A Summary of the Health Effects of Smoking
Where do I start? The effects of smoking are numerous and mostly undesirable. So much so that I would be unable to describe them all here. Besides the health implications of smoking on the smoker, the smoker's family and friends are also forced to suffer. This is not just limited to the disguisting smell that characterisies every smoker (and everyone within breathing distance of them), but also the consequent affect on their health. For this reason smoking has gone from being something that most people do to becoming increasingly socially unacceptable. If you are a smoker, its time to stop. Here's some of the reasons why:
Smoking causes a loss of smell, bad breath, yellow teeth, dulled taste buds and coughing.
Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals, of which at least 43 are known carcingenic (cause cancer). When you consider that in addition to this, tar from the cigarettes costs the lungs in a black sticky soot, it is not surprising that lung cancer results. In fact, male smokers are ten times more likely to die from lung cancer than non-smokers. Smoking is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths from heart disease. This along with lung cancer often then cause smokers to suffer symtoms such as Chronic Bronchitis, strokes, circulatory diseases and other cancers.
The combination of Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide cause a temporary increase in the smokers heart rate and blood pressure, placing a strain on the heart and blood vessels. This can result in heart attacks and strokes. It also slows the blood flow, cutting the supply of oxygen to feet and hands. Some smokers have to have limbs amputated
Smoking
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