About the dangers of smoking on the human body. How many harmful substances are in a cigarette. Smoking coding

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 was able to isolate the active substance from the grass, which later received the name of its discoverer - nicotine.

They started talking about the dangers of smoking 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 penalties were applied, including the death penalty.

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 in the composition of tobacco smoke are 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.

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.

Harm of smoking

Smoking has a very 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 they are not able to prevent the consequences of the harm done.

Effect on the body:

• Respiratory system. Harmful substances in tobacco smoke irritate the mucous respiratory tract 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 also has impaired function. Toxic substances destroy blood vessels, which affects the work of the heart muscle. The heart contracts more often, which causes the entire cardiovascular system to wear out quickly.
• The central nervous system is in a state of perpetual stress 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 mental performance.

It is difficult to exaggerate the harm of smoking, 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 cigarettes are:

• side pressure;
• stress relief;
• image;
• weight loss;
• self-affirmation;
• family habit;
• lack of awareness.

Despite the clear evidence of the harm of smoking, the ranks of cigarette smokers continue to grow regularly. And although the sensations of the first cigarette are far from pleasant, people, for various reasons, continue to reach for the next one until addiction sets in.

Formation of dependence

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 tightening, the amount of nicotine entering the bloodstream increases significantly.

A toxic 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 about the delivery of the next dose.

Harsh facts, statistics, and all the talk about the dangers of smoking 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 body.

What is the harm of smoking for women?

• Risk of cervical and vulvar cancer.
• development of osteoporosis. Because of the toxins in tobacco smoke, estrogen production is greatly reduced, leading to brittle bones.
• The risk of a heart attack increases. Contraceptives with smoking are an incompatible mixture that affects the heart.
• Failure of the menstrual cycle.
• Inability to conceive and bear a healthy child. As a result of the study, it was found that 42% of women who smoke are infertile and up to 90% of miscarriages are provoked by smoking.
• Premature aging.

Such indicators are seriously alarming medical workers. A healthy nation is out of the question if a third of women in Russia hold on to a cigarette.

Involuntary smokers

By making a decision to poison himself with nicotine, the smoker involuntarily signs his non-smoking environment to this. 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 poses a particular danger to children's health. 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 oncological diseases 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 Oh.

Harm of alcohol and tobacco smoking on the health of a teenager

Alcoholic beverages 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 industry have done a good job of helping the younger age of the smoker, creating an image of unbeatable tough guys and desirable sexy maidens. And even if a teenager takes the right position regarding bad habits, then 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 protective forces 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' failure to appreciate the potential harms of alcohol and smoking leads to the retribution of serious illness.

Overcoming a bad habit

In most cases, in order for an addict to quit smoking, strong motivation and reasons are required. And usually signals of their own health do a good job of this. What else can motivate like the symptoms of a serious illness? Although some and this does not stop.

• gradually reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day;
• eliminate items associated with smoking (ashtrays, lighters, reserve packs) from life;
• avoid places where you have always smoked (smoking room at work, special spots, flights of stairs);
• refusal of alcohol as a faithful companion of a cigarette;
• increase physical activity;
• have mints in your pocket, chewing gum in case the temptation is too great.

WHO warns

The report states 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 to humans is: cells mutate in the body, which subsequently leads to cancer and other serious diseases.

Nearly 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 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.

Dry statistics rarely affect the psyche of a smoker. However, these interesting facts may encourage you to give up the addiction:

• For a year, a smoker passes 81 kg of tobacco tar through his respiratory tract, which is partially retained in the lungs.
• The toxicity of tobacco smoke is almost 4 times higher than the toxicity of car exhaust gases.
• A person who has been a smoker for many years loses the ability to perceive colors clearly.
• If you are in the same room all day with a smoker, then a non-smoker receives 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 than in the US and Europe.
• It was found that 70% of smokers, if desired, can leave cigarettes, they do not have a true dependence on tobacco.

Every day on the street we meet at least one smoker. Each of us smokes at least one friend or relative. And this is despite the fact that it is hardly possible to find a person on Earth who would not know about the harm from smoking cigarettes. But the fact is that people only know that cigarette smoke is harmful to health, and abstract knowledge is very easy to ignore. It is much more difficult not to pay attention to concrete facts. That is why we wrote this article, in which we spoke in detail and without unnecessary emotionality about the dangers of smoking for the human body.

Where does the smoker come from?

You can start smoking for a variety of reasons. Someone begins to inhale tobacco smoke for the company, someone - to seem older, someone - out of boredom. The result is the same: a person becomes addicted and becomes a smoker. The fact is that any tobacco products (regular cigarettes, hookah, snus, vape, etc.) contain nicotine, and this is a very fast drug. Therefore, the need for a new dose occurs after a short period of time. And the longer you smoke, the greater this need.

To feel “normal”, a person needs more and more nicotine, which, among other things, is a strong poison. The popular expression about a drop that kills a horse is not far from the truth - in agriculture, the tobacco plant is still used as an excellent insecticide. If tobacco has such a "specific" use, then what is in regular cigarettes?

Composition of cigarette smoke

The primary ingredient in cigarette smoke is nicotine. This substance is often referred to as neurotoxins, due to the fact that it largely affects the nervous system, destroying it. The harm of cigarettes is directed to both the central and peripheral nervous systems. The most important functions of the brain, such as memory and analytical abilities, are subjected to destructive influence.

