Cigarette smoke affects nearly every organ in the body, increasing the risk of several types of infections and illnesses that often lead to death. The American Lung Association reports that in 2008, about 46 million adults in the United States were smokers, opening themselves up to countless health hazards and increased risk of premature morbidity.
Function of Addiction
The precursor to all smoking health hazards is the hook that keeps smokers coming back for more. The American Lung Association identifies nicotine as the chemical ingredient upon which smokers become dependent. Nicotine is a stimulant that provides the "rush" smokers report feeling when smoking cigarettes. But beyond the chemical addiction lies a social and lifestyle dependence as well. Smokers often intermingle cigarettes with other activities, such as a morning cup of coffee or social drinking of alcohol, making it difficult to partake in those actions without lighting up.
Effect on Organs
The smoke from cigarettes carries a toxic chemical coating known as tar into the body, covering bronchi and lungs with what amounts to poison, according to the American Lung Association. Hydrogen cyanide in cigarette smoke inflames the bronchi, often leading to coughing fits. Over time, tar and smoke stunts the ability of lungs to cleanse themselves, increasing the risk of breathing diseases such as emphysema.
Smoking also attacks heart health, spiking blood pressure and making the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body. Chemicals in cigarette smoke inhibit oxygen in the blood, causing stress on the heart. All of these factors put smokers at increased risk for heart attacks or heart disease.
In the body's digestive system, cigarette smoking increases stomach acids, inducing heartburn and ulcers, according to Quit Smoking.com.
Cost in Lives and Dollars
Perhaps the most serious health hazard posed by smoking is cancer of the lungs and other organs. QuitSmoking.com reports that 40 percent of men who smoke heavily face death before reaching retirement. That fatality rate for non-smokers is less than half that percentage.
In fact, The American Lung Association concludes smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths, killing more than 393,000 U.S. citizens annually. Smoking cost the nation an estimated $193 billion in 2004, including lost productivity direct health care costs, according to the association.
Diminishing the Hazards
The health hazards of smoking almost immediately begin to diminish after kicking the habit. Within 20 minutes after the extinguishing the last cigarette, an ex-smoker's heart rate and blood pressure recede to normal levels, according to the American Cancer Society. After 12 hours, toxic levels of carbon monoxide leave the body. And within three months, blood and oxygen circulation improve with an increase in breathing capacity. Withing nine months, healthy cilia within the lungs begin cleaning the lungs of excess mucus, reducing the likelihood of infection.
Methods of Quitting
The addictive hold of nicotine often means ex-smokers required several attempts before successfully smoking their last cigarettes, the American Lung Association reports. The association contends that using counseling or medication as stop-smoking aids increases the chance of successful quitting.
The association recognizes several stop-smoking aids that contributed to successful quitting, including the over-the-counter options of nicotine patches, which deliver gradually lower doses of nicotine through the skin and into the blood stream over time, and nicotine gum, which provides gradually lowering levels of nicotine through mouth tissues. Several prescription aids also have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
References
- QuitSmoking.com: How Smoking Affects Your Body
- When Smokers Quit; American Cancer Society, 2003
- American Lung Association
