The Biological and Psychological Impact of Smoking Cigarettes

Smoking has many bad effects one of them being cancer, most of the leading causes of lung cancer is smoking. According to an article called “The Effects of smoking...Lung Cancer” written by many authors studied an analysis of people who have or have had lung cancer and saw that “of 366 patients in the analysis 54% we males and, 60% were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma.”

In one cigarette alone, there are more than 600 ingredients. When the cigarette is burned, more than 7,000 chemicals are released. Sixty-nine of those chemicals are cancerous and many are poisonous. Some of these ingredients include arsenic, which is rat poisoning, and formaldehyde, which is embalming fluid (“What's In a Cigarette?”). Even though it is known smoking terribly effects the human body, many people still smoke.

“Cigarettes are responsible for more than 480,000 deaths in America every year.” (CDC, 2017). The deaths range from lung disease, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the causes come from the chemicals they inhale from another person’s cigarette. There are some 4,000 chemicals in a cigarette, a good number of those are a carcinogen or cancer-causing. Just of few of those very common cancer-causing chemicals are benzene, arsenic, tar, carbon monoxide, and ammonia.

Too many Americans die every year due directly because of cigarettes. Cigarette use and other tobacco related products are a very complex and controversial topic to discuss. The statistics prove that tobacco does not only direct harm to the user but potential harm to others around the user. With government data displaying the affects cigarettes have on a person’s life from most significantly health problems to financial troubles, anti-cigarette groups are astonished as why cigarettes, and tobacco as a whole, are not banned in modern day America. Every year more than 480,000 deaths occur because of cigarettes (CDC). While being one of the highest causes of death each year in the United States, it may shock the nation that cigarette related deaths are also the leading preventable cause of death.

Imagine willingly inhaling over 7000 chemicals which are known to cause harmful effects to the human body? This is the reality of many people in the United States who smoke cigarettes every day. Despite the warnings displayed on the packages, people continue to smoke cigarettes due to the addictive nature of the nicotine which they contain. Of the 7000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke, there are at least 250 chemicals known to be harmful such as hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide and ammonia. Within these chemicals, there are also 69 proven to cause cancer. As if this is not bad enough, the smoke of a cigarette is also harmful even in small quantities. Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and causes many diseases reducing the health of smokers in general.

Since the 1950s, more than 70,000 scientific articles have left no doubt that smoking is an extraordinarily important cause of premature mortality and disability around the world. In populations where cigarette smoking has been common for several decades, about 90% of cases of lung cancer, 15–20% of cases of other cancers, 75% of cases of chronic bronchitis and emphysema and 25% of deaths from cardiovascular diseases in those 35–69 years of age are attributable to tobacco. Studies have shown that half of all long-term smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease and, of these, half will die before the age of 65.

Cigarette smoking has brought light to many problems in today’s society. If one were walk outside in a public area, it is certain that they may see an individual smoking or using tobacco products. The careless act of public smoking can be easily seen by many as a weapon, not only to the person who is openly participating, but also the person who is against the idea of smoking. These people who have sheltered themselves from cigarette smoking must now endure the same consequences as the people openly smoking; therefore, this is wrongful. Smoking cigarettes in public should be banned because of the effects caused by the following issues: unconsciously influencing others to smoke, harm done to the environment, and the cause of damage to others due to secondhand smoke.

I will explore how smoking affects the body. Not only the effects it has on the body of the smoker but other people around them. I will cite examples of how tobacco can cause or complicate diseases. I will explore the effects of tobacco on the unborn. I will show how tobacco can be socially unacceptable and ultimately how starting a habit that is very difficult to quit is not worth the effort it will take to do so.