But the harm caused by smoking is caused not only by nicotine, but also by other substances, of which more than 7000 are contained in cigarette smoke. other). Of course, they are not added out of malice to increase the harm of cigarettes, no. This is done to simplify the technological process, faster binding of nicotine and to increase the comfort of the smoking process itself.

We will not be able to tell about all the chemical compounds contained in the smoke of ordinary cigarettes within the framework of one article, so we will focus on the main ones.

• resins. This term refers to many different substances that have a brown color and a sticky consistency. It is the resin that settles on the lung tissue, teeth turn yellow from it, the skin on the fingers darkens. The composition of the resins contains benzopyrene - a substance that causes cancer (carcinogen).
• Monoxide (monoxide) of carbon. To most of us, this substance, which is lethal in large doses, is known as carbon monoxide. The consequences of its impact on the body are that carbon monoxide, penetrating into the blood, prevents the transfer of oxygen. To transport this vital gas, there are red blood cells containing the protein hemoglobin. But carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin, causing the body to feel a lack of oxygen. Hence the harm of smoking for the human body - at times of physical or mental stress, when one organ requires more oxygen, others are left without it.
• Hydrogen cyanide. Otherwise, this substance is called hydrocyanic acid. It significantly impairs the functioning of the lungs. Our body is able to cleanse itself. For example, in the lungs, there are cilia for this, which displace foreign substances. The harm of hydrogen cyanide contained in cigarettes is a violation of the self-cleaning process, as a result of which numerous substances accumulate inside the lungs that adversely affect human health.
• Oxidizing chemicals. A whole group of substances that enter into chemical reactions very quickly. They easily react with cholesterol, which leads to the formation of so-called cholesterol plaques in the vessels. Thus, the harm caused by smoking is to increase the risk of strokes, heart disease and blood vessels.
• Metals. Cigarette smoke contains a number of metals (in particular, cadmium, lead and arsenic), the ingress of which into the body will definitely not add health.
• radioactive compounds. The most common cigarettes contain real radioactive compounds - for example, the radiotoxic and carcinogenic polonium-210.

This list will already be enough for someone to realize how harmful smoking is for the human body and get rid of nicotine addiction. But in our experience, this is often not enough. Most of the staff at the Allen Carr Center have smoked in the past, so we know exactly what we're talking about. It will be much more effective for making a decision to find out exactly what harm smoking does to the human body.

The harm of cigarettes to the human body in detail

It may seem that cigarettes harm only the respiratory organs, but this is not so. Smoking is harmful to the whole body of both men and women. It harms every organ, causing many diseases both directly and indirectly. For convenience, we have divided the diseases into groups.

What organs are harmed by cigarettes in the first place? Of course, those who encounter poisonous smoke first. In smokers, the enamel of the teeth darkens, a specific smell from the mouth immediately appears, which is especially unpleasant for women. That is why cigarette manufacturers offer ladies flavored series instead of regular ones. But this is only a small harm of smoking. On the human body is much more detrimental effect.

So, smokers often experience gum disease. Possible loss of taste. But the most dangerous is cancer. Smokers develop cancer of the lips, tongue, esophagus, and vocal cords. More than 93% of oropharyngeal cancers occur due to the great harm caused by cigarettes. Quitting smoking is enough to reduce the risks associated with this disease.

If you choose from the whole human body one organ that smoking brings the greatest harm, then it will be the lungs. Coughs, frequent colds and wheezing always accompany every smoker, but all this brings only minor inconveniences that are easy to put up with. It is much more important to understand what diseases can arise from the fact that cigarettes constantly harm the body.

These are pneumonia, emphysema, lung cancer and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The latter is a serious disease in which a person has difficulty breathing, he develops shortness of breath on exertion and a constant cough with sputum. By the way, the most obvious harm of cigarettes, the so-called smoker's cough, is the first sign of COPD.

All these diseases are equally dangerous for both men and women. They cause numerous deaths. According to statistics, 84% of deaths from lung cancer and 83% of deaths from COPD occur in smokers.

The main effect of nicotine on the male and female body is to suppress the cognitive functioning of the brain. It just seems that cigarettes help to concentrate. On the contrary, they cause serious harm. But you also need to know that smoking provokes the occurrence of strokes. The risk of this most serious disease in smokers is 2 times higher than in non-smokers.

This happens for two reasons: cigarette smoking leads to vasoconstriction, and substances contained in cigarette smoke provoke the development of brain aneurysms. This is the name given to an abnormal bulge in weak blood vessels. Its rupture leads to subarachnoid hemorrhage, which can cause serious brain damage, even death. The risk of an aneurysm is the same for both men and women.

But there is also good news. Whatever damage to the brain may result from smoking cigarettes, its effects are reversible. In just 2 years after getting rid of addiction, the risk of stroke will decrease by 2 times, and after 5 years it will become exactly the same as in non-smokers.

The harm of smoking for the human body in this case lies in the fact that carbon monoxide provokes an increased production of red blood cells (which we wrote about above). This, in turn, leads to the formation of blood clots that clog capillaries and even blood vessels, as well as to the fact that every organ of the body receives less oxygen. At the same time, nicotine provokes vasoconstriction and increased heart rate. As a result of the combination of these two actions, blood pressure increases, the risk of strokes and heart attacks increases.

