Smoking and its effects on lungs
Cigarette and products similar to it have tobacco in it which has negative health effects.
Tobacco smoke has more than 70 cancer-causing chemicals.
Tobacco has nicotine which is highly addictive that causes physical and psychological dependency.
Tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally.
How does just one puff of cigarette affect your body?
According to a report from the office of the U.S. Surgeon General, "How tobacco smoke causes disease," following are the effects of one puff of tobacco:
Immediate effects:
Cough, irritated nose lining and oesophagus
Good mouth bacteria dies
Discoloured teeth, gums, lips
Effects after 20 minutes:
increase in pulse and blood pressure
Serotonin and other feel-good chemicals cause mood swings, hunger
Mucus coats lungs for protection
Effects between 8-48 hours:
Nicotine and carbon monoxide leaves your system
Mucus in the lungs begins to drain
Impeded blood circulation, sense of smell, taste and probably hearing
Ability to do normal activities and exercise can also be impeded
Effects of smoking on the lungs:
Due to smoking the number of cells producing mucus increases leading to an increased amount of mucus. The lungs cannot effectively clean/ flush out the excess mucus. The mucus stays in the airways, clogs them and makes you cough. The increased amount of mucus also makes your lungs prone to infection.
Smoking accelerates the ageing of your lings and hinders their natural defence mechanism which otherwise protects you against infection.
Smoking destroys your lungs and its tissues decreasing the number of air spaces and blood vessels in the lungs due to which less oxygen is transported to critical parts of your body.
Lungs are lined with hair like structure called cilia which clean the lungs. Even after smoking just one cigarette the action of your cilia can slow down for hours. Smoking also decreases the number of cilia in your lungs due to which your lungs cannot be cleaned properly.
Smoking increases the chances of changing of pre-cancer tissue to cancerous tissue that can lead to lung cancer. 85% of lung cancer cases are due to smoking.
Smoking is the major cause of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This disease blocks the flow of air into and out of the lungs. 83% of deaths caused by COPD is due to smoking.
Since smoking decreases the capacity of lungs to fight infection, it increases the chances of you catching pneumonia and flu.
Smoking significantly increases the chances of asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Effects of smoking on other body parts
The nicotine in the cigarette is highly addictive and its withdrawal can impair your cognitive functioning making your feel anxious, irritated and depressed.
Smoking affects your cardiovascular system by narrowing blood vessel which restricts blood flow eventually causing peripheral artery disease.
Smoking raises blood pressure, increases chances of blood clots raising the risk of you having a stroke, heart attack and other heart diseases.
Smoking increases the chances of you having skin, mouth, throat, larynx, oesophagus and pancreatic cancer.
Smoking can make you resistant from insulin which can develop into type-2 diabetes.
Smoking affects the fertility of both men and women.
Smoking can trigger hair loss, balding and greying of hair.
Smoking increases the chances of fungal infections in nail and several oral health problems.
How can quitting smoking benefit your health?
A rapid decrease in breathing-related problems. Can ease your breathing within 72 hours.
Remarkable decrease in cough, mucus, shortness of breath and wheezing within a month
Growth in cilia within one to nine months
Increase in capacity of lungs to handle mucus and to self clean and to fight infections.
A decrease in symptoms of asthma
50% less risk of pneumonia within 5 years.
Better response to the flu vaccine.
Quit smoking
Due to the addictive nature of tobacco, it is difficult to quit smoking. You can take the help of a doctor who will help you to quit. Along with the help of a doctor, you can also get help from therapy, rehab centre and support groups to be more motivated. Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-lasting positive effects on your body. If you quit smoking not only you but also your family who might be passively smoking because of you, will have positive health effects.
