Dr. Sunil - Is It Bad For You? Approved by Dr. Sunil

Are Cigarettes Bad For You?

Also Known As: smoke, cig, puff, ciggy, fag


Grade

F


Short answer

Cigarettes are more than just bad for you. In fact, smoking is the largest cause of preventable death on the planet.

Grade

F


Long answer

The statistics on cigarettes are dumbfounding. Every year, tobacco-related diseases account for over 480,000 deaths in the USA - according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - and over 100,000 in the UK- according to the National Health Service (NHS). That is more than car accidents, alcohol, suicides, homicides, AIDS, fire, cocaine and heroin combined. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attributes one out of every 5 deaths in the US to cigarette smoking. The CDC puts losses from non-productivity due to smoking related deaths at $92 billion each year. Smoking increases the chances of dying from heart attack by 60%.

Cigarettes have about 600 ingredients. 250 of them are already known to be harmful, such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide. According to the American Lung Association, burning these ingredients generates over 7000 chemicals. Most of these chemicals are poisonous, and at least 70 of them (such as aromatic amines, cumene, formaldehyde and vinyl chloride) have been proven to cause cancer.

Smoking cigarettes harms nearly all organs in the body. Kidneys, heart, lungs, and arteries- the chemicals lead to cancer and organ failure. An occasional cigarette is also bad for you. Your chances of developing cancer may not be as high as the regular smoker, but you can increase your blood pressure and immediately increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Even passive smokers (those who inhale cigarette smoke) are at the same health risks as active smokers.

If you aren't already a smoker, stay away from cigarettes. They are very addictive and can have one struggling to get them out of their life. In America, over 46 million adults are cigarette smokers. 70% of them would like to quit but find themselves having trouble doing so.


Possible short-term side effects

  • asthma attacks
  • coughing
  • increased blood pressure
  • increased heart rate
  • narrowing of arteries
  • addiction
  • lightheadedness
  • pregnancy
  • effects on newborn (if pregnant)

Possible long-term side effects

  • chronic bronchitis
  • emphysema
  • cancer (various types)
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • coronary heart disease
  • peripheral vascular disease
  • cerebrovascular disease
  • age-related macular degeneration
  • heart attack

Ingredients to be aware of

  • nicotine
  • tar
  • carbon monoxide
  • formaldehyde
  • ammonia
  • hydrogen cyanide
  • arsenic
  • ddt
  • and many more...


Healthier alternatives

  • e-cigs (no long-term research)
  • nicotine replacement therapy



Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Healthy Living 35
Published on: 12-28-2015
Last updated: 12-10-2016

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Healthy Living 35
Published on: 12-28-2015
Last updated: 12-10-2016




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