It would seem, what harm from cigarettes can be for the heart, which is not directly exposed to smoke? Meanwhile, it exists and is due to the fact that the heart receives less oxygen. As a result of smoking the most ordinary cigarettes, the risk of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease increases. In addition, harmful carbon monoxide and nicotine provoke an additional load on the heart, wearing it out more.

Simply put, cigarettes are harmful by doubling the risk of a heart attack in smokers. However, do not be afraid. The changes are quite reversible: if you quit smoking, then in just a year the risk will decrease to the usual level.

The harm of cigarettes extends to the entire human body, including the stomach, increasing the risk of cancer and ulcers. Cigarettes also act on the esophageal sphincter, weakening it. This leads to a phenomenon that is equally unpleasant for both men and women. It is called reflux and is when stomach acid enters the throat, causing irritation.

Cigarettes also harm the kidneys, increasing the risk of cancer. According to medical research, people who smoke 10 cigarettes a day are 1.5 times more likely to develop kidney cancer than non-smokers. People who smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day do themselves even more harm - they risk 2 times more.

Not everyone knows that the skin is the largest organ of the human body, and cigarettes also cause severe harm to it. As a result of smoking, the skin is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, which is why it ages faster and acquires a yellowish-gray color. It will also be interesting for women to know what harm cigarettes do to their beauty.

First, a person who smokes looks 10–20 years older. Secondly, wrinkles appear 3 times faster. Thirdly, according to recent studies, smoking provokes cellulite.

However, with all the damage that the skin receives from cigarettes, it recovers quite quickly. We have seen this with our own eyes on the example of people who quit smoking after a course at the Allen Carr Center. In just a few months, they looked much better than when they smoked.

The harm of conventional cigarettes also extends to the bones, more precisely to the periosteum. She suffers mainly from lack of oxygen. As a result, the bones become weak and brittle, increasing the risk of fractures.

In order to more fully tell about exactly what harm cigarettes cause to the human reproductive system, it is necessary to separate information for men and women.

• Harm of cigarettes for men. We have mentioned more than once in this article that smoking leads to vasoconstriction, which directly affects potency. After all, an erection occurs due to a rush of blood to the penis, and if the work of the vessels is disrupted, then the potency also decreases. But the harm of smoking on the human body is not limited to this. It is also important for every man to know that smokers increase the risk of testicular cancer and worsen the quality of sperm, that is, the ability to have children decreases.
• Harm of cigarettes for women. First of all, the ability to conceive a child is reduced. According to a number of medical studies, women who smoke take longer to conceive than non-smokers. Also, the harm caused by smoking to the female body leads to the development of cervical cancer and makes it difficult to treat the human papillomavirus. If you smoke during pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and even stillbirth increases. It is also important for women who smoke to know that the harm of cigarettes leads to a 25% increase in the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

List of diseases caused by smoking

• Coronary artery disease, heart attack, peripheral vascular disease (damaged blood vessels), and cerebrovascular disease (damaged arteries that supply blood to the brain).
• Cancer and gastric ulcer, reflux.
• Kidney cancer.
• Stroke, brain aneurysm.
• Pneumonia, emphysema, lung cancer, COPD.
• Cancer of the throat, tongue, lips, vocal cords.
• Impotence, testicular cancer, cervical cancer, infertility.

Please note that this is not a complete list of all possible diseases that can be caused by the harm caused by cigarettes. There are many more diseases. But the worst thing is not that people voluntarily poison their bodies. They also harm others.

Does smoking harm the body of a person who is next to a smoker? Of course, it does, exactly the same as the body of the smoker himself. Exhaled smoke contains most of the harmful substances inhaled during smoking - about 4000, and among them there are those that increase the risk of cancer.

Some researchers even suggest that passive smoking can affect the human body (that is, cause harm) more than active smoking. They argue that the smoker's body to some extent adapts to the constant influence of tobacco smoke and resists it. A non-smoker, being next to a smoker, is at greater risk. Such conclusions are highly controversial, but they do not negate the fact that passive smoking is harmful to the human body.

How to quit smoking?

We wrote this long article with a detailed listing of the harm that smoking does to the human body, not at all in order to scare. We ourselves smoked, and therefore we perfectly understand that it will not work to make a person quit with horror stories. If some girls can still get rid of addiction in this way, then for men this method is categorically not applicable. They are not afraid of anything.

We told you all this for only one purpose - so that you have complete information about the dangers of cigarettes. Now that you know almost everything about the composition of cigarette smoke and all the illnesses it causes, you can make an informed and logical decision to quit smoking.

How you will do it is another question. There are many options, we have already written about many of them, so you do not need to look for anything - all the information is already on our website. The main thing is that you have made an important decision for yourself. Quit smoking and forget about the harm that cigarettes cause!

about the author

Alexander Fomin, Trainer-Therapist at the Allen Carr Center in Russia

Alexander Fomin, a former smoker with 18 years of experience, the first licensed specialist and chief consultant of the Allen Carr Center in the Russian Federation. Helped more than 10,000 compatriots to quit smoking once and for all. He has 9 years of experience working with the Allen Carr method and has successfully trained several new therapists in this method. He took part in editing and voicing the books of the Easy Way series by the Dobraya Kniga publishing house.

Addictions are dangerous addictions that sometimes cause irreparable harm to the human body. Many people know how harmful smoking is, but not everyone can assess the real risk and give up the habit. Even manufacturers talk about the dangers of addiction. The legislator forces to warn citizens about the consequences of smoking.

