Tobacco smoke contains about 7,000 chemicals and 250 of
such substances are known to be harmful to both smokers
and nonsmokers. The chemicals are hydrogen cyanide,
carbon monoxide, and ammonia.
According to the International Cancer Research Agency,
among the 250 known harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke,
at least 69 can cause cancer. These cancer-causing
chemicals include acetaldehyde, aromatic amines, arsenic
benzene and butadiene, to mention just a few.
If you are looking for the ingredients on the labelling, you
may not find them there. While experts insist that there is
no incentive for smoking, they advise smokers to save their
lungs by quitting the deadly habit.
Smoking, according to the public health physician, Dr.
James Ayorinde, is the leading cause of cancer of the lung,
esophagus, larynx, mouth and liver.
Ayorinde states that the harmful chemicals in cigarette
smoke have been known to double smokers’ risk of
developing pneumonia, tuberculosis, and other infections
that affect the airways.
He says, “In addition, smoking causes inflammation and
impairs immune function of the pancreas, stomach, cervix,
colon, and rectum, as well as acute myeloid leukemia. It
practically harms every organ of the body.”
Experts on betobaccofree.com warn that each time cigarette
smoke is inhaled it affects breathing and scars the lungs.
Another condition, they say, that results from smoking is
Emphysema, a condition in which the walls between the air
sacs in the lungs lose their ability to stretch and shrink
back.
However, doctors say the real danger in smoking is its
harmful effect on the health of non smokers. According to
them, non smokers who live with smokers have an
increased risk of developing a range of tobacco-related
diseases, including asthma, respiratory illnesses, lung
cancer and coronary heart disease.
Also, the World Health Organisation describes second-hand
smoking as the highest cause of sudden death in infants
whose parents smoke, while pregnant women, who inhale
smoke exhaled by their spouses, will experience frequent
miscarriages.
The global body states, “Passive smoking is a cause of
sudden deaths. A child who lives in a household where
there is a smoker has an increased risk of developing a
range of respiratory illnesses and pneumonia.
“Smokers’ neighbours will be prone to getting cold, cough
and their lungs will have a reduced ability to function and
grow because they are busy trying to process the smoke
they inhale from the environment. A child that is exposed to
second-hand smoke in the home is more likely to develop
asthma,”
WHO adds that direct smoking and second-hand smoking
has increased the population of people living with heart
diseases and warns that people must protect themselves
against tobacco smoke inhalation at all costs.
The body says there is evidence that passive smoking
makes the blood clot and causes a reduction of antioxidant
vitamins in the blood – conditions that affect the blood
vessels of the heart.
Ayorinde adds, “You will notice that any time you inhale
smoke, you become breathless, uncomfortable and feel like
you want to choke. You experience all that reaction because
the blood is not getting the oxygen that it should. This
affects the blood circulation. Just 30 minutes of exposure to
second-hand smoke can affect how your blood vessels
regulate blood flow to a degree similar to that which is seen
in people who smoke.”
The physician says studies show that passive smokers have
a 20 to 30 per cent higher chance of developing lung cancer,
compared to those who do not inhale tobacco smoke.
There is nothing to gain and so much to lose by keeping
such a dreadful habit. But you can quit, if you really set
your mind to it.
However, to help you cope better with this decision, here are
tested and trusted tips that can help you break the habit.
Trash those cancer sticks
The first step is to get rid of the cigarettes in your car,
drawer, or pocket and to resist every temptation to smoke.
Whenever you are tempted to grab a cigarette, think about
your loved ones. Think about how much they want you to be
healthy and have a good life or you will end up harming your
lungs, in addition to other unpleasant side effects.
Grab something else instead
Eating some candy or chewing a gum may help you
overcome the urge to smoke a cigarette. Also, to get your
mind off smoking, engage in a physical activity that requires
your full attention.
If you have any friends that smoke, ask them to not do it in
your presence for two reasons: to avoid getting tempted and
the fact that second-hand smoke is even more dangerous
than smoking itself.
Make a good list of reasons why you should stop smoking.
You don’t want to let your family members down and you
want to keep your lungs healthy.
