carbon monoxide and cyanide increases the chances of developing these diseases.
Many other diseases are caused by smoking. some of these are tuberculosis, common colds, invasive pneumococcal disease, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, laryngeal cancer, and many more.
All these smoking hazards result to death. Smoking decreases a person’s life expectancy by 2.5 to 10 years. and every cigarette consumed is equal to throwing away 10 minutes of your life.
You are deliberately causing your death. Quit smoking now choose life