How do cigarettes affect the body? All doctors know that there is not a single cigarette that would allow the body to rejuvenate and get rid of any ailment. Addiction has a negative impact on every organ and body. That is why smoking is called the real scourge of modern mankind. All forces are thrown into the fight against such habits - from propaganda of the dangers of smoking at school to signboards and billboards, a visual demonstration of "smoky lungs" in many cabinets of curiosities.

Doctors quite rightly equate addiction to alcohol addiction. About the harm that smoking cigarettes brings, the manufacturer "tells" by providing relevant information on cigarette packs. Numerous studies have shown that prolonged smoking leads to death, and women are deprived of the opportunity to become a happy mother of healthy babies.

Smoking: a perspective on history

In the past, no one thought about whether nicotine was harmful. The fact is that such an addiction appeared first in America, from where it spread throughout the planet. The Indians on their prairies grew tobacco everywhere, and then dried it, twisted and smoked the leaves. In the distant past, the Indians had leftovers from the processing of tobacco. Modern production is able to process even stems that were not previously used for smoking.

After landing on the shores of America, Columbus received a dangerous gift from the locals - a bush of tobacco. The navigator did not appreciate such a greeting, and the very first smokers in Europe were sent to jail for their addiction. In those days, no one knew about the effect of smoking on the human body, but the habit was considered dangerous and was strictly punished according to the laws of the church.

However, smokers turned out to be more stubborn than church dogmas, and therefore, already in the middle of the 16th century, the first tobacco bushes appeared on the plantations of Spain. The first smokers who did not care what harm smoking causes to the body were representatives of high society. They also became the first tobacco monopolists, who diligently hooked all of Europe on tobacco.

The decisive step taken by the monopolists to spread the terrible poison was the inclusion of several packs of cigarettes in the soldiers' rations. And if during the war the manufacturer suffered losses, then after its end the level of demand for products increased significantly. At the same time, tobacco began to be explored. Doctors and scientists have realized that smoking is harmful. Today, every preschooler knows about this, and packs of cigarettes have received the corresponding inscriptions. And since smoking is injurious to health, many young people advocate a healthy lifestyle. However, there are still smokers who should be reminded why smoking is unhealthy.

Harm of tobacco: what do passive and active smokers inhale?

There is such a thing as a passive smoker. He may never smoke either electronic or classic cigarettes.

y. But he still feels the harm from smoking, especially if you have to spend a lot of time with a person who neither wants nor seeks to get rid of the habit.

It is important to understand that a cigarette is not a harmless compact toy. This is a real monster, wrapped in decent packaging. One single cigarette or cigar contains up to 4,000 hazardous substances. This chemical "cocktail" systematically affects one organ after another, affects the body, can lead to death.

Harm of cigarettes in their contents. Particularly hazardous components are:

• Arsenic is the most harmful and carcinogenic element found in tobacco. This substance only accumulates in the body, is practically not excreted, reduces the function of all organs, negatively affects the heart muscle and blood vessels. It is arsenic that will provoke the emergence and growth of cancerous tumors.
• Resins are a complex of solid particles that, under the influence of elevated temperature enter the body, settle on the walls of the lungs, are a carcinogen.
• Polonium is a radioactive element that has an extremely negative effect from the inside and gradually kills the body.
• Benzene is a toxic element of organic origin. It enters the body with smoke, provokes the growth of tumors.
• Formaldehydes are substances that have toxic properties. They cause damage to the respiratory tract and lung disease.
• Other dangerous substances are a whole set of them, and each component brings its own little death, first to cells, then to organs, and then to the whole organism. After prolonged and many years of smoking, it is possible to restore the body, but it takes years, and some smokers do not have them.

The effect of smoking on the body is unambiguous. It is in the distant past that tobacco was prescribed as an effective remedy for migraines. This process provided only temporary relief, but spoiled the vessels, the circulatory system, the heart muscle, systematically destroyed all organs.

Smokers take note! Do not think that smoking is harmless. Even those people who are just addicted to addiction are already subject to negative influences. The harm of tobacco is that it emits dangerous substances, albeit in micro fractions. Gradually, they accumulate in the body, are not excreted. Scientists have come to the conclusion that the harm of smoking is that one pack of cigarettes is equal to 500 x-rays of exposure.

Disappointing statistics

Smoking and its effect on humans have long been studied by scientists. That is why there are few smokers among them. The main task of scientists is to prove the harm of smoking and convince the world's population to give up the killer habit. Studies are constantly being conducted that have confirmed that smoking is the scourge of developing countries with unstable economies. Here, children in schools and the younger generation are not told what harm can be done to the body by cigarettes.

Statistics show that in countries with a low hygiene culture, more than 60% of the population smokes. The danger is that a quarter of those who are addicted are teenagers who are just starting to live, and their body is growing. At this young age, he receives a whole bunch of diseases that he will have to deal with all his life.

What will suffer first?

Smoking is injurious to health, that's for sure. To tell the younger generation about this, schools create special programs that are designed to convey exactly what the harm to human health is. Often, special films and commercials can be shown as demonstration material, meetings with yesterday's smokers and those who are just trying to get rid of the habit can be arranged.

Tobacco smoking and its impact on human health is a topic for many scientific discussions, but one thing is clear for sure - any cigarettes, even light ones, cause harm.

The first to suffer are the lungs, which take the brunt of the blow. The emitted smoke and the concentrate of hazardous substances harm the entire respiratory system - resins envelop the walls of the bronchi, after which they make them brittle, deprive them of elasticity and the ability to resist pathogenic microflora.

