What is a cigarette?
A cigarette is a thin piece of paper that has been rolled around a narrow cylinder of burnable material, usually tobacco, for smoking. The cigarette is lit at one end, which causes it to smolder; the smoke that results is then inhaled orally through the other end. The most popular way to consume tobacco is through cigarettes.
You likely already know that smoking can kill you; in fact, the habit kills 50% of smokers who don't give up. But are you truly aware of the entire situation? Do you know the number of harmful chemicals found in cigarettes or how they get there?
Why do cigarettes contain so many chemicals?
Many substances, including cadmium and lead, are absorbed by the tobacco plant from the soil it is grown in. As tobacco leaves dry, additional substances known as tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) form. To enhance flavor and nicotine absorption, still more chemicals are added while making cigarettes.
Cigarettes contain about 600 different ingredients. Cigarettes emit more than 7,000 chemicals when they are burned. At least 69 of these substances have been linked to cancer, and many of them are toxic. Many of these chemicals are also present in consumer goods, but they carry warning labels, like the packaging for rat poison. While the danger of the toxins in these products is made known to the public, there is no similar warning for the toxins in tobacco smoke. Anyone who breathes air contaminated with cigarette smoke runs the risk of becoming sick. You are exposed to these substances when you smoke cigarettes. Cigarettes are carcinogenic in nature. Anything that can start or worsen cancer is considered a carcinogen. There are about 70 chemicals in cigarettes that have been linked to cancer. These consist of Nicotine, formaldehyde, Tobacco-specific nitrosamines, Cumene, Nickel (a metallic element), Beryllium (a toxic metal), Cadmium (a toxic metal), Polonium-210 (a radioactive chemical element), 1,3–Butadiene (a hazardous gas), etc. Nicotine, the major addictive substance in cigarettes is the poison used in pesticides.
What happens when you smoke?
Within seconds of inhaling nicotine, it reaches the brain. Nicotine increases the release of neurotransmitters, brain chemicals that help control mood and behavior. One of these neurotransmitters, dopamine, is released in the brain's reward center and results in feelings of pleasure and a lifted mood. You need more nicotine to feel good the more you smoke. Nicotine quickly ingrains itself into your routine and influences your habits and emotions.
It is well known that not everyone puffs on their cigarettes in the same way. The delivery of smoke constituents to the smoker is significantly influenced by differences in smoking habits, including puff volume, number of puffs, and whether the ventilation holes are blocked. Each cigarette is consumed differently by each smoker depending on the time of day, their level of stress, and how long it has been since their last nicotine fix. Depending on the specific events taking place at the time, the smoker will alter the number of puffs taken, the depth of the puff, and the degree to which ventilation holes are blocked. In addition to emphysema and chronic bronchitis, smoking also increases the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung conditions, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking also raises the risk of developing tuberculosis, some eye conditions, and immune system issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Lastly, Smoking also endangers the health of those nearby. Compared to people who don't live with a smoker, nonsmoking spouses and partners of smokers have a higher risk of heart disease and lung cancer. Children who have smoking parents are more likely to experience colds, ear infections, and worsening asthma. No matter how long you've smoked, giving it up can be good for your health. You can overcome your dependence on nicotine, though it isn't simple. There are numerous treatments that work. Ask your doctor for assistance.
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