Chapter I

Introduction

One of the most popular habits in today's society is smoking.

According to Mc Ginni (1993) “ each year, cigarette smoking kills more

Americans than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, homicides, suicides, illegal

drugs and fires combined.” Smoking is an extremely bad pastime,

practiced for centuries, for an individual's health and others surrounding

him/her. People start smoking for many different reasons and get

addicted to the nicotine. Smoking cause many fatal diseases, but help is

available to those who seek it. Cigarette smoking is a disgusting and

unhealthy habit.

There are always seems to be a group of smokers in public places,

causing non-smokers to cough and feel horrible. Most non-smokers

speculate that they could become ill from the smoke as they’re exposed

to by smokers. These nonsmokers also question what gives smokers the

right to expose them to possible illnesses.

Majority of the tobacco users are the younger generation partly

because of the environment that surrounds them. Although, warnings

and preventions are already in place, smokers seem not bothered by the

health risk that cigarettes can give. Tobacco companies are gaining

millions because the people patronized cigarettes and just ignore the

diseases that could affect them. The Philippines enacted into law called

Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act, but unfortunately it

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only remains on paper. Its implementation becomes so slow and flexible.

Goldberg (2003) says, “Tobacco use is one of the major preventable

causes of premature death and disease in the world. A disproportionate

share of the global tobacco burden falls on developing countries, where

an estimated 84% of the world's 1.3 billion current smokers live.”

The act of smoking is responsible for killing many addicted to it

and their loved ones. Every time an addict puffs away on a cigarette or

any tobacco product they are subjecting themselves to all of the harmful

chemicals that are found in these products. This paper will focus on the

diseases and disadvantages of cigarette smoking.

This paper is divided into five chapters: Chapter 1 is the

Introduction, Chapter 2 discusses the Contents of a Cigarette Stick,

Chapter 3 explains the Three Major Disease Caused by Smoking , and

Chapter 4 the Summary and Conclusions.

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 Chapter II
Content of a Cigarette Stick

“The ingredients of tobacco smoke are chemically active. They can

start dramatic and fatal changes in the body. There are over 4,000

chemicals, which can be damaging to the smoker's health. They include

tar, carbon monoxide, nicotine, lead, ammonia.” (Martin, 2004)

Ammonia

Ammonia is mainly used in the production of fertilizers, explosives

and polymers. It also finds wide application in organic chemistryas a

synthetic reagent. It is considered to be carcinogenic even in very small

concentration and an exposure on it for longer durations is also

considered a long term hazard to human health. (www.quit-smoking-

stop.com)

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide and methanol are reacted together using a

homogenous rhodium catalyst to form acetic acid. May cause nausea

and vomiting, inhalation can be very dangerous and fatal. (www.quit-

smoking-stop.com)

Lead

Lead can damage nervous connections and cause blood and brain

disorders. Long term exposure to lead or its salts can cause

nephropathy. (www.quit-smoking-stop.com)

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Nicotine

Nicotine is an organic chemical found naturally in the tobacco

plant, with a high concentration in itsleaves. It is used as a nerve poison

and hence used in many insecticides. Those who use nicotine experience

an increase in the heart rate and blood pressure and reduces ones

appetite. When consumed in large doses it is known to cause vomiting

and nausea. (menshealth.about.com)

Tar

Cigarette tar refers to the toxic chemicalsthat are added during the

production of tobacco cigarettes. Different cigarettes are given ratings

based on the amount of tar they include. Cigarettes with the highest tar

concentration have more than 22 mg of tar in each cigarette, while low-

tar cigarettes have less than 7 mg in each. Tar can be found in a brown

solid form at the end of a smoked cigarette. Cigarette tar can show

immediate health effects in terms of a smoker's appearance. The tar in

cigarettes can stain smokers' teeth and turn them yellow and brown. In

addition, cigarette tar can stain anything it touches,including a smoker's

hands and clothing. Filters in tobacco cigarettes are intended to keep tar

from exiting, but toxins still make it through and can leave a brown-

yellow film behind. The tar in tobacco cigarettes is a major cause of

lung cancer, emphysema and bronchitis. The toxins from the tar can

damage lung cells that keep tumors from forming. Cigarette tar also
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damages cilia in the lungs, which protect the lining of the lungs. In

addition to the discoloring of teeth, tar can cause periodontitis, a gum

disease that can result in the loss of teeth. (menshealth.about.com)

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 Chapter III

Three Major Diseases Caused by Cigarette Smoking

There are several harmful health effects caused by cigarette

smoking. A person addicted to smoking may suffer from a number of

serious and fatal diseases caused by smoking. Smokers are more likely

to face respiratory infections and several minor complaints such as

coughs and colds. According to Bartlett (1994), “smokers may suffer from

some dreadful diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, lung

disease.”

Cancer

Miller (1999) says, “Smokers are at a higher risk of getting cancer.

Carcinogen present in tobacco smoke causes cancer of lungs, mouth,

throat and gullet. About 90% of lung cancer cases are because of

smoking. Smokers can also develop other types of cancers such as

bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, cancer of kidneys and esophagus

cancer. Female smokers are at a greater risk of cervical cancer. If you

smoke, the risk of contracting mouth cancer is four times higher than for

a non-smoker.” Cancer can start in many areas of the mouth, with the

most common being on or underneath the tongue, or on the lips.

The more cigarettes you smoke in a day, and the longer you've

smoked, the higher your risk of lung cancer. Similarly, the risk rises the

deeper you inhale and the earlier in life you started smoking.
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 Miller also adds, for ex-smokers, it takes approximately 15 years

before the risk of lung cancer drops to the same as that of a non-smoker.