How is the respiratory system affected?

Often an unpleasant, but quite natural and expected surprise for a smoker is the appearance of pulmonary emphysema. This is a disease that leads to hypoxia of the internal organs, and the lungs themselves cease to perform the functions assigned to them. Gradually, the cells of the lung tissue are literally corroded by vapors and resins, and then they begin to be replaced by malignant ones.

Quite quickly, the smoker will feel that there is an unpleasant shortness of breath, he cannot normally exercise, swim and run. He will need numerous stops during sports. Cough becomes a constant companion of the smoker, it manifests itself in the morning and after each smoked cigarette.

Often the lungs become a black rotting mass. This is clearly visible upon opening. Such "exhibits" often end up in cabinets of curiosities and become a clear demonstration of the consequences of a bad habit.

If someone thinks about whether smoking is harmful to the body, doctors offer a simple test to dispel doubts. Gather a mouthful of cigarette smoke, and then release it into a napkin or gauze folded several times. After the first time, the material will turn into an unpleasant brown-brown hue. These are resins with a full range of harmful substances. They settle on the walls of the lungs, and the temperature of such steam reaches 700-900 degrees. It burns the mucous membrane, literally burns the cells.

The external consequences of cigarettes are an unpresentable appearance, a grayish complexion, early wrinkles, and cracked tooth enamel. Often, a smoker's teeth are a kind of indicator that will allow you to find out about the prescription of an addiction.

You have to go to the dentist quite often after smoking. An unpleasant yellowish plaque and a mass of black tartar appear on the surface of the teeth. They have to be removed several times a year. And the enamel from the constant temperature drop and the habit of smoking several cigarettes a day becomes fragile. Resins clog into microcracks, and therefore the teeth become black. Large cracks lead to the death of the tooth root and its blackening. Only crowns and dental implants can correct the situation.

Smoking is harmful - this is an indisputable truth that is well known to all doctors. Cardiologists are no exception. Often their patients are smokers. They suffer from constant exposure to steam and tar, as well as nicotine, which dilates blood vessels - they become brittle.

The consequences of long-term smoking are thrombosis, ischemic and Buerger's disease. Among the dangerous manifestations are also disorders in peripheral vessels, and with a long smoking history, the risk of developing strokes and heart attacks increases many times over.

Oral cavity

A companion of a heavy smoker becomes a foul-smelling disease - halitosis. It is called bad breath, which becomes a constant companion of the smoker and is not interrupted by any chewing gum, sprays. Smoking is extremely dangerous for mucous membranes, including the oral cavity. Hot tobacco smoke provokes constant inflammatory processes, even loss of teeth. Another nuisance for smokers is an imbalance of the acid-base environment in the oral cavity. Continuous smoking leads to the development of gum disease - periodontal disease.

How does the genitourinary system suffer from smoking?

Another body system that suffers from smoking is the genitourinary system. Continuous smoking leads to the fact that the amount of oxygen supplied and carried is reduced. The rush of blood decreases along with the fact that cholesterol and dangerous substances are deposited on the walls of the vessels. The kidneys can suffer, as well as the entire reproductive system. In men, sexual impotence is often observed, which strong stimulant drugs cannot always cope with.

Smoking also damages the urinary tract. Frequent consequences in women are anovulation cycles, menstrual dysfunction. Men will suffer no less - in the strong half, the number and the level of sperm motility decrease over time, erectile dysfunction is noted, etc.

Musculoskeletal system

Smoking cigarettes will lead to the gradual destruction of the skeleton, ligaments, muscles, tendons will constantly suffer from tobacco smoke. Under the influence of toxic substances, calcium absorption is blocked / reduced, which is fraught with an increase in the number of fractures and the development of osteoporosis. Long-term smokers often develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Other organs

Not only the organs described above suffer from smoking. All body systems, including the gastrointestinal tract, the brain, bone tissue, and skin, feel the negative impact. Various eye diseases (loss of visual acuity, destruction of the retina, etc.) become frequent companions of a dangerous habit. In addition to these diseases, smokers are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They automatically fall into the risk group for the development of such diseases: hearing loss, atherosclerosis.

The undeniable harm of smoking: what to expect the consequences?

The degree of influence of smoking on human health is constantly studied by the scientific community. The results of dozens of surveys are reported every day by research laboratories. The misconception that smoking is not dangerous has long been in the past. Once upon a time, tobacco was considered a real panacea, but today even a child knows about the dangers of nicotine.

Blood enriched with dangerous carcinogens spreads in the body, it saturates the internal organs with poison. This is a dangerous trend that can lead to the formation of pathologies.

Why is smoking bad for men? You should quit a bad habit because it leads to:

• Chronic bronchitis;
• Tuberculosis, reduced immunity;
• The formation of malignant tumors;
• Progression of retinal dystrophy;
• pneumonia;
• Decreased erectile function;
• Enamel cracking and numerous diseases of the oral cavity, etc.

To what consequences smoking of tobacco can lead, do not get tired to remind the doctor. This is a negative habit that gradually leads to infertility, as well as the formation of pathologies. The issue is especially acute for smokers with a decent experience, as well as for men whose age has already exceeded the 40 mark.

Smoking: what is the harm to a woman?

