Conversations about the dangers of smoking have already set the teeth on edge, but the situation as a whole is powerless to change. The nicotine industry continues to thrive, with the average age of first-time smokers in Russia already 8 years old. 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 non-smoking. People simply did not know what tobacco was. Everything changed in 1493, when the ship "Nina" returned from the second expedition of Columbus 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 of tobacco.
The herb rapidly gained recognition throughout Europe and began to be considered a medicine. She removed the headache and toothache, aching bones. And after it turned out that tobacco gives an exciting effect, it became in demand already as a product of smoking. The French ambassador Jean Nicot managedisolate the active substance from the herb, which later received the name of its discoverer - nicotine.
The dangers of smoking were discussed when the first cases of smoke poisoning and complications of various diseases, primarily pulmonary, appeared. The governments of several countries, including Russia, have entered the fight against smoking. Severe pen alties were applied, including the death pen alty.
In Russia, smoking was legalized in 1697 during the reign of Peter I, despite the desperate struggle of his predecessors.
Composition of tobacco smoke
To find out the extent of the harm of smoking on the human body, you need to look at the content of tobacco smoke. And here is something to think about: it contains about 4200 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, dibenzpyrene, benzanthracene and others. The content of nitrosamines has a particularly detrimental effect on the brain. In addition, there are such radioactive isotopes as lead, potassium, bismuth, polonium. And of course, a lot of poisons, among which we can distinguish the well-known ones: cyanide, hydrocyanic acid, arsenic.
An analysis of tobacco smoke showed a high concentration of toxicity, therefore, harmful to the human body. No wonder the people used tobacco to treat 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 influences. The organs that take the hit on the neutralization of nicotine are the liver, lungs and kidneys of a person. But even they are unable to prevent the consequences of the harm done.
Effect on the body:
- Respiratory system. Harmful substances in tobacco smoke irritate the respiratory mucosa and lead to inflammation of the larynx and lungs.
- Gastrointestinal tract. In the process of smoking, the vessels of the stomach narrow, and the secretion of gastric juice increases, from which smokers often have no appetite. All this leads to the risk of developing various pathologies, gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis.
- The cardiovascular system of a smoker also has an impaired function. Toxic substances destroy blood vessels, which affects the work of the heart muscle. The heart beats faster, causing the entire cardiovascular system to wear out quickly.
- The central nervous system is in a state of constant tension due to the effects of nicotine. Due to vasospasm, blood flow to it is significantly reduced, and the oxygen content is lowered. Therefore, people who smoke have poor memory and reduced mentalperformance.
The harm of smoking is hard to exaggerate, everything is under attack. Doctors have studied that in most cases smoking triggers the mechanism of oncological diseases, and also seriously affects the human reproductive system. General well-being also suffers, immunity decreases.
Socio-psychological reasons
Experts, studying addiction to smoking, have identified a number of reasons that prompt a person to take up a cigarette for the first time. Survey statistics showed that in most cases curiosity to know what others already know played. And for some, it was an opportunity to join the team: nothing brings people together like a joint smoking room.
Some of the main reasons why people take up a cigarette:
- pressure from outside;
- stress relief;
- image;
- weight loss;
- self-affirmation;
- family habit;
- lack of awareness.
Despite clear evidence of the harm of smoking, the ranks of cigarette smokers continue to grow regularly. And while the sensations of the first cigarette are far from satisfying, people, for various reasons, continue to reach for the next cigarette until addiction sets in.
Formation of Addiction
Nicotine, which is part of tobacco smoke, is the main cause of cigarette addiction. Being the strongest poison of plant origin, it is easily absorbed into the mucous membranes of the body and enters the bloodstream. When tighteningthe amount of nicotine entering the bloodstream increases significantly.
A poisonous substance, being in the blood of a smoker, begins to actively participate in the metabolic process. The constant absorption of nicotine in small doses is addictive. And in the future, when its concentration in the body decreases, the nervous system already gives a signal to deliver the next dose.
Hard facts, statistics, promotion of a he althy lifestyle and all the talk about the dangers of smoking can hardly cope with humanity's favorite addiction. And increasingly, the issue of anti-tobacco 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, seeing in women a huge market opportunity, through well-planned advertising campaigns, managed to radically change public opinion. Today, women who smoke 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?