Cardiovascular Diseases

Warner says that, “cardiovascular diseases are the diseases of

heart, blood vessels of the heart and blood vessels including arteries and

veins. It is a major cause of death due to smoking. Nicotine present in

tobacco increases the cholesterol levels in the blood. Cholesterol and

other fats get deposited in the arteries, which causes hardening of

arteries. The arteries become narrow, rigid or blocked. Due to

atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries), blood clots are formed, which

increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Common cardiovascular

diseases found in smokers are coronary thrombosis, cerebral

thrombosis, coronary heart diseases, blockage in the legs (peripheral

vascular disease) and cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke.”

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

It is a group of health conditions, which blocks airflow and causes

difficulty in breathing. It causes health problems such as emphysema

and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is breathlessness that is caused by

damage to alveoli (air sacs). Chronic bronchitis causes frequent coughing

with a lot of mucus. Smoking is responsible for about 80% of COPD

cases. Smoking increases the rate of decline in lung function three times

the usual rate. Breathlessness starts due to decrease in lung function.

(Isselacher, 1994)

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 Isselacher adds that, “in smokers, the rate of decline in lung

function can be three times the usual rate. As lung function declines,

breathlessness begins”.

As the condition progresses, severe breathing problems can require

hospital care. The final stage leads to death due to slow and progressive

breathlessness.

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 Chapter IV
Other Conditions Caused by Smoking

The chemicals present in tobacco damage the lining of the blood

vessels and affect the levels of fats in the bloodstream. It increases the

risk of atheroma, which is the main cause of heart disease, stroke and

aneurysms.

The following effects of smoking are enumerated in

www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au.

• Smoking affects your oral health. It can stain your teeth and

gums. Smoking can give rise to various health problems of

gums and teeth, such as swollen gums, loose teeth and bad

breath.

• Smoking causes acid taste in the mouth. It can increase the

risk of developing mouth ulcers.

• Smoking can cause early aging. Due to smoking, the blood

supply to the skin is reduced. There is decrease in the levels

of vitamin A. Hence, smokers have paler skin and more

wrinkles.

• Heavy smoking causes macular degeneration, which results

in gradual loss of eyesight. Smokers are at a higher risk for

cataract.

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 • Some other conditions caused by smoking are chest

infections, diabetic retinopathy, tuberculosis, multiple

sclerosis and Crohn’s disease.

Effects of Smoking during Pregnancy (www.knowledgebase-script.com)

Smoking causes very serious effects during pregnancy, both on

pregnant woman and baby. A pregnant woman who frequently smokes is

at a higher risk for miscarriage, certain pregnancy complications such as

bleeding, detachment of placenta, ectopic pregnancy and premature

birth. There is a possibility of low birth weight baby or stillbirth. There

may be some congenital defects in the baby such as cleft palate.

Smoking and Impotence (www.knowledgebase-script.com)

For men in their 30s and 40s, smoking increases the risk of

erectile dysfunction by about 50 per cent. Erection can't occur unless

blood can flow freely into the penis, so these blood vessels have to be in

good condition.

Smoking can damage the blood vessels and cause them to

degenerate: nicotine narrows the arteries that lead to the penis, reducing

blood flow and the pressure of blood in the penis.

This narrowing effect increases over time, so if you haven't got

problems now, things could change later. Erection problems in smokers

may be an early warning signal that cigarettes are already damaging

other areas of the body - such as the blood vessels that supply the heart.

Chapter 5
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 Conclusion

There are no physical reasons to start smoking. The body doesn't

need tobacco the way it needs food, water, sleep, and exercise. In fact,

many of the chemicals in cigarettes, like nicotine and cyanide, are

actually poisons that kill in high enough doses.

The body is a smart mechanism. It goes on the defense when it's

being poisoned. For this reason, many people find it hard to get started

smoking. First-time smokers often feel pain or burning in the throat and

lungs, while some people feel sick or even throw up the first few times

they try tobacco.

Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, lung

problems, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by 10 years or

more; and this habit can cost a smoker thousands of pesos a year.

Smoking is a habit hard to break because tobacco contains

nicotine, which is highly addictive. Like heroin or other addictive drugs,

the body and mind quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes

that a person needs to have it just to feel normal.

Smoking badly affects the health of a smoker and of those who

come in contact with cigarette smoke. The only way to prevent these

health hazards is to quit smoking. It’s never too late to stop smoking.

This could protect you and family from many fatal diseases. Staying

smoke free will lead you to a wholesome life. It will give one lot more of

everything, more energy, and better performance, better looks, and more

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money in pocket. But above all, it will also give one a better life that can

be used in serving God and fellowmen.

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Prevention, “Medical-care expenditures attributable to cigarette
smoking,” United States, 1993, MMWR. 1994:44:469-472.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Smoking-attributable

mortality and years of potential life lost—United States, 1984,”
Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1997;46:444-51.

Goldberg IJ, “To smoke or not to smoke?” New England Journal of

Medicine, 348;163, January 9, 2003.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/tobacco/smoking.html

http://www.knowledgebase-script.com/demo/article-222.html

http://www.quit-smoking-stop.com/harmful-chemicals-in-
cigarettes.html

http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-9-disadvantage

Isselacher KJ, Braunwald E, et al, editors. Harrison’s Principles of

Internal Medicine – 13th edition (CDROM version). (New York,
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McGinni JM, Foege WH. “Actual causes of death in the United States,”
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Miller VP, Ernst C, Collin F. “Smoking-attributable medical care cost in

the USA,”Soc Sci Med. 1999;48:375-91.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Service. “Effects of tobacco on

Health and Body Systems.” National institutes of Health (NIH)
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Warner KE, Hodgson TA, Carrol CE. “Medical costs of smoking in the
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