Quite often female smokers face the problem of infertility. The issue is especially acute for those who are addicted to smoking at a young age. Cigarettes harm literally all systems and organs, regardless of the woman's age. Often smoking leads to problems with:

• Carrying a child. A woman who smokes cigarettes during pregnancy risks the health of the baby. He can be born with pathologies. There is a risk of spontaneous abortion in the early stages.
• Vessels and heart. Smoking causes myocardial infarction, vascular obstruction.
• Skin - it fades, prematurely ages.
• Hair and nails, the figure and the whole appearance will suffer. Contrary to popular belief that smoking helps to lose weight, smokers often exceed the weight limit. Fat finds a place to a greater extent on the waist and chest, and on the hips its amount decreases. This leads to imbalances.
• Teeth - the enamel is covered with a thin mesh, and the formed microgrooves are filled with resins, blacken or turn yellow.
• Peristalsis - the vessels of the stomach and the entire digestive tract are constantly narrowing, which leads to problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
• Mental state. Smoking harms not only the physiology, but also causes irreparable harm to the psyche. Women who smoke are prone to depression, they suffer from prolonged stress, as well as their relapses.

Smoking is a pathological habit that also harms the child. A growing body learns a lot from its parents. Often these habits become the norm.

How does smoking harm teens and children?

Smoking harms the normal growth and development of the growing body. Often, people who are addicted to cigarettes in childhood die early from cancer. In dysfunctional families, smoking becomes the norm already at the age of 13–14, when the body still needs to give all its strength to strengthen bones, respiratory organs, the genitourinary system, etc. It is a cigarette that is capable of:

• Reduce the intellectual abilities of the young organism, reduce motor skills.
• Lead to innovation.
• Have a negative impact on the state of the psyche.
• lead to infertility in the future.
• Disrupt the growth process of the body.
• Lead to an increase in body weight and a disproportion in the circumferences of the waist and hips.

Smoking at an early age affects all organs and systems of the body. Young people who are addicted to a dangerous habit are at risk of getting diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and nervous systems, and the musculoskeletal system. This is due to the fact that the blood supplies concentrated dangerous substances to each organ, and this leads to the formation of various pathologies.

What diseases are caused by smoking?

Cigarettes are harmful to smoke, because they provoke pathological changes in the body:

• emphysema;
• Chronical bronchitis;
• Malignant neoplasms;
• myocardial infarction;
• Atherosclerosis of vessels;
• Pneumonia;
• Thromboembolism of the lungs;
• Infertility;
• impotence and frigidity;
• Obliterating endarteritis.

However, there is another consequence of smoking - cancer. Substances that are present in smoke provoke the growth of malignant pathological neoplasms. It is impossible to cope with such consequences without serious and expensive treatment. That is why it is important for parents to explain to their child why smoking is harmful.

Do not forget the harm that smoking brings to others. It is colossal, since it is passive smokers who receive the lion's share of harmful substances. Giving up a bad habit is a blessing not only for yourself, but also for those around you. The nicotine in tobacco smoke can cause an allergic reaction and an increased heart rate. In some people, this component causes asthma attacks. Faced with, you need to be wary of the effects of combustible tobacco, and these are:

• Eye irritation and other allergic reactions.
• Depression and stress.
• Itching and dryness in the throat.
• Attacks of coughing.
• Risk of spontaneous miscarriage (especially dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy).
• Decrease in labor productivity, working capacity.

Information about the dangers of smoking is available to everyone. Many people know that passive smoking is often more dangerous than active smoking, and therefore should not be tolerated. As soon as someone starts to "smoke" nearby, you should make a remark or simply retire to a safe distance.

Can smoking become harmless?

The World Health Organization has published the results of practical studies. They point out that, despite all the warnings about the dangers of smoking, people quite consciously continue to abuse cigarettes. That is why research companies do what is necessary to make the addiction safe. That is how the alternative was created - the electronic cigarette.

In the process of smoking a special mixture, only nicotine is released. The proposed liquid is devoid of carcinogens and hazardous chemical compounds released during smoldering tobacco. Nicotine is harmful to health in that it is addictive, but the smoke does not contain dangerous hydrocyanic acid and carbon dioxide, formaldehydes and heavy metals. There is also no unpleasant odor.

Among the popular and sought-after novelties is tobacco without smoke. We are talking about Swedish snus and snuff. The first is for chewing. The soaked mass is laid for a short time between the gum and the lip, but such a hobby is also harmful to health. In some countries, such tobacco is equated with narcotic substances and is prohibited from sale and use.

The dangers of smoking during pregnancy

“Smoking harms your health” is a postulate familiar from childhood. However, some future mothers simply forget how smoking is injurious to health. And the risks are huge for both mom and the unborn baby.

Children who in the womb suffer from nicotine and all the dangerous substances of smoke, more often than other babies suffer from neuropsychic defects.

Do not forget about the possibility of other pathologies and the risk of spontaneous abortion. Future daddies who smoke should also be aware of passive smoking of their second halves. You should smoke your cigarette away from a woman so as not to harm her.

Dangerous Consequences

The effect of tobacco on the human body is unambiguous - this product causes irreparable harm to health. You should think about the fact that healthy babies are born to those who do not have bad habits at all. Long-term smokers may not have children at all. But these are not the only troubles among the dangerous consequences.

As mentioned in a previous article, " Health is the key to success". Smoking is one of the most common habits that damage a person's health and affect his future success. Heavy smokers today have a good reason to give up a bad habit, to become healthier, more vigorous. May 31 is World No Tobacco Day.

