Nearly 46 million Americans smoke cigarettes, according to the 2008 report of the U.S. Office on Smoking and Health, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Office reports that approximately 1,000 people under the age of 18 become addicted to smoking each day, along with more than 1,800 adults joining the ranks of daily smokers. The CDC reports that "cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death."
Wrinkles
Richard D. Hurt, M.D., Director of the Nicotine Dependence Center at the Mayo Clinic, notes that smoking "can speed up the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles." Hurt claims that the longer a person's smoking history, the more wrinkles appear on the face and inner arms. Their cause, according to Hurt, rests in the nicotine content that narrows blood vessels in the upper layers of the skin. Narrowed blood vessels allow lower blood flow, and less oxygen and vitamin A reach the skin. Other chemicals in cigarettes contribute to the loss of skin elasticity and resultant sagging.
Cancer
The National Cancer Institute states that "smoking harms nearly every organ of the body." A direct link between smoking and cancer of the tongue, throat, tonsils, esophagus, larynx, bladder, stomach, cervix, kidney, pancreas, mouth and lungs is supported by the Mayo Clinic, the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society. The National Cancer Institute also notes that smoking can cause acute myeloid leukemia.
Lung Disease
Smoking causes breathing diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic airway obstruction. These diseases damage the airways and the small air sacs in the lungs, according to the CDC. The number of cigarettes smoked each day and the amount of time spent smoking usually determine the severity of the diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic, but the American Cancer Society notes that smoking even one cigarette each day "can lead to serious health outcomes."
Secondhand Smoke Risks
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that cigarette smoke contains over 50 chemicals proven to cause cancer. While some suggest smoking is a victimless crime and the only person harmed is the smoker, the CDC reports that secondhand smoke is linked to nearly 50,000 deaths each year of family members and co-workers of smokers. At the greatest risk are young children with immature immune systems. The U.S. Surgeon General's Office notes that secondhand smoke is linked to asthma attacks, sudden infant death syndrome, and an increased risk of heart attack and heart disease.
Expense
While smoking is normally thought of in terms of cost to the smoker, societal harm from smoking is significant. More than 5 million deaths each year are related to tobacco use, according to the CDC, and trends estimated by the CDC forecast that 8 million lives will be lost annually by the year 2030. Smokers die approximately 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers due to tobacco-related diseases, depriving family and society of earned income. The CDC reported in 2004 that health care expenditures due to smoking totaled $193 billion, with secondhand smoke damage adding nearly $10 billion in health costs. These dollar figures incorporate health care expenditures and lost productivity.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Smoking & Tobacco Use: Fast Facts
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Office of the Surgeon General; Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke
- Mayo Clinic: Is it true that smoking causes wrinkles?
- Mayo Clinic: Lung Cancer: Definition
- National Cancer Institute: Quitting Smoking: Why To Quit and How To Get Help
