Presumably, everyone knows that smoking is unhealthy. Unfortunately,
the actual extent of the harmful health effects of smoking falls
into oblivion time and again or simply is suppressed. Below you will
find a summary of the adverse health effects of smoking.
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Absorption of nicotine from lungs is very fast. |
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Absorbed nicotine reaches the brain within 10-15 seconds. |
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50% of nicotine is removed from blood within two hours. |
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Nicotine increases the level of the brain chemical dopamine
that helps regulate the feeling of pleasure in the brain’s “reward” center
(circuit). |
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Chronic intake of nicotine results in addiction. |
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The craving (extreme need) to maintain the pleasurable effects
of nicotine (and prevent withdrawal) is responsible for the addictive
nature of nicotine. |
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As a brain stimulant, nicotine initially increases reaction
time, improves mental performance and mood and cognitive processing;
tolerance to these effects develops very quickly. |
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Nicotine does not calm; when smokers begin to feel the bad
physical, mood and performance effects of nicotine withdrawal,
they light up a cigarette for their nicotine “fix”. |
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Thus, the effect of nicotine is not calming but rather a negative
effect to relieve the symptoms from nicotine withdrawal. |
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Symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine, starting within hours
of stopping smoking and some lasting as long as 6 months, include:
· irritability, restlessness
· insomnia, fatigue
· hunger (increased appetite)
· inability to concentrate
· dizziness
· depression, sadness
· anxiety anger
· extreme craving for cigarette (nicotine)
· drippy nose and dry throat
· coughing, clearing of throat
· tightness of chest
· stomach gas and stomach pain constipation
· overall, feeling miserable |
| Mortality due to cigarette
smoking |
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Manufacture of cigarettes as commercial products appeared early
within the 20th century; by the end of the 20th century, more
than 100 million smokers were killed by cigarettes.. |
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Smoking kills 2 million people a year in developed countries,
50% in ages 35-69, 50% in old age. |
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Smoking accounts for 1/6th of the 11 million adults who die
each year in developed countries. |
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In developing countries, if current patterns of increased
smoking continue, smoking will be the greatest cause of premature
death
world wide. |
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Reduction of current smoking by 50% would have prevented 20-30
million premature deaths in first quarter of year 2000, 150 million
deaths in second quarter of 2000. |
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50% of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually be killed
by the smoking habit. |
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440,000 Americans die each year from smoking and another 8.6
million suffer from some illness related to tobacco. |
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| Cancer rates due to cigarette smoking. |
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Lung cancer due to cigarettes expected to kill 157, 000 Americans.
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Cigarette smoking is the chief cause of lung cancer, causing
87% of all lung cancers.
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Female smokers are twice as likely to develop lung cancer. |
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Risk of lung cancer is no different in people who smoke cigarettes
with medium, low or very low tar concentrations. |
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Males and females who smoked non-filter cigarettes with tar
ratings in excess of 22 ng had even higher risks of lung cancer. |
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All current smokers, regardless of tar levels or cigarette
brand, have significantly greater risk of developing lung cancer
than those who never smoked or who had quit smoking. |
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Much higher risk of developing cancer of the, mouth, esophagus,
urinary bladder, penis, female breast, cervix, pancreas. |
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| Smoking held responsible
for causing and/or contributing toward many other diseases including: |
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Cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease, heart attack,
stroke, poor circulation). |
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Respiratory disease other than cancer (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, emphysema, asthma, pneumonia). |
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Gastrointestinal disorders (Chron’s disease, ulcers,
heart burn). |
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Early onset type 2 diabetes |
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Skin conditions (psoriasis). |
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Eye problems (smoking contributes up to 20% age-related
blindness [macular degeneration] in people over 50, cataracts)
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Hearing loss. |
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Orthopedic problems (spinal disc degeneration). |
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Osteoporosis, osteoarthritis. |
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Oral problems (periodontal disease). |
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Penile erectile dysfunction, sexual impotence, infertility. |
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| Risks of smoking during
pregnancy: |
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Carbon monoxide and high doses of nicotine in tobacco smoke
interferes with oxygen supply to the fetus. |
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Nicotine concentrates in fetal blood, amniotic fluid, breast
milk in smoking lactating mothers. |
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Above factors considered responsible for developmental delays
commonly seen in fetuses of smoking mothers. |
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Increased pregnancy complications and miscarriages. |
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Higher incidence of premature delivery. |
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Lower weight at birth; the more the mother smokes, the less
the fetus weighs at birth. |
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Babies at birth are more excitable, tense, require more handling
to rest calmly, more stressed, show increased behavioural problems
due to nicotine withdrawal symptoms. |
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Increased need to visit cardiologist, eye doctor, dermatologist
(periodontist), gastroenterologist. |
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Increased incidence in children of attention deficit disorder,
lower IQ, common colds, asthma, heart problems. |
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Respiratory problems (smokers 4X more likely to die of tuberculosis;
smoking is an important cause of death from tuberculosis). |
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| Costs of smoking |
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Tobacco accounted for 61.2% (12.4 billion dollars) of costs
to society of all drug abuse (alcohol, 22%; marihuana and other
illegal drugs, 17%). |
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An estimated 53.4-72.7 billion dollars was spent for medical
costs related to smoking, representing 6.5-11.8% of the total
personal health expenditures
in the United States in 1993. |
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Each cigarette smoked costs the smoker 8 minutes of her/his
life. |
