Health Hazards due to Smoking

‘Health is the Wealth of Man’. Health is the biggest asset man owns, but he doesn’t realize it till it is lost. Cigarette can kill man, may not be immediately but slowly over a couple of days. Nicotine affects many parts of the body and renders them useless. Hence Quitting cigarettes is important.

Firstly, tobacco affects oral cavity. The enamel gets worse, oral mucosa gets irritated; salivary glands become less functional and thus reduce the protectoral function of the saliva also increasing bad breath. The chances of lip cancer are increased. Once the smoke reaches the bronchus, it causes breathlessness, hyper secretion of protective mucous in the bronchus. The mucous in the bronchus cleans the incoming air, and protects the pulmonary tissue from pathological microorganisms. But the super fluidity of the mucous doesn’t improve the cleaning process. Instead the body loses the protection offered by this substance.

Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen supplied to the body. The amount of fresh air in the body is reduced. Carbon monoxide supplied by tobacco is taken up by the blood and thus reduces the amount of oxygen available. This causes hypooxygenemia, which harms all important organs, especially the cardiovascular system.

Smoking also increases blood pressure. This causes an extra load on the heart and the person develops risks of getting heart attack.

Cigarette causes the increased secretion of stomach juice, but reduces appetite. This creates stomach ulcers and gastritis.

The cancer causing agents in tobacco smoke damage the genes controlling the growth of cells, which causes multiplication of cells and leads to their rapid increase.

Is smoking worth so many problems?