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Why are Cigarettes Bad?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 46 million American adults or one out of five people were smokers in 2008. Although tobacco use accounts for approximately one in five deaths in the U.S., these fatalities can be prevented

  1. Toxins in Smoke

    • Cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 compounds. Most of these toxic chemicals will cause cell damage and some will lead to cancer. Nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide are the three primary components of cigarette smoke. Although not carcinogenic, nicotine is extremely addictive. Once taken into the body, nicotine only takes 15 seconds before it impacts the brain. An odorless gas, carbon monoxide quickly enters the bloodstream and damages the respiratory system. Tar deposits build up in a smoker's lungs. Other dangerous substances in smoke include: ammonia, arsenic, acetone, cadmium, benzene, methane, butane and formaldehyde.

    Cancer

    • Approximately 30 percent of all cancer-related deaths and nine out of 10 lung cancer deaths are due to cigarette smoking. People who use tobacco also face increased risk of other cancers such as bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach, cervix, mouth, throat, larynx and acute myeloid leukemia.

    Other Conditions

    • In addition to emphysema, smoking can be the uppermost cause of aneurysms, bronchitis, heart disease and stroke. Studies have linked smoking to the impairment of a woman's reproductive system, reducing fertility and elevating the risk of miscarriage

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