But what exactly happens to the human body when we use tobacco year after year?
Well, comprehensive studies tell us that more than 480.000 people in the US die every year from consequences directly linked to smoking. Plus, more than 41.000 die from the effects of the so-called secondhand smoke.
Do you still think smoking is cool? Well, let’s look behind the wall of smoke to check whether cigarettes are your friend or your killer.
What are the Most Common Types of Smoking?
We already mentioned secondhand smoking, which is one of the categories of nicotine usage. Of course, this type of tobacco use is involuntary and happens due to the lack of consideration coming from people who smoke. When it comes to being a smoker, we can distinguish people who smoke:
- Regularly
- Occasionally
- Socially.
Nevertheless, each of these types can cause detrimental side-effects to human health. In other words, “safe smoking” is a myth. Nicotine will affect your body, whether you like it or not.
At first, the symptoms may even be pleasing and soothing. After all, nicotine is a chemical that will boost the levels of dopamine, the “happy” hormone. That is why many smokers say that they feel better when lighting a cigarette and inhaling a few clouds of smoke.
The Harmful Effects of Cigarette Use
Despite the positive aspects of smoking, this activity is dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Here is why.
Sooner or later, smoking will narrow your arteries, which will reduce the oxygen levels in the cells. As a result, the heart rate and blood pressure will rise, causing a series of chain events.
For instance, nicotine dependency increases your chances of having a stroke or a brain aneurysm. Likewise, prolonged tobacco use will boost the odds of clot formation. In other words, you will be more likely to suffer a heart attack.
On top of all that, smoking will make you more susceptible to lung cancer and type 2 diabetes. Also, the tar in cigarettes will cause stained teeth, gum diseases, and bad breath. Of course, constant coughing is not attractive to the opposite sex, either.
Plus, the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include insomnia, headaches, depression, and anxiety. So it’s not easy to quit once the addictive stimulant starts causing those seemingly positive sensations.
The Verdict
Tobacco use is dangerous and unhealthy, no doubt about it. Recent stats show that smoking-caused illnesses affect more than 16 million Americans! During the 20th century, more than 100 million people on the planet died from the consequences of tobacco use.
Even though smoking is in a continuous decline, the consumption of nicotine remains one of the plagues of modern society. For that reason, we need to do everything in our power to raise awareness and protect people from exposure to tobacco products.
