What are the Effects of Smoking?

In this day and age you literally cannot turn on the television, listen to the radio, read a newspaper or magazine or even log onto the Internet without hearing the mantra: “Smoking is bad for you.” You simply cannot turn around without reading or hearing that smoking is bad for you. It is safe to say that you likely cannot make it through a single, solitary day without reading or hearing about how bad smoking is for you.

In fact, referring to the ubiquitous statement “smoking is bad for you” as being a mantra is an apt and accurate description. A mantra is defined as: “A word or verse intended to calm the mind.” The reality is that we encounter “smoking is bad” so often we have numbed ourselves against appreciating how horrible smoking is when it comes to a person's physical health and welfare. Therefore, an analysis of the question of what are the effects of smoking is crucial. A refresher on the real dangers of smoking is something that needs to occur with some degree or regularity.

Tobacco smoke has been proven to cause a number of different types of cancer. Indeed, the types of cancers that are caused as the result of smoking are some of the most deadly, serious and severe forms of the disease. Studies and research has demonstrated that men who smoke have a ten times greater risk of contracting and dying from lung cancer than do non-smoking males. The mortality rate is slightly less although not markedly different for women.

Smoking is also a leading contributor and cause of heart attacks and strokes. Smoking increases a person's blood pressure and heart rate. Over time, smoking can lead to other circulatory problems which can result in the need to amputate a person's feet or hands. In addition, one in five deaths from heart disease are the result of smoking itself.

The amount of tar that a person inhales as a result of smoking is staggering. For example, a person who smokes a pack a day will breathe in a full cup of tar over the course of one year. Tar is a primary contributor and cause of many types of lung disease including emphysema and cancer.

Annually, hundreds of thousands of people around the world will die from smoking. This number is numbing in and of itself. The fact is that fifty percent of people who smoke will die from a smoking related illness or disease. A full fifty percent of these individuals who will die because of a disease or illness caused by their smoking actually will die when they are middle aged.

Some people believe that by switching to cigarettes with lower tar and nicotine will lessen their chances of becoming ill. Research continues to demonstrate that cigarettes with lower tar and nicotine do not make a significant difference on the rate of disease and illness associated with smoking.

In the end, when it comes to addressing the question of what are the effects of smoking, the ultimate answer is:

Smoking ... Kills.