There are 599 approved additives, including 69 known carcinogens, used in cigarettes. These additives weren't tested for burning, which changes their chemical make-up; however, they are approved as food additives. Smoking cigarettes is known to cause many health problems and complications which lead to approximately 20 percent of deaths in the United States, notes the American Lung Association in Washington.
Types
Smoking tobacco can cause a variety of complications. Numerous types of cancer, including lung, pancreatic, esophageal and mouth cancer, are all related to smoking. Heart disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, erectile dysfunction, cataracts and stroke are other complications of smoking.
Causes
The complications of tobacco smoking are caused mainly by the chemicals in cigarettes and chemicals produced as the cigarette burns. As you smoke the cigarette, you inhale a variety of toxins that gets into the lungs, blood stream and organs. These toxins damage the areas they reach. Some of the toxins inhaled include arsenic, which is a component of rat poison; hydrogen cyanide, which is one of the gasses used for the gas chamber; cadmium, which is used in batteries; and carbon monoxide, a deadly component of car exhaust.
Warnings
Smoking doesn't affect only the person who is smoking. If a pregnant woman smokes, her baby may be premature or have health complications. Babies who are exposed to someone who smokes are more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome. Anyone exposed to secondhand smoke is at an increased risk of heart disease, lung cancer and other smoking-related illnesses.
Prevention
Quitting smoking and staying away from smoke-filled areas can help to reduce the risks of smoking complications. Participating in a smoking cessation program or quitting cold turkey can help you to reduce your risks. Some states, including Michigan, California and New York, have smoke-free laws in place to help protect the public. It is not enough to simply sit in the non-smoking area at a restaurant because the smoke may still affect you, notes the World Health Organization.
References
- American Lung Association in Washington: Facts About Cigarette Smoking
- Tri-County Cessation Center: Cigarette Ingredients
- Center for Young Women's Health: Information About Smoking
- Tobacco.org: A Few of Our Losses
- World Health Organization: 10 Facts on Second-Hand Smoke
- National Cancer Institute: Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting
