Causes and Effects of Smoking - Term Paper Example

Causes and Effects Smoking Smoking is one of the most serious public problem causing about a million deaths in the United States every year. Cigarette companies normally manipulate nicotine, an addictive substance in cigarettes, to ensure their clients become addicted to smoking. This chemical quickly enters the blood stream and within 30 seconds, it reaches the brain. The brain responds by releasing special chemicals that bring the feelings of pleasure and energy. However, such feelings fade away within an hour leaving the smoker depressed and tired making the smoker to look for more to smoke. Smoking, therefore, has several negative effects as discussed below. When one decides to quit smoking, the craving for nicotine results to withdrawal symptoms, which include short temper, aggression, anger and negative feelings. Apart from nicotine, cigarettes also contain carbon (II) Oxide that increases the risk of developing heart disease. Tar is also a component in cigarette associated with different types of cancer. It is also associated with damage to the lining of the lungs (Soneji, Samir, et al. 2204). Smoking not only affects the smoker but also anyone nearby. Although most countries have designated areas for smoking, most smokers do not smoke in these smoking zones. They carelessly smoke in public places affecting many people and exposing them to the danger of smoking. The human body is made up of several cells, which form and die continuously in a controlled way. However, some chemicals can easily interfere with the process of cell division causing the development of cancer. The different cancer names originate depending on where in the body they start. For example, lung cancer starts from the lung and spreads. Cancer normally leaves its initial location and spreads in the body through a process called metastasis. When the body becomes unable to cope up with the cancer growth, the smoker dies. As it grows and spreads through a person’s body, it increasingly becomes painful, particularly if it spreads to the bones (Zale and Joseph, 296). It weakens the bones resulting to fractures. This condition is called osteoporosis. Weakness, coma, paralysis and death might occur when cancer spreads to the brain. Smoking accounts for at least a third of cancer related deaths in the US. Smoking causes the following type of cancers: Lung cancer Cancer of larynx, or breathing tube Cancer of the esophagus, or feeding tube Cancer of the mouth and oral cavity Smoking has increasing been associated with cancer of the pancreas, kidney, bladder and the cervix. The major cause of lung cancer deaths in men and women is due to cigarette smoking. Toxic gases inhaled during smoking destroy the smooth and delicate lung lining that aids in breathing (exchange of oxygen and carbon (IV) Oxide). Smoke makes the lining to be thick, black, and scarred hindering the breathing process (lung function). Smoking damages cilia-very tiny hairs covering the lining of the lung and breathing tube meant to sieve dust, bugs and other harmful substances breathed in. That results to continuous lung infections or pneumonia making breathing a difficult process (Hennessy et al., 725). Some of the lung diseases caused by smoking include Bronchitis, Bronchiectasis, Emphysema, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Reactive airway disease. The above lung infections make condition such as asthma worse. The smokers become vulnerable and sometimes they cannot do without extra supply of oxygen at all times. That increases the dependency ratio and the smokers cannot be involved in physical activities that can make them stay in good shape. Besides, smoking has a negative effect on blood vessels as it makes them narrow and sometimes blocks them. Cholesterol triggered by smoking deposits in the blood vessels. It also makes blood to clot inside the blood vessels. Consequently, the blood vessels become narrow a process called thrombosis. As more and more of cholesterol deposit and thrombosis increases, the smoker risks getting heart attacks and irregular heart rate (Zale and Joseph, 297). The result is death and disability. The smoking effect on heart is worse if the smoker has family history; previous heart problems; or elevated cholesterol. Chances of strokes developing increase in case the blood vessels of the brain are affected causing sensation and motor skills. The ability to be independent, understanding and speech is caused by strokes. Clotting of blood in the pelvis or legs veins causes “deep vein thrombosis." When these blood clots dislodge, and travel to the lungs, the smoker dies instantly. Women of age 30 years and above are more likely to exhibit the above symptoms particularly if they are under birth control pills. The blood clots and deposits of cholesterol normally have negative effect on small blood vessels of the skin causing wrinkles making one appear older than their age. It also causes the joints to fall apart as it speeds and worsen joint degeneration resulting to severe leg and back pain hence disabling the smokers (Hennessy et al., 727). Compromising blood flow to arms and legs alerts the need for vascular operations, which most cases are unsuccessful. The only solution could be amputation of a leg. Smoking causes heartburns more often and severely. Smokers