One in every five deaths in the united states is smoking related. Many people smoke many different kinds of cigarettes and many of these people are addictive and it is extremely difficult for them to quit even though it results in lung cancer. There are many reasons why people choose to start this horrible habit which is being stressed, being around people who smoke, doing it for pleasure and being depressed. There are definitely many negative risks associated with smoking cigarettes such as lung cancer that is because cigarettes are damaging the cells that line the lungs and when people inhale any kind of cigarette smoke which is full of cancer-causing substances that are carcinogens and it affects the lung tissues immediately. One of the million hazardous effects of smoking is it shortens human life ten years or more. Smoking is one of the most horrible habits in society because it does not only affect the person who is smoking but affects all the people surrounding this individual. Smoking has three negative main effects on people’s health; it causes lung cancer, appearance, and loss of appetite.

The first known theory that tobacco use might have a harmful effect on the user dates to the early 1600s when an anonymous English author made a conclusion that illnesses seen in Chimney Sweepers, were caused by the soot in the chimneys and that smoking tobacco may have a similar effect. However, it isn’t until the early 1900s do we begin to see medical reports linking smoking and certain illnesses such as lung cancer. Although this newly found medical report began circulating, they did little to stop the general population from smoking. In fact, it is not long after the first medical reports came out, that we see the greatest influx in new smokers in the United States which is the World War II era. Amid one of the deadliest events in all human history, it is easy to see how many people began to smoke. The United States even rationed cigarettes to troops in order to “boost morale”. According to Sable Aradia in

Cigarette smoking is prevalent throughout the world, despite a broad range of adverse effects on the society, public health, environment, and economy. Many smokers continue to smoke despite being aware of the cost to their health and finances. The easy access and availability along with the addiction to nicotine are the primary causes of tobacco use around the world. People continue to smoke because cigarettes are readily available and they can quickly acquire cigarettes despite an intention to quit. Although the addiction plays a vital role in the smoking persistence, the availability also prevents many people from stopping. Many cigarette smokers, especially young adults and casual smokers will quit their habit if the government prohibits the sale of cigarettes around the country. The prohibition of cigarettes will not only reduce the prevalence of smoking, but also prevent people from taking up the habit in the first place. The government should prohibit smoking cigarettes because it has several effects on the society, including the hazards to public health, addiction, secondhand smoke, environmental pollution, and personal economic loss.

Within the past few centuries, environmental tobacco smoke has been an issue. Smoking tobacco products is the leading, preventable cause of death in the United States. More than ten times of the deaths from smoking cigarettes have added up to be more deaths than all the wars fought by the United states (Jones, Page 65, 2016). There are more deaths caused each year from tobacco use than all deaths of HIV, illegal drug and alcohol use, car accidents, and murders combined (Judd, page 110, 2009). Smoking harms nearly every organ and part of the body, and affects one’s overall health. The effects of smoking can affect the social attitudes towards smoking, and can have lifelong impacting effects, which can also cause diseases and cancers.

Smoking causes an overall decline in a person’s health. It has been linked to increasing the risk of most types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.1 It is the leading cause of lung cancer, which is the number one cause of death today in the United States.1 It can cause respiratory problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, and emphysema.1 Smoking is not recommended during pregnancy and can cause problems with a developing fetus.1 It can cause problems with a person’s oral hygiene including, gum and tooth decay, tooth loss, and mouth cancer.1 Smoking causes inflammation and can damage the immune system.1 Second hand smoke inhaled by non-smokers can also lead to the aforementioned problems. In the state of Illinois, people are no longer allowed to smoke in many places due to the harmful effects it has on people’s health.

Since the start of my education and ability to understand, I’ve always been taught to accept others despite their differences. I’ve learned to not judge people based on appearances but their actions. For some time I never found myself having issues with those who smoked. However, once I started getting older I became more aware of all the little nuisances that came with smoking. The smoke, behaviors and health concerns began to stand out to the point where it seemed like there were flashing signs above those who smoked. Once I learned in-depth about all the hazards, I became much more aware of how much I did not like cigarettes and how I began to dislike their users. Now my everyday life is, ironically, surrounded by these users. Every day

The topic that will be discussed and analysed today are what effects of smoking cigarettes have on smokers, on other people that live with them, and the effects on unborn children if their mothers are smoking during their pregnancies. This issue analysis will cover the problem in depth and why smoking should be illegal and prohibit.