Effects of smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Effects of smoking - Essay Example The doctors of today are more conversant with the effects of smoking more than ever before. Cigarettes and tobaccos have high concentrations of nicotine. They have over 4000 chemicals, which are harmful to one’s body. One of the fatal cases recorded is lung cancer. In fact, over ninety percent of all cases of lungs complications are blamed on smoking. Heavy smokers are the most affected and end up contracting chronic cancer, which is difficult to treat, not to mention the medical expenses inherent. In addition, smokers are more likely to develop laryngeal cancer as compared to nonsmokers (Hanson, et al, 2006). In recent years, cases of heart diseases have been on the increase and according to research; smoking is a major contributor to the defect in question. Similarly, high blood pressure is common among smokers since cigarettes lead to increased heart rate by a good percentage. On the other hand, blood flow to body extremities including fingers and toes is reduced greatly, a condition that many people have ignored. The implications of these conditions may not be felt immediately but they may surface at a later stage, making treatment quite a task (Institute of medicine, 2010). We cannot talk about smoking effects without mentioning respiratory complications. These account for a large number of deaths every year. Statistics show that most of respiratory conditions have been associated with smokers than with non-smokers. Other effects associated with smoking include chronic coughing, impotence among men, shortness of breath, reduced fitness, early wrinkles formation, loss of appetite, among others (Owing, 2005). One of the most disturbing issues on smoking is that it affects even non-smokers. Second hand smoke is detrimental and has same implications as those of real smokers. Similarly, in pregnant women, cigarettes’ smoke may complicate the growth of the baby in the womb. Stillbirth, premature