Conversations about the dangers of smoking have already snapped, but the situation as a whole is powerless to change. The nicotine industry continues to flourish, the average age of novice smokers in Russia is already 8 years. And the saddest thing is that such data is taken for granted, they do not surprise anyone. For those who do not like to read texts beyond a few lines, if we talk briefly about the dangers of smoking, we can say that this is a slow suicide.
A bit of history
Almost until the end of the 15th century, Europe was a non-smoker. People simply did not know what tobacco was. Everything changed in 1493, when the ship Nina returned from Columbus’s second expedition to America and moored in the Portuguese port. On board was a special herb from the province of Tabago, which was brought for smoking, hence the name tobacco.
The grass quickly gained recognition throughout Europe and began to be considered a medicine. She removed the headache and toothache, aching in the bones. And after it turned out that tobacco gives an exciting effect, it became already in demand as a product of smoking. The French ambassador Jean Nico managed to isolate the active substance from the grass, which later received the name of its discoverer - nicotine.
They talked about the dangers of smoking when the first cases of smoke poisoning and the complications of various diseases, primarily pulmonary, appeared. The governments of several countries, including Russia, entered the fight against smoking. Severe penalties were applied, including the death penalty.
In Russia, smoking was legalized in 1697 during the reign of Peter I, despite the desperate struggle of its predecessors.
Smoke composition
To find out the extent of the harm of smoking to the human body, you need to look at the content of tobacco smoke. And there is something to think about: it contains about 4,200 different substances that enter into chemical compounds. Of these, 200 pose a serious danger to humans, including tobacco tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide.
Also, tobacco smoke contains about 60 powerful carcinogens: dibenzopyrene, chrysene, benzopyrene, dibenzopyrene, benzanthracene and others. The content of nitrosamines is particularly detrimental to the brain. In addition, there are radioactive isotopes such as lead, potassium, bismuth, polonium. And of course, there are many poisons, among which one can distinguish the well-known: cyanide, hydrocyanic acid, arsenic.
Analysis of tobacco smoke showed a high concentration of toxicity, therefore, harmfulness to the human body. No wonder the people used tobacco for the treatment of gardens from pests.
The harm of smoking
Smoking has an extremely negative effect on the human body. Its main danger lies in the fact that it stimulates the development of serious diseases with a fatal outcome. Perhaps there is not a single organ in the body that would not be affected by tobacco smoke. And there is no such filter that would be able to protect against harmful influence. The organs that take the blow to neutralize nicotine are the liver, lungs, and kidneys of a person. But they are not able to prevent the consequences of the harm done.
Effect on the body:
- Respiratory system. Harmful substances in tobacco smoke irritate the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and lead to inflammation of the larynx and lungs.
- Gastrointestinal tract. During smoking, the vessels of the stomach narrow, and the secretion of gastric juice increases, which often causes the smokers to lack appetite. All this leads to a risk of developing various pathologies, gastritis, ulcer, pancreatitis.
- The cardiovascular system of a smoker also has impaired function. Toxic substances destroy blood vessels, which affects the work of the heart muscle. The heart contracts more often, due to which the entire cardiovascular system comes to wear out quickly.
- The central nervous system is in a state of enduring tension due to exposure to nicotine. Due to vasospasm, blood flow to it is significantly reduced, and the oxygen content is reduced. Therefore, smokers have poor memory and reduced mental performance.
The harm of smoking is difficult to exaggerate, everything is under attack. Doctors have studied that in most cases, smoking triggers the mechanism of cancer, and also seriously affects the human reproductive system. General health also suffers, and immunity decreases.
Socio-psychological reasons
Experts, studying the addiction to smoking, identified a number of reasons that prompt a person to take up a cigarette for the first time. The statistics of the survey showed that in most cases it was curious to know what others already know. And for some it was an opportunity to join the team: nothing brings you closer than a joint smoking room.
A few main reasons why people take a cigarette:
- pressure from the side;
- stress relief;
- image;
- weight loss;
- self-affirmation;
- family-wide habit;
- lack of awareness.
Despite clear evidence of the dangers of smoking, smoking cigarettes continue to replenish regularly. And although the sensations of the first cigarette are far from pleasurable, people for various reasons continue to reach for the next until they get used to it.
Addiction
Nicotine, which is part of tobacco smoke, is the main cause of dependence on cigarettes. Being the strongest poison of plant origin, it is easily absorbed into the mucous membranes of the body and enters the blood. When tightened, the amount of nicotine entering the blood increases significantly.
A poisonous substance, while in the blood of a smoker, begins to actively participate in the metabolism. Constant absorption of nicotine in small doses is addictive. And in the future, when its concentration in the body decreases, the nervous system gives a signal about the delivery of the next dose.