are at high chances of getting ulcers and the healing process becomes much slower compared to non-smokers. Smoking is a threat to the functioning of the liver. Liver cannot process the medication taken by smokers at the same rate of non-smokers. It worsens liver cirrhosis. Smoking causes autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s disease that is a disease of the intestine and rheumatoid arthritis. Crohn’s disease causes severe inflammation diarrhea and stools bleeding Smoking weakens the immune system making the bodies of the smokers vulnerable to diseases and as a result, they are most likely to get respiratory infections (Zale and Joseph, 297). The periodic flare-ups of signs are because of smoking. The adult-onset diabetes (type 2 diabetes is known to be caused by smoking and the risk of getting this type of diabetes increases with the more cigarettes smoked). Smoke related health hazards affect both men and women. Even so, some are gender specific. As the world advances with emergence of new discoveries, there has been increased use of birth control pills among women. However, such pills increase the chances of these women-getting strokes. Narrowing of blood vessels as well as thrombosis increases by continuous use of these pills. Cervical cancer that has risen in the recent past is killing more women every day. Women who smoke put themselves at a high risk of infection by this type of cancer, which normally affects the cervix of the female’s uterus. Smoking, therefore, facilitates the growth and development of cervical cancer among women smokers than non-women smokers. During childbirth, it becomes difficult for women smokers to conceive a child compared to their counterparts who do not smoke. Women who smoke and are pregnant, risk having a stillborn, premature or underweight babies (Stadtlander 15). Smoking, therefore, affects the growth and the development of the unborn and the born child. The conditions for growth in this case are not conducive (Harrell and Laura 290). As already indicated above, there are additional smoke related problems associated with men specifically. Deposits of cholesterol and blood clots in the men’s blood vessels result to impotence and erection problems. An erection is sufficient when one has healthy blood vessels that are able to supply enough blood to the penis. When blood vessels are blocked, flow of blood to the penis decreases making erection weak or even nonexistent. Smoking decreases sperm counts and could easily lead to infertility (impotence). Children are vulnerable and oblivious of the looming danger of smoke. Unfortunately, children exposed to smoke regularly are innocent victims. The unborn children of women smokers have a high probability of suffering from behavioral disorders. From past studies, it is evident that daughters of smoking mothers are most likely to smoke once they grow up than daughters of their counterparts who are non-smokers. Children exposed to smoke are on the higher side of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). These children’s survival is minimal. Bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and asthma are some of the deadly diseases that children exposed to smoke are on high risk of suffering from than children not exposed to smoke (Hennessy et al., 725). Smokers booked for surgery have additional complications during the operation under normal anesthesia. Such is the reason why surgeons request their patients to stop smoking at least two weeks before their surgery is undertaken. After a successful operation is complete, such smokers tend to get pneumonia than the non-smokers are. That is because smoking increases their chances of getting other infections and the healing process takes quite long. Those who undergo surgery to fuse bones normally take time to heal. Although smoking has several negative effects, cigarette, cigar and pipe generate much revenue to most economies through taxes and employment. The negative effects, however, overshadows this. Based on the above findings, smoking is an addiction and recent studies try to make research on the biochemical reasons behind addiction. It is never late to quit smoking and to prevent smoking do not start. Adults should not encourage children to smoke. There is a need to support smokers who are trying to quit and expose them to programs that help them kick the habit of smoking away. Works Cited Harrell, Paul T., and Laura M. Juliano. "A Direct Test of the Influence of Nicotine Response Expectancies on the Subjective and Cognitive Effects of Smoking." Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology 20.4 (2012): 278-286. Hennessy et al. The Effect of Household Smoking Bans on Household Smoking. American Journal of Public Health 2014, 104(4): 721-727. Soneji, Samir, et al. "Who Is Most Susceptible To Movie Smoking Effects? Exploring the Impacts of Race and Socio-Economic Status." Addiction 107.12 (2012): 2201-2209. Stadtlander, Lee. "The Effects of Air Pollutants during Pregnancy." International Journal of Childbirth Education 28.4 (2013): 14-18. Zale, Emily L., and Joseph W. Ditre. "Associations between Chronic Pain Status, Attempts to Quit Smoking, And Use of Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation." Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 28.1 (2014): 294-299. Read More