About Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette smoking is the practice of burning and inhaling the smoke from dried tobacco leaves that have been rolled into cigarette form. Reasons people smoke involve personal choice as well as societal pressures. Smoking is habit forming because tobacco contains nicotine, a chemical that is addictive to users. Other users find the habit hard to break because of peer pressure or an addiction to the physical act of smoking.

The Facts

• The word "cigarette" is French for "cigar." A cigarette is dried tobacco leaves and usually other chemicals and additives that are wrapped in a quick-burning paper and rolled up into a cylindrical form. Most cigarettes also contain a filter at the inhalation end of the cigarette. This filter works to separates out many of the tars produced when a cigarette is lit. They also allow for a smoother inhale from the user. The opposite end of the cigarette from the filter is where it is lit, typically with a lighter or a match.

Risk Factors

• Cigarette smoking is a very dangerous habit with proven consequences. Studies have shown that cigarette smoking can lead to cardiovascular diseases that can be life threatening. Cigarette smoking can raise the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, emphysema and several cancers including cancers of the lungs, tongue and larynx. Cigarette smoking and other tobacco uses during pregnancy have also been linked to birth defects and infant illnesses. Cigarette smoking is also associated with blood clots in women who smoke while using certain birth control products.

Effects

• Cigarette smoking effects the heart, lungs and other organs in very damaging ways. It raises heart rate and reduces the body's ability to carry oxygen throughout the bloodstream. Smoking also causes signs of premature aging including wrinkles on the face and body, yellowing of the teeth, bad breath and other cosmetic issues. Manuy studies warn of the dangers of second-hand smoke as well. This is the contamination of the air around smokers that can have dangerous health effects on those in the presence of cigarette smoke, even if they are not smoking directly.

History of

• Smoking is an act that has been in practice for generations. Tobacco is known to have been smoked as far back as 5000 BC in Central and South America. The practice of smoking has been noted in ancient texts by the Mayans and Aztecs. Cigarette smoking was also the focus of a major American revolution in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Significance

• While few religious texts directly condemn the practice of smoking, most religions informally have some sort of stance against it. Cigarette smoking is most often seen in people who have family members with a history of tobacco use, or who have the tendency to give in to societal pressures. Cigarette smoking is also commonly seen in people who admire celebrities in the media because these stars are often shown smoking cigarettes.