Severe facts, statistics, promotion of a healthy lifestyle and all the discussions about the dangers of smoking hardly cope with the favorite addiction of mankind. And increasingly, the issue of tobacco control measures began to be raised at the legislative level.
Female smoking
There was a time when a lady with a cigarette was perceived as something indecent and licentious. Tobacco manufacturers, having seen in women the enormous potential of the market, through well-planned advertising companies were able to radically change public opinion. Today, smoking women do not surprise anyone. But not everyone knows that the female body is more susceptible to the negative effects of cigarettes than the male.
What is the harm of smoking for a woman?
- The risk of cervical cancer and vulvar cancer.
- The development of osteoporosis. Due to the toxins of tobacco smoke, estrogen production is significantly reduced, resulting in bone fragility.
- The risk of a heart attack increases. Smoking contraceptives are an incompatible mixture that affects the heart.
- Menstrual cycle failure.
- Inability to conceive and bear a healthy child. The study found that 42% of women smokers are infertile and up to 90% of miscarriages are caused by smoking.
- Premature aging.
Such indicators seriously alarm medical workers. There can be no talk of a healthy nation if in Russia a third of women hold on to a cigarette.
Involuntary smokers
In deciding to persecute himself with nicotine, the smoker unwittingly signs this and his non-smoking environment. And above all, of course, homeworkers suffer. Researchers on the issue of secondhand smoke conclude that it is much more dangerous than active. Exhaled cigarette smoke contains 1.5 times more toxic substances than inhaled puff.
Tobacco smoke is particularly dangerous for children's health. Toddlers of passive smokers have weak immunity and are 11 times more likely to be infectious. The percentage growth of asthmatic children from smoking families is observed. The relationship between childhood cancer and inhalation of tobacco smoke has also been established.
Scientists have proven the dangers of smoking on passive smokers, and this has prompted several states to establish restrictions on smoking in public places.
The harm of alcohol and tobacco to the health of a teenager
Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes have become a passing ticket in companies of the younger generation. And they do not care what consequences this will turn into in the future. Targeted advertising and the film industry contributed well to the younger age of the smoker, creating the image of invincible tough guys and coveted sexy virgins. And even if a teenager takes the right position in relation to bad habits, then under the pressure of peers quickly changes his mind.
The harm of smoking and alcohol to a fragile organism is so widespread that isolating something separate will not be entirely true. Everything collapses. The body receives a tremendous load from all infused and inhaled by a teenager. Its defenses are disoriented under the conditions created: they need to either narrow the vessels from the received dose of alcohol or expand after nicotine. What causes a malfunction in the work of a heart pumping blood poisoned by alcohol and nicotine. There is oxygen starvation, from which the capacity of all organs is reduced.
The inability of adolescents to assess the potential harm of alcohol and smoking leads to reckoning in the form of serious illnesses.
Defeating a bad habit
In most cases, for an addicted person to quit smoking, strong motivation and reasons are required. And usually their own health signals do a good job of this. What else can motivate the way the symptoms of a serious illness? Although some of this does not stop.
Narcologists give the following recommendations:
- gradually reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day;
- eliminate from life objects related to smoking (ashtrays, lighters, backup packs);
- Avoid the places where you always smoked (smoking room at work, special spots, flights of stairs);
- refusal of alcohol as a faithful companion of cigarettes;
- increase physical activity;
- to have mint sweets in your pocket, chewing gum in case the temptation is too great.
WHO warns
A report by the World Health Organization reports that smoking remains the leading cause of death on the planet: more than 6 million people die every year. Dr. Roy Herbst, who works in the field of cancer research, in his speech on the dangers of smoking, noted the main danger to humans: cell mutation occurs in the body, which subsequently leads to cancer and other serious diseases.
Nearly one and a half billion people are dependent on tobacco. And the numbers keep growing. At the same time, the majority of smokers live in middle and low income countries. Russia is among the five most smoking countries and is confidently leading in teenage smoking.
According to WHO forecasts, if appropriate measures are not taken, then in the XXI century, humanity will lose more than a billion people only because of the harm of smoking.
Interesting facts about smoking
Dry statistics rarely affect the psyche of a smoker. However, these interesting facts may lead you to quit addiction:
- For a year, a smoker passes through his respiratory tract 81 kg of tar tar, which is partially retained in the lungs.
- The toxicity of tobacco smoke is almost 4 times greater than the toxicity of car exhaust.
- A person with many years of experience as a smoker loses the ability to clearly perceive colors.
- If you stay in the same room all day with a smoker, then a non-smoker receives a portion of tobacco smoke equal to 7-8 cigarettes.
- The harm of second-hand smoke is only 30% less than active.
- There are twice as many smokers in Russia than in the USA and Europe.
- It turned out that 70% of smokers can leave cigarettes if they want, they do not have a true dependence on tobacco.