Tobacco has been growing naturally in the Americas since 6000 BC, according to tobacco.org, but the Mayas did not begin smoking tobacco until 470 AD. Today, the health effects of smoking tobacco are well known and documented. Nearly every health conscious organization has released warnings on the dangers of tobacco use. Lung cancer caused by smoking tobacco is 100 percent preventable. In several states smoking has been banned in restaurants and bars because of its adverse health effects and because it is becoming increasingly socially unacceptable.
Causes Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. Almost 90 percent of those deaths are attributed to smoking in men; 80 percent in women. Lung cancer caused by smoking is easily preventable by simply abstaining from smoking tobacco. Carcinogens in cigarette smoke are mostly to blame for lung cancer. According to the Surgeon General of the United States, there are several other cancers caused by smoking. They include cancer of the kidney, bladder, stomach and pancreas. The dangers of lung cancer are widely known and most countries place warnings on tobacco products.
Extremely Addictive
Nicotine, the active ingredient in cigarettes, is an extremely addictive drug. According to the American Heart Association, nicotine is so addictive that it makes users want it more and more, and when users stop, they suffer extreme discomfort and withdrawal symptoms. The AHA has also noted that historically nicotine addiction has been one of the hardest addictions to break. This is one of the main reasons that people cannot quit smoking even though they may understand the risks of smoking. Nicotine also increases heart rate and blood pressure, which puts undue stress on your cardiovascular system. It can take up to two hours for nicotine to dissipate from the body, but up to eight if the user is a heavy smoker.
Cardiovascular Disease
People who smoke are at a higher risk of heart attack than non-smokers, according to the American Heart Association. Smoking is so widespread that the Surgeon General has called it the leading preventable cause of disease in the United States. Smoking also decreases HDL (good) cholesterol, further increasing a smoker's risk for heart attack and stroke. Many countries require warnings about the increased risk of cardiovascular disease to be placed on tobacco products.
