Author Login | Popular Articles | RSS Feeds | Sitemap

Home | Health


The Health Risks of Cigarette Smoking - Part I

By: Adam Waxler

Copyright 2006 Adam Waxler

Many people take risks in life. In fact, some of the wealthiest people in the world will tell you they would have never gotten anywhere if they did not take any risks. However, while some risks are worth the chance some simply are not. The health risks of cigarette smoking is one of those risks because the end result of smoking cigarettes is almost always the same.

So what are the harmful effects of cigarette smoking?

There are many harmful chemicals in cigarettes that can be broken down into four main components: irritants, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens. When considering the health risks of cigarettes smoking, it is important to look at each of these four components.

1. Irritants
An average cigarette contains irritants like ammonia, formaldehyde and oxides. Such irritants usually cause the respiratory tract to swell.

2. Carcinogen
There are roughly 40 kinds of chemicals in cigarettes that are considered carcinogenic, meaning cancer promoting.

Lung cancer is usually related to cigarette smoking because the respiratory system of a smoker is more vulnerable. The mortality rate of lung cancer cases is very high and found to be dependent on the number of cigarette consumed.

3. Carbon Monoxide
The carbon monoxide component of a cigarette harms the circulatory system. This disables the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to the heart.

4. Nicotine
Nicotine is the major component of the cigarette and it also poses a notorious threat to the body. Nicotine causes the act of smoking to be highly addicting. Nicotine in the body system could also result in an increased heart rate and high blood pressure.

The four harmful components of the cigarette mentioned above all contribute to the negative effects cigarette smoking has on the human body. The immediate effects of cigarette smoking may be manifested by coughing, burning of the nose and throat or dizziness. There is also the tendency of increasing the health risks of a person already suffering from illnesses like high blood pressure and diabetes.

While there are claims that cigarette smoking may not directly cause the increase in high blood pressure, cigarette smoking does increase the risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack. Most doctors agree that cigarette smoking results in the body being susceptible to cardiovascular or heart diseases.

Peripheral vascular disease is also widespread among cigarette smokers. This pertains to the disease affecting the lower limbs of the person. This is due to the atherosclerosis or the narrowing of the arteries in the blood vessels of the limb. The narrowing is caused by the building up of plaque.

Studies also show that cigarette smoking is particularly risky to the female body. A woman cigarette smoker may have a more difficult time getting pregnant as a consequence of cigarette smoking. A pregnant woman who smokes cigarettes will definitely harm the baby inside her womb. Studies reveal that cigarette smoking actually increases the probability for the incidence of having a low birth weight, stillbirths, and sudden infant death syndrome. The mother also is in danger as cigarette smoking will increase the risk of having a high blood pressure or suffering a stroke.

Another health risk to cigarette smoking is passive smoking from secondhand smoke.

Passive smoking is the involuntary exposure to cigarette smoke. In this case, even a non-smoker’s health is put at risk. Breathing in fumes from another person’s cigarette (secondhand smoke) may cause the same adverse effects as it does to an ordinary smoker.

Recent studies show that those exposed to secondhand smoke, children and adults alike, have a higher risk of developing lung and other respiratory problems. Children who are constantly exposed to secondhand smoke are susceptible to colds, ear infections and breathing problems.

There are risks in life that are worth taking. However, one must recognize those risks that may cost one his or her life and clearly, one life-threatening risk includes cigarette smoking.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Adam Waxler publishes a series of health related information products including his new "Stop Smoking" resource filled with with FREE articles and tips on how to Stop Smoking @ http://www.1-800-stop-smoking.com/quit-smoking

