Cigarette Smoke - Article Example

According to Willmann et al (2013 pp 297), the addictive substance in tobacco smoke that makes smokers addicts is nicotine. Addicted smokers will always feel inactive until they smoke enough nicotine. Along with nicotine, smokers also inhale over 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. Most of these chemicals come from burning tobacco leaves. A number of these compounds are chemically active and bring about damaging changes in the body. Tobacco smoke contains about 60 chemicals causing cancer. Smoking causes harm to almost every body organ hence causing most of diseases and generally poor health.

Referring to Cohen (1990 pp 467), the most damaging components of tobacco smoke are:

Tar

It is a term that refers to a mixture of particles that are suspended in tobacco smoke. These particles contain chemicals, as well as cancer-causing substances. Tar is brown and sticky poisoning stains on fingernails, teeth, and lung tissue.

Carbon monoxide

This gas is deadly if consumed in large amounts because it replaces oxygen in the red blood cell. Red blood cell contains hemoglobin that transports oxygen molecules from the lungs to other parts of the body. On the other hand, hemoglobin has a higher affinity to carbon monoxide as compared to oxygen. This shows that less oxygen reaches the brain, muscles, heart, and other organs

Hydrogen cyanide

The lungs have tiny hairs that help in moving foreign substances out. Hydrogen cyanide prevents this lung clearance system from functioning properly hence poisonous chemicals in tobacco smoke can pile up inside the lungs. Other chemicals in cigarette smoke that harm the lungs include nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons, organic acids, oxidizing agents, and phenols.

Free radicals

These are extremely reactive chemicals that can destroy the blood vessels and the heart muscles. They react with the cholesterol, therefore, leading to the build-up of fatty material on the walls of the artery. Their effects lead to stroke, heart disease, and blood vessel disease.

Metals

Tobacco smoke is composed of dangerous metals which include; arsenic, lead, and cadmium.

Radioactive compounds

Most of the radioactive compounds contained in tobacco are known to be carcinogenic.

Smoking is harmful to your health from the very first cigarette. This is because some of the chemicals contained in the smoke have an instant effect on the body. Carbon monoxide from the smoke is taken into the blood instead of oxygen. This leads to the body cells getting less oxygen for the respiration process and as a result, being unable to breathe when having some exercise. This is mainly damaging during pregnancy as it will starve the developing baby of oxygen.

A healthy respiratory system is cleansed continuously. The respiratory tubule produced mucus that traps disease-causing organisms and dirt which cilia move toward the mouth, where it is eliminated. Smoking really damages this housekeeping. The very first smoking slows the beating of the cilia. After some time, the cilia become paralyzed and then disappear. The loss of cilia leads to coughing. The cilia are not in a position to remove mucus, so the person has to cough it up (Kent, 1998 pp 157).

Cigarette smoke contains different chemicals and is acidic. Due to this, it can cause irritation of the bronchi and bronchioles lining. The lining becomes swollen and inflamed and can also become infected. Each time a person smokes another cigarette the irritation increases. This can last for months or even years causing chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath. This condition is known as chronic bronchitis.