To date, a huge number of books have been written on how to quit smoking, many systems and methods have been developed to get rid of this addiction. But the main stimulus, in my opinion, that will help overcome the psychological dependence on nicotine is the awareness of the harm done to oneself and the desire to get rid of the consequences of long years of this addiction once and for all.

Harm of smoking on the human body:

About five million people die each year from smoking-related diseases worldwide. Only in Russia, nicotine takes a thousand lives every day.

This is not a complete list of diseases that are possible and inevitable in a person with a long history of tobacco dependence. Do you need it?

Smoking negatively affects brain performance

Smoking slows down reactions, makes them less clear. Weaken attention, memory, reduced intelligence. People whose professions require memory and attention, quick reaction, it must be remembered that smoking reduces their professional ability to work and interferes focus on work.

Scientists have found that when smoking, changes appear on the electroencephalogram, indicating a weakening of the bioelectrical activity of brain cells. At the same time, the degree of weakening of bioelectric activity is proportional to the number of cigarettes smoked by a person.

The great German poet Goethe said: You get dumber from smoking. It is incompatible with creative work».

The harm of smoking on the human body immeasurably great! In addition to the fact that smoking negatively affects the physical and psychological health of our body, there are many other reasons to quit smoking:

• The negative effects of smoking also include an unpleasant taste in the mouth in the morning, yellow teeth, bad breath and hair.
• The sleep of a smoker is always worse than that of a person of his same type, but a non-smoker.
• Smoking dulls the taste and smell. These feelings return to the person only after some time, after quitting smoking.
• Smokers cause great harm to others. More than 600,000 people die each year from passive smoking, one third of whom are children.
• Smoking is a common cause of fires.
• Smoking is a waste of money. Calculate how much money you spend on cigarettes per year. The amount turned out to be considerable. With this money you can buy something really useful.
• Smoking is a waste of time. On average, a smoker spends smoking from 10 to 15 days a year! If you don't believe me, then let's count. The average smoker smokes 20 cigarettes a day, and one cigarette takes about 3 minutes. It follows that it takes 1 hour for a smoke break per day, and 365 hours per year.

Surely so many reasons will not make you quit smoking once and for all? Do it today, because World No Tobacco Day is a great reason to quit smoking! Quit smoking right now!!!

Although many people are aware that smoking is harmful, few of them are fully aware of the extent of this danger. In this regard, quantitative risk assessments are worth considering if such data are available in your country. At the same time, those estimates that show how harmful and dangerous smoking is compared with other causes of death and morbidity are of particular importance. Few other preventable behaviors or risk factors are responsible for as many deaths as smoking.
Smoking leads to the development of three major diseases with a fatal outcome: lung cancer; chronic bronchitis and emphysema; coronary disease.

In several countries where smoking has long been a mass habit, it has been proven that tobacco is the cause of death from lung cancer in 90% of all cases, from bronchitis and emphysema in 75% and from heart disease in about 25% of all cases.

About the dangers of smoking Approximately 25% of regular cigarette smokers will die prematurely due to smoking. Many of this number could live 10, 20 or 30 years longer, ie. in this case, the average loss of years of life is significant. Those who die due to smoking on average will lose 10-15 years of their lives.

In one European country (with a population of about 50 million), the number of deaths due to smoking is equivalent to the number of deaths in large-capacity jet airliner crashes, assuming that such crashes - with the death of all people on board - will occur daily.

All this is nothing more than statistical details.

Smokers often try to defend themselves "rationally" against the implications of such information by citing individual cases ("my grandfather smoked 40 cigarettes a day and lived to be 93") or the relative risk associated with other behaviors ("maybe that tomorrow my life will end under the wheels of a bus"). The statistics can simply be summarized by highlighting the fact that smoking is a much more dangerous evil than accidents of this kind. Even in those countries where there are few and poorly registered road traffic accidents, smoking is more hazardous to health. In a country like the United Kingdom, smoking is ten times more dangerous than car accidents.

Consequences of smoking

Pulmonary respiratory system
In the area of ​​​​the respiratory tract of a large section, a cough develops and sputum production is activated. The small airways become inflamed and narrowed.

Prolonged exposure to smoke has a damaging effect on the cilia of the epithelium and makes it difficult for them to function normally. Chronic bronchitis of smokers leads to a violation of the secretion of mucus with the help of cilia.

In the lungs of smokers, an increased content of inflammatory cells is found. Asthma attacks are more frequent and more severe. There is a tendency to recurrence of respiratory infections.

The cardiovascular system

With each cigarette smoked, systolic and diastolic blood pressure rises. The number of heartbeats and its minute volume also increase. In addition, cigarette smoke causes vasoconstriction of the peripheral arteries. Along with this, smoking contributes to the development of conditions leading to the formation of blood clots, due to: accelerated aggregation and adhesion of platelets; increased plasma fibrinogen levels and blood viscosity; shortening the life span of platelets and blood clotting time.

Smoking also leads to an increase in total serum cholesterol and plasma free fatty acids. Smoking increases the risk of sudden death and development of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, which in turn increases the risk of tissue necrosis and limb amputation in these patients. Along with this, smoking is most directly related to hypertension and high blood cholesterol, which increases the risk of coronary disease and cardiovascular disease.

Smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease in women taking oral contraceptives.