- Risk of cervical and vulvar cancer.
- The development of osteoporosis. Due to the toxins in tobacco smoke, estrogen production is greatly reduced, leading to brittle bones.
- Increased risk of heart attack. Smoking contraceptives are an incompatible mixture that affects the heart.
- Failure of the menstrual cycle.
- Inability to conceive andbear a he althy child. The study found that 42% of women who smoke are infertile and up to 90% of miscarriages are caused by smoking.
- Premature aging.
Such indicators are seriously alarming medical workers. A he althy nation is out of the question if a third of women in Russia hold on to a cigarette.
Unwilling smokers
When making the decision to poison themselves with nicotine, the smoker unwittingly subscribes to this and his non-smoking environment. And first of all, of course, the family suffers. Researchers on the issue of passive smoking come to the conclusion that it is much more dangerous than active smoking. Exhaled cigarette smoke contains 1.5 times more toxic substances than an inhaled puff.
Tobacco smoke is especially dangerous for children's he alth. Babies of passive smokers have weak immunity and are 11 times more likely to get infectious diseases. There is a percentage increase in children with asthma from smoking families. A relationship has also been established between childhood cancers and inhalation of tobacco smoke.
The harm of smoking on the body of passive smokers has been proven by scientists, and this has prompted a number of states to establish restrictions on smoking in public places.
The harm of alcohol and tobacco smoking on the he alth of a teenager
Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes have become a pass ticket in the companies of the younger generation. And they don't care what the consequences of this will be in the future. Targeted advertising and the film industrycontributed well to the younger age of the smoker, creating an image of invincible tough guys and desirable sexy maidens. And even if a teenager takes the right stance on bad habits, under peer pressure, he quickly changes his mind.
The harm of smoking and alcohol on a fragile body is so wide-ranging that it would not be entirely true to single out something separate. Everything is destroyed. The body receives a tremendous load from everything infused and inhaled by a teenager. His defenses are disoriented in the conditions created: they need to either constrict blood vessels from the received dose of alcohol or expand after nicotine. What causes a malfunction in the work of the heart, pumping blood poisoned with alcohol and nicotine. Oxygen starvation sets in, from which the capacity of all organs decreases.
Adolescents' inability to appreciate the potential harms of alcohol and smoking leads to a retribution in the form of serious illness.
Breaking a bad habit
In most cases, for an addict to stop smoking, you need the strongest motivation and reasons. And usually signals of their own he alth do a good job of this. What else can motivate like the symptoms of a serious illness? Although that doesn't stop some.
Narcologists give the following recommendations:
- gradually reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day;
- eliminate smoking-related items from life (ashtrays, lighters, backup packs);
- avoid places where you have always smoked (smoking room at work, specialpatches, flights of stairs);
- rejection of alcohol as a faithful companion of cigarettes;
- increase physical activity;
- have mints, gum in your pocket in case the temptation is too great.
WHO warns
A report from the World He alth Organization says that smoking remains the world's leading cause of death, with more than 6 million people dying each year. Dr. Roy Herbst, who works in the field of cancer research, in his speech on the dangers of smoking, noted what the main danger for humans is: cells in the body mutate, which subsequently leads to cancer and other serious diseases.
Almost one and a half billion people are dependent on tobacco. And the numbers continue to grow. At the same time, the main percentage of people who smoke lives in middle- and low-income countries. Russia has entered the top five most smoking countries and is confidently leading in teenage smoking.
According to WHO forecasts, if appropriate measures are not taken, then in the 21st 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 encourage you to give up your addiction:
- For a year, a smoker passes 81 kg of tobacco tar through his respiratory tract, which is partially retained in the lungs.
- Tobacco smoke is nearly 4 times more toxic than car exhaust.
- A person with many years of experience as a smoker loses the ability to perceive colors clearly.
- If you stay in the same room all day with a smoker, then a non-smoker gets a portion of tobacco smoke equal to 7-8 cigarettes.
- The harm of passive smoking is only 30% less than active smoking.
- There are twice as many smokers in Russia as in the US and Europe.
- It was found that 70% of smokers can leave cigarettes if they wish, they do not have a true dependence on tobacco.
