The Dangers of Cigarette Smoking

Smoking is a real threat to health and life of a person. A young man smoked 10 packs of cigarette a day. At an early age, he was diagnosed of lung cancer. A well-known musician lady, had a lung cancer at the age of 40. A pregnant woman could not control her smoking, she had a premature baby and she lost her after a couple of days in ICU. Famous and ordinary people are victims of this kind of addiction and many lives have lost because of it.

Why is it that cigarette smoking is so dangerous? There are about 4000 substances produced when a cigarette burns, and most of these substances are harmful. Among these substances are acetaldehyde, acetone, ammonia, benzene, carbon monoxide, hydrocyanic acid, hydrogen cyanide, methyl alcohol, nicotine, nitrogen-dioxide, phenol, pyridine, and many more poisonous substances. A cigarette smoke is 10% water, 60% made of poisonous substances, and 30% of tars. One poisonous substance is the nicotine, an addictive drug just like the illegal drugs heroin and cocaine, once it is in the body, the heart beats faster, the blood pressure rises, and the skin temperature drops, Another substance is the carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas that is found in polluted air. Tars damage the entire respiratory system and the most dangerous part of the cigarette smoke.

Cigarette smoking develops lung diseases such as bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancers. Other cancers- bladder, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, and larynx. About one-third of cancer deaths are caused by smoking. It damages the respiratory and circulatory system. In addition, heavy smokers may acquire some forms of heart disease.

Non-smokers may also be affected. These non-smokers are called passive-smokers. The passive-smokers are the ones who breathe the cigarette smoke from the smoker. This may cause irritants on eyes, nose, throat. They may get lung illnesses too.

Cigarette smoking is a real danger. Millions of people all over the world are cigarette smokers. People must be aware of these harmful effects to health, to life, and even to environment.