Why is Smoking Bad?

Thirty percent of men and 19 percent of women around the world smoke. One hundred thousand children under the age of 15 start smoking every day. One of every ten deaths around the world is caused by a smoking-related disease. With statistics like this, it's hard to imagine why smoking continues to be so widespread.

There are over 4,000 chemicals in a single cigarette, some of which are highly poisonous. Examples include naphthalene, which is used in moth repellent; acetone, the main component of nail polish remover; butane, a constituent of lighter fluid; and formaldehyde, used in embalming. Cigarettes also contain nicotine, a highly addictive stimulant that causes physical and psychological dependency.

The two most serious health effects of smoking are cancer and emphysema. Smoking has been linked to 11 forms of cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, mouth, pancreas, bladder, and kidney. According to recent studies, smokers are 26 times more likely to die of lung cancer than non-smokers. Emphysema is a chronic disease that destroys parts of the lungs and results in shortness of breath, hyperventilation, and asthma-like attacks.

Another common health effect of smoking is coronary artery disease. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the heart, increases blood clotting and blood pressure, and decreases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol. Women taking oral contraceptives should not smoke, as the risk for stroke increases almost four times.

Other possible side effects of smoking include cataracts, reduced fertility, a higher risk of stroke, peptic ulcers, and back pain. Pregnant women who smoke are at risk for miscarriages, premature labor, and ectopic pregnancy. Babies born to mothers who smoke have a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and behavioral problems later in life.

Smoking has some unpleasant cosmetic effects too. Smokers often suffer from bad breath, yellowing teeth and nails, and early wrinkles around the mouth. Smoking causes changes in the coloring and texture of the skin, often resulting in an ashy complexion. A smoker is also three times more likely to lose teeth than a non-smoker.

Passive smoking, also known as second-hand smoke, can be just as deadly, especially for children, pregnant women, and non-smoking adults.

Discuss this Article

smoking is optional and smokers know the risks and stuff so all those people who go around warning people about the risks of smoking can just shut up.

- anon53161

Cigars and cigarettes are bad for you. Smoking will kill you. If smokers read this, stop and think what you would lose. That will happen. What are you thinking, smokers?

- anon52720

what is wrong with people? smoking is very bad for you. it will kill u sooner or later. i don't get what the big deal about it is. stop smoking and save your life. You're putting death's ark in your mouth and you're breathing death down your throat.

- anon52379

smoking is bad i think.

- anon50433

when you smoke, you may as well think this little thought in your head: Now downloading cancer! Because that's what you are doing to yourself!

- anon49543

i think smoking is super. and it calms me down. by the time my generation grows old, wel'l all get and die of cancer. tragic but true. and if my family sees my last dying breath, at least they were there.

- anon47494

So as all (non)/smokers know, its bad to do. not all know exactly why we do it? how ever sitting at home playing video games all day, or eating at mcdonalds 4 times a week, and drinking booze, and using hair spray and drinking out of plastic bottles are all bad for you. millions upon millions still do daily? i think its because all the above have such subtle and long term effects one doesnt feel affected by the synptoms until its too late, like you have lung cancer or you weigh 300 pounds. if people died days after smoking obviously no one would, but the thought of " oh i'll just smoke a little, or oh i'll just eat here a couple times a week comes and goes and before you know it you smoke a pack a day and are eating out everyday! and still you tell yourself, well at least i dont smoke 2 packs a day or at least i dont weigh 500 pounds! when chemicals are added into cigarettes to make you addicted the question as to why people smoke should never be asked!!and how can such a product be sold in stores? Population control? app. the equivalent of a small city dies every year! that stat was from the early 90's! and i imagine its more now, imagine how many smokers have died young! and imagine how many people would be on the earth if they hadnt? its a bad way to think of it but thats just one way the world's populations is kept as low as is... but why do people leave their cars running? and eat out till they are 500 pounds and drink out of water bottles? those are worse choices which effect you and others in different yet harmful ways and are aslo a lot easier to not do than smoking.

- anon36739

What diseases we will take if we smoke?

- anon33015

To anon10471

1. Cigars are generally puffed, not inhaled (very few people, even regular smokers of cigarettes inhale cigars) . This does not mean that there are no ill effects, but mouth cancer, not lung cancer would be the higher risk.

2. Also cigars are less habit forming than cigarettes. While possible, you are far less likely to form an addiction. Also, studies show that while any smoking carries some risk, one or two cigars a day only adds a small amount of risk for cancer (it increases a lot after that mark).

To anon28631

3. A whole 12 years old. Maybe someone should make a distinction between tobacco and standard cigarettes. formaldehyde, butane, ammonia are in most cigs, but as additives. They are not in tobacco naturally. In fact there are about 600 such additives. Nat Shermans and American Spirits, for example, do not have additives. This does not mean there is no risk, but it is misleading to list chemicals which are additives and say blanketly that cigs contain them. Some do, not all.

- anon31864

Smoking is very bad, not only do you get cancer but every time you inhale smoke from a cigarette, small amounts of these chemicals get into your blood through your lungs. They travel to all the parts of your body and cause harm; which isn't very nice and yes smoking a cigarette is very bad for you.

So my advice to you is to stop and not to start if you are thinking to. You don't want your family and friends to see you smoking one day and the other day breathing your last breath before you die!

Good luck. Make the right choice. Your life is in your hands.

from a secondary school student (aged 12)

- anon28631

and this is why people who despise the legalization of marijuana are 100% hypocrites. Not only is it proven safer than cigs, but FAR safer than alcohol as well. That's a fact, 10 more years I would say and it will be legal in all 50 states

- anon22332

smoking to me is like you are killing yourself, but you also know that you're killing yourself so why do it.

- anon14751

ya smoking a cigar is the same as a cigarette.

- anon10471

does it clog your heart?

- anon10086

Is smoking a cigar bad for you?

- anon7130

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