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Negatives of Smoking Tobacco

Regardless of the frequency of us or type of tobacco smoked, smoking tobacco is harmful to your health. According to the American Cancer Society, 87 percent of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Even smoking just one cigarette a day increases you chances of cancer and heart disease. Tthe health hazards related to smoking extend far beyond the obvious risk of lung cancer.

  1. Cardiovascular Problems

    • The chemicals in tobacco damage red blood cells, making it more difficult for them to carry oxygen to your heart and brain. Over time, the lack of healthy blood cells causes a buildup of arterial plaque, which can block blood flow between your heart and other areas of the body. As you smoke, more red blood cells become damaged, straining the circulatory system and ultimately leading to a heart attack or coronary disease.

    Cancer

    • Cigarette smoking is responsible for nearly 30 percent of all cancer-related deaths in the United States, according to the American Cancer Institute. Smoking tobacco contains over 60 chemicals scientifically proven to cause cancer. These cancer causing chemicals, also known as carcinogens, distort and inhibit proper cell renewal, leading to several different types of cancer. The cancers most closely linked to smoking tobacco include lung, cervical, oral, laryngeal, esophageal, bladder, kidney, breast, colon and pancreatic cancers.

    Respiratory Diseases

    • Perhaps the most obvious health hazard of smoking is the respiratory conditions caused by inhaling carcinogen-laced tobacco into your lungs. Chronic bronchitis is the chronic inflammation of the lung lining. When you inhale tobacco, the cells that line your lungs become irritated and produce mucus. The mucus and subsequent coughing is your body's way of attempting to expel the foreign irritant of tobacco smoke.

      Emphysema is another respiratory disease directly related to smoking. The smoke slowly burns the smallest air passages in your lungs, the bronchioles, limiting your oxygen and blood supply. The effects of emphysema include shortness of breath, fatigue and a tightening in the chest.

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