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
| Print | Ezine Ready | |

Please Rate this Article

Recent Health Articles

  • Coping With Attention Deficit Disorder By: Jona - Attention Deficit Disorder is often misdiagnosed in children and sometimes in adults. In recent years Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD has been found in more children and adults because it is finally being recognized in the medical community by more teachers and surrounding adults. ADD used to be considered a childhood disorder that would fade with adulthood;
    Tags: health, attention deficit disorder, add
  • Understanding The Healing Power of Acupuncture By: Jona - Oriental therapeutic devices like acupuncture have long been in practice in the east. With the advent of globalization and heightened disorders amongst populations all over the world, western science is making space for eastern curative measures as they are often proving to be effective enough to be tried regularly.
    Tags: health, acupuncture
  • It Is Because Of This That You Should Get Rid Of Your Adult Acne By: Ryan Liao Guodong - Even a kid knows that the only way to put an end for acne problem is to cure it! So am I stupid to keep emphasizing this once again? Allow me to explain, the real reason why I wrote this is simply because any acne sufferer must take action in order to clear away their acne.
    Tags: health, cure acne, acne joke, acne sufferer, acne problem
  • Fighting Intense Back Pain By: Chris Courtney - A lot of people all over the world have experience with back pain, but all of you back pain sufferers out there should realize that fortunately, there are some unbelieveable options available when it comes to dealing with your pain and getting back to return to your best condition once again, living a pain-free life.
    Tags: health, lower back pain, upper back pain
  • Does your relationship lack intimacy? By: Dr. Jennifer B. Baxt, DMFT, NCC, DCC - Of all the reasons or causes for couples to divorce and go their separate ways, a lack of intimacy is one of the most common causes of the breakdown of a marriage. Some couples are able to salvage their marriage because they do genuinely care for each other, but other couples are not so lucky.
    Tags: health, help, depression, anxiety, online counseling
  • Using Aromatherapy Oil To Create The Desired Effect By: Jona - The sources of aromatherapy oil are usually bark, wood, seeds, roots, flowers and leaves of plants. These plants are off course plants that are known for their amazing healing capacities. These oils when added to usage in different processes satisfy the body and mind and soothe both. What are the common ways in which this oil is used?
    Tags: health, aromatherapy oil, aromatherapy oils, aromatherapy essential oil
  • Can taking Vitamin B5 Cure My Acne By: Suzanne Jones - There is no doubt that some vitamins & minerals can help to reduce acne, although it's unlikely that any are going to enable you to ‘cure’ adult acne completely! Vitamin A can help your battle against acne, and zinc also appears to have a very positive effect on acne prone skin.
    Tags: health
  • The difficulties of fat loss revealed by the professionals. Learn how to keep the weight off. By: William Thompson - Look Better Naked! Everybody wants to lose weight, whether its 10 pounds or 100, we all want to look good for ourselves or our partners. The problem with dieting is we don’t stick with it, sure it’s hard and when we don’t see the results overnight we quit and secretly curse those models on all the magazine covers.
    Tags: health, fat loss, lose weight, diets, obesity
  • Estilos de Yoga mas Recomendados By: E. Garcia - La imagen del Yoga ha cambiado durante los últimos diez años. Para entonces, la primera impresión que aparecía en tu mente era de un grupo de bohemios vistiendo telas blancas parados de cabeza y respirando profundo. Hoy en día probablemente te imagines el cuerpo bien muscular de Madona.
    Tags: health, yoga, yoga ashtanga, power yoga, yoga bikram
  • Employing Yoga method for Pain Relief By: Sam Onom - A number of positive things have been mention on the benefits practicing Yoga. Many people believe that Yoga is especially good for the body and mind.
    Tags: health, yoga, health, alternative health

Today's Hot Articles

Comments

Search Ebay

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Add to Google
ArticleSnatch Authors:
Member Login Sign Up Submit Articles Learn More Submission Guidelines Top Authors
For Publishers:
Most Popular Articles Ezine Notifications Article RSS Feeds Terms of Service
For Everyone:
Blog About Us Link to Us Contact Us New Stuff Link Directory Privacy Policy Sitemap Resources
Our Sites:
Free Magazines Book Your Hotel Stay Free MySpace Tools Massive Video Collection MJE Sales, LLC Blog MyWorldPlus Discounts Freedom Rocks MJE Sales, LLC
Stay and Watch a Video:
Click here to submit your free, permanent ads to TheFreeAdForum.com!

Submit Your link to the Open Link Directory Project

Copyright 2005-2008 MJE Sales, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Proud member of the ArticleCkr Search Network Search Network!
ArticleSnatch.com is free for both publishers and authors to use and is supported entirely from advertising revenue.
Use of our service is protected by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.