Smoking began to lose its cool as more people diagnosed with lung cancer died. After years of court battles with the tobacco companies, individuals began to win their lawsuits, and the ravages cigarette smoking caused came to light. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the lives lost per year as a result of smoking amounts to more than 5.1 million years.
Smoking Causes Lung Damage
Emphysema, asthma and bronchitis comprise the umbrella diagnosis of "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" (COPD). As reported by the Mayo Clinic, COPD affects the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange in the lungs. Sufferers are unable to blow off the carbon dioxide, making the lungs feel as though they are filled with cotton.
Smoking Raises Blood Pressure
When a person has his blood pressure taken before and after smoking a cigarette, a 20-point rise in systolic pressure is about the average result. Years of smoking could cause a permanent rise in blood pressure, making life-long hypertensive medication necessary.
Smoking Raises Heart Rate
The heart rate also rises after smoking a cigarette. Any rise in heart rate means the heart is working harder to perfuse the body. Working harder as the result of exercise strengthens the heart muscle through increased oxygen. Smoking contributes to plaque in the arteries and depletes oxygen.
Smoking Yellows Teeth
Look on the shelves of your local drugstore, and you will find products to reduce the yellow stains on teeth from years of smoking. Depending on the number of years spent smoking, teeth may begin to rot as well.
Smoking Causes Addiction to Tobacco
Withdrawal from cigarette smoking results in strong cravings, headaches and irritability. Fortunately many products available over-the-counter or through a doctor's prescription, ease an addict's symptoms by reducing nicotine dependency over time.
Smoking is a Cause of Lung Cancer
After years of fighting with the tobacco companies, the U.S. Surgeon General finally won an important battle. Packs of cigarettes must contain a warning about the dangers of cigarettes, including the possibility of developing lung cancer.
Smoking Endangers the Lives of Others
The Mayo Clinic warns about the dangers of second-hand smoke for non-smokers, including asthma and cancer risks.
Toxic Chemicals
The American Cancer Society states cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemicals; 60 of which cause cancer.
Smoking Causes the Leading Preventable Death in America
The CDC reports that smoking causes the number one preventable death in the United States, and one in five people will die annually from cigarette smoking. According to the experts at the CDC, this is an easy death to prevent--don't smoke and it will not be an issue.
Smoking is Expensive
The most popular brand of cigarettes costs more than $5 per pack. Multiply a one pack per day habit times seven, and then times weeks in a year and the result is more than $1,800. Multiple that figure by the years spent smoking. Imagine what could have been done with that money.