Other clinical implications
A pregnant woman who smokes exposes herself to an increased risk of possible miscarriage, stillbirth, or low birth weight. Among smokers, gastric and duodenal ulcers are more common; moreover, in the case of such an ulcer, the risk of death in smokers is higher than in non-smokers. In addition, peptic ulcers in smokers are difficult to treat.

Composition of tobacco smoke

Tobacco smoke contains nitrogen, hydrogen, argon, methane and hydrogen cyanide. Many are unaware of the harmful effects of carbon monoxide. The following list of possible cigarette smoke hazards appears threatening: acetaldehyde, acetone, ammonia, benzene, butylamine, dimethylamine, DDT, ethylamine, formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, hydroquinone, methyl alcohol, methylamine, nickel compounds, and pyridine.

Facts about tobacco

Every 10 seconds, another person in the world dies as a result of tobacco use.

Tobacco currently kills about three million people worldwide every year, but this figure will rise to 10 million in thirty to forty years if current smoking trends continue.

If current trends continue, about 500 million of the people living today - approximately 9% of the world's population - will eventually be killed by tobacco. Since 1950, tobacco has killed 62 million people, more than died in World War II. Currently, the tobacco pandemic is most acute in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the Western Pacific Region. WHO estimates that 700,000 tobacco-related deaths will occur in Central and Eastern Europe in 1995, about a quarter of the world's. Moreover, in contrast to countries in Western Europe and North America, where only half or less of these deaths occur in people under 70 years of age, in Central and Eastern Europe between two-thirds and four-fifths of these deaths occur in middle-aged people. And the situation is not improving, but worsening. Trends and projections for tobacco consumption per adult show that consumption in these countries is among the highest in the world, in some cases around twice the world average, and is still rising.

About the dangers of smokingTobacco causes 6% of all deaths in the world and approximately 3% of the global burden of disease, as measured by such an indicator as DALY (disability adjusted life years - years of disability converted to years of life lost), which takes into account both morbidity and mortality . Moreover, the number of deaths from tobacco continues to rise. By 2020, if current trends continue, tobacco will cause 12% of deaths worldwide. In Central and Eastern Europe, tobacco causes about 13% of DALYs. Tobacco is also an increasing cause of DALYs. In about 10 years, HIV-related DALYs are expected to start declining, but tobacco-related DALYs will continue to rise.
All this information led the WHO expert committee to conclude:

Tobacco is rapidly becoming a greater cause of death and morbidity than any single disease.

Nicotine is a good easy drug

Illegal drug use is quite rare among those who have never smoked, and cigarette smoking may well be a precursor to alcohol and illegal drug use.

Cigarette smoking is neither necessary nor sufficient for drug abuse or dependence. Far from all those who smoke subsequently use drugs, and a small proportion of those who abuse alcohol and illegal drugs do not use tobacco. However, several studies have found that cigarette smoking is a predictor of whether a person will use other drugs, and what level of use of these drugs will be.

There is a vast amount of evidence that suggests an association between tobacco use and the use of other drugs. Studies have shown that drug users are more likely to smoke than non-drug users and that cigarette smoking is a precursor to illicit drug use. There is also an association between the level of tobacco use and the level of use of other psychoactive substances such as marijuana and cocaine.
Some researchers have suggested that there are three components to the relationship between tobacco use and other drug use. First, nicotine causes changes in the central nervous system that affect the same brain centers that are affected by cocaine and morphine. Thus, the central nervous system of the nicotine user is altered in a way that predisposes the person to the consumption of other drugs. Second, the act of inhaling cigarette smoke is a learned behavior that can make the intake of other drugs more effective. Finally, people who use nicotine to regulate mood and behavior may use tobacco as a "stepping stone" to other forms of drug use.

"Light" cigarettes - pros and cons

There is no safe cigarette and no safe level of smoking.

Smoking cigarettes with reduced tar and nicotine content reduces the risk of lung cancer and, to some extent, increases the smoker's chances of living longer, provided that there is no compensatory increase in the number of cigarettes smoked. However, compared to quitting smoking completely, the benefits are minimal. Quitting smoking remains the single most effective way to reduce the dangers of smoking. It is not clear what risk reduction might occur for diseases other than lung cancer.
By switching to low-carbon cigarettes, smokers can increase the number of cigarettes they smoke and inhale the smoke more deeply. Compensatory behaviors can negate any benefits of low-contaminant foods or even increase health risks.

Smoking low-tar filter cigarettes can cause adenocarcinoma, a special type of lung cancer. One study found that between 1959 and 1991, the incidence of adenocarcinoma, which is found in the periphery of the lungs, increased 17-fold in women and 10-fold in men. Researchers believe that those who smoke filter cigarettes with low tar and nicotine content take deeper and longer breaths to get a nicotine "shake" and therefore increase the effect of the smoke on their lungs.

"Low-tar" or "light" cigarettes are no less dangerous than conventional cigarettes because smokers unknowingly cover the vents around the cigarette filter with their fingers and lips when they smoke. Obviously, these vents cut down on tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide from "light cigarettes," but two-thirds of American smokers are unaware of these tiny holes. This makes low-tar cigarettes a bit of a scam in terms of health benefits. These cigarettes are designed to negate any advantage of the low tar content. In tests to measure tar and nicotine intake levels, cigarettes are smoked by a special machine. However, machine tests are misleading because in reality, people block vents when they hold cigarettes in their hands or in their mouths.