| Many people take risks in life. In fact, some of the | | | | person already suffering from illnesses like high |
| wealthiest people in the world will tell you they | | | | blood pressure and diabetes. |
| would have never gotten anywhere if they did | | | | While there are claims that cigarette smoking |
| not take any risks. However, while some risks are | | | | may not directly cause the increase in high blood |
| worth the chance some simply are not. The | | | | pressure, cigarette smoking does increase the risk |
| health risks of cigarette smoking is one of those | | | | of suffering a stroke or heart attack. Most |
| risks because the end result of smoking | | | | doctors agree that cigarette smoking results in |
| cigarettes is almost always the same. | | | | the body being susceptible to cardiovascular or |
| So what are the harmful effects of cigarette | | | | heart diseases. |
| smoking? | | | | Peripheral vascular disease is also widespread |
| There are many harmful chemicals in cigarettes | | | | among cigarette smokers. This pertains to the |
| that can be broken down into four main | | | | disease affecting the lower limbs of the person. |
| components: irritants, nicotine, carbon monoxide, | | | | This is due to the atherosclerosis or the narrowing |
| and carcinogens. When considering the health risks | | | | of the arteries in the blood vessels of the limb. |
| of cigarettes smoking, it is important to look at | | | | The narrowing is caused by the building up of |
| each of these four components. | | | | plaque. |
| 1. Irritants | | | | Studies also show that cigarette smoking is |
| An average cigarette contains irritants like | | | | particularly risky to the female body. A woman |
| ammonia, formaldehyde and oxides. Such irritants | | | | cigarette smoker may have a more difficult time |
| usually cause the respiratory tract to swell. | | | | getting pregnant as a consequence of cigarette |
| 2. Carcinogen | | | | smoking. A pregnant woman who smokes |
| There are roughly 40 kinds of chemicals in | | | | cigarettes will definitely harm the baby inside her |
| cigarettes that are considered carcinogenic, | | | | womb. Studies reveal that cigarette smoking |
| meaning cancer promoting. | | | | actually increases the probability for the incidence |
| Lung cancer is usually related to cigarette smoking | | | | of having a low birth weight, stillbirths, and sudden |
| because the respiratory system of a smoker is | | | | infant death syndrome. The mother also is in |
| more vulnerable. The mortality rate of lung cancer | | | | danger as cigarette smoking will increase the risk |
| cases is very high and found to be dependent on | | | | of having a high blood pressure or suffering a |
| the number of cigarette consumed. | | | | stroke. |
| 3. Carbon Monoxide | | | | Another health risk to cigarette smoking is |
| The carbon monoxide component of a cigarette | | | | passive smoking from secondhand smoke. |
| harms the circulatory system. This disables the | | | | Passive smoking is the involuntary exposure to |
| capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to the | | | | cigarette smoke. In this case, even a |
| heart. | | | | non-smoker's health is put at risk. Breathing in |
| 4. Nicotine | | | | fumes from another person's cigarette |
| Nicotine is the major component of the cigarette | | | | (secondhand smoke) may cause the same |
| and it also poses a notorious threat to the body. | | | | adverse effects as it does to an ordinary smoker. |
| Nicotine causes the act of smoking to be highly | | | | Recent studies show that those exposed to |
| addicting. Nicotine in the body system could also | | | | secondhand smoke, children and adults alike, have |
| result in an increased heart rate and high blood | | | | a higher risk of developing lung and other |
| pressure. | | | | respiratory problems. Children who are constantly |
| The four harmful components of the cigarette | | | | exposed to secondhand smoke are susceptible to |
| mentioned above all contribute to the negative | | | | colds, ear infections and breathing problems. |
| effects cigarette smoking has on the human | | | | There are risks in life that are worth taking. |
| body. The immediate effects of cigarette | | | | However, one must recognize those risks that |
| smoking may be manifested by coughing, burning | | | | may cost one his or her life and clearly, one |
| of the nose and throat or dizziness. There is also | | | | life-threatening risk includes cigarette smoking. |
| the tendency of increasing the health risks of a | | | | |