Everyone one wants a healthy and
risk free life. However, everyone is suffering from one or the other
diseases. Is it so difficult to be healthy ? The anwer is no. Anyone
of us can be healthy lest we know, how ?
One of the major contributors in
diseases in our society is : Cigarette !! Yes, this has become and
avoidable part of youth’s modern culture, even though it is among
the most dangerous addictions. Now, the question arises that how
cigarette smoking is so much dangerous. Following are some reasons,
which makes cigartte very dangerous for human body:
Cigarette contains approximately
7000 chemicals, which have been identified, 250 of which are
poisonous, 70 carcinogenic, and the chemical count is still
increasing.
Toxic Ingredients in
Cigarette Smoke
The chemicals in cigarette smoke
are inhaled into the lungs and from there travel throughout the body,
causing damage in numerous ways.
- Nicotine reaches the brain in 7 to 10 seconds after smoke is inhaled. Nicotine has been found in every part of a smoker's body, including breast milk.
- Carbon monoxide, which is present in smoke when mixed with RBCs and Hemoglobic prevent oxygen to be properly circulated all over the body.
- Tar, this is the collective term for the various particles suspended in tobacco smoke. The particles contain chemicals. Tar is sticky and brown, and stains teeth, fingernails and lung tissue. Tar contains the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene
- Cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke damage important genes that control the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally or to reproduce too rapidly. Seventy such cancer-causing chemicals have been identified in cigarette smoke to date.
Hydrogen
cyanide, stops lungs cleaning procedure which is a normal to
keep your body healthy. Lung contain tiny hair (cilia), that helps
in cleaning lungs by moving out foreign material. Hydrogen cyanide
is build around cilia and slows the cleaning process day by day.- Smoking affects how the immune system functions by causing oxidative stress. This in turn causes DNA mutation, setting the stage for cancer and heart disease. Oxidative stress is also thought to be a contributor to the aging process. Antioxidants are nature's way of combating the damage oxidative stress causes to the body's cells. Smokers have less antioxidants in their blood than nonsmokers.
- Cigarette smoke contains radioactive heavy metals that "stick" to the tar that collects in the lungs of smokers. Over time, this builds up and is believed to be one of the risk factors for lung cancer in smokers.
- Free radicals, these highly reactive chemicals can damage the heart muscles and blood vessels. They react with cholesterol, leading to the build-up of fatty material on artery walls. Their actions lead to heart disease, stroke and blood vessel disease.
These
were one of the most dangerous elements present in Cigarette. Now,
lets find out some of the direct and visible health issues caused by
Cigarette.
Effects on Respiratory System
- Irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box)
- Reduced lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the lung airways and excess mucus in the lung passages
- Impairment of the lungs’ clearance system, leading to the build-up of poisonous substances, which results in lung irritation and damage
- Increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
- Permanent damage to the air sacs of the lungs.
Effects
on Circulatory System
- Raised blood pressure and heart rate
- Constriction (tightening) of blood vessels in the skin, resulting in a drop in skin temperature
- Less oxygen carried by the blood
- ‘Stickier’ blood, which is more prone to clotting
- Damage to the lining of the arteries, which is thought to be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls)
- Reduced blood flow to extremities (fingers and toes)
Effects
on immune system
- Greater susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and influenza
- More severe and longer-lasting illnesses
- Lower levels of protective antioxidants (such as vitamin C), in the blood.
Effects
on Musculoskeletal System
- Tightening of certain muscles
- Reduced bone density.
Effects
of smoking on the sexual organs
- Lower sperm count
- Higher percentage of deformed sperm
Effects on Female body:
- Reduced fertility
- Menstrual cycle irregularities or absence of menstruation
- Increased risk of cancer of the cervix
Smokers face a substantial increase in risk for a number of diseases over non-smokers:
- Coronary Heart Disease: 2 to 4 times
- Stroke: 2 to 4 times
- Lung cancer risk for men: 23 times
- Lung cancer risk for women: 13 times
- COPD-related death: 12 to 13 times
I
am sure even you want to be healthier and don’t want to spend on
medicines/doctors after spending a lot on expensive cigarettes. If
you haven’t decided to quit, then might be you are inviting one the
above diseases.
Hence, I belive being fit and healthy is not so difficult task, we just need awareness. We are responsible for our diet and suppliments. To be healthy and fit, we need to provide things which are friendly to our body.
If I were you, I would atleast give a genuine try to quit smoking. Once you are dedicated, and determined nothing is impossible. Hence, please quit SMOKING..
ALL
THE BEST !!
