In recent years, there has been increased awareness about the harmful effects of smoking. It is a well publicized fact that passive smokers are also at increased health risk due to cigarette smoke. Laws have been enforced to declare public places and offices as “No Smoking Zones”. Cigarette manufacturers have been forced by the non smoker’s lobby to display a statutory warning about cigarette smoke being injurious to health on all cigarette packets. Despite all these active measures to curb smoking, there are many who willfully ignore all the dangers associated with smoking tobacco.
Harmful effects of smoking on general health:
Medical research has proven that smokers are three times more likely to suffer from cancer and coronary heart disease as non smokers. Habitual smoking causes lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Smokers endanger passive smokers around them, putting them at increased health risk.
Tobacco smoke contains Nicotine and other carcinogenic substances like arsenic, butane and pyridine. On smoke inhalation, these substances are directly absorbed into the blood and carried to all parts of the body through the blood stream. While nicotine provides an immediate high, smoke slowly kills the body from within.
Smoking greatly affects the digestive system due to increased acid secretion in the stomach, leading to ulcer and heartburn. The rate of pancreatic cancer is also higher among smokers. The kidneys are damaged through high blood pressure caused by smoking. Bladder cancer can result from the carcinogens deposited into the urine by cigarettes.
Harmful effects of smoking on skin:
Tobacco smoke is harmful to all parts of the body. The harmful effects of smoking are more obvious on the skin.
- Smokers usually have dull, pale skin. Medical research has proven that the skin of a smoker looks 10-15 years older than that of a non smoker. This is because nicotine hinders the ability of blood cells to absorb oxygen. Smoking also shrinks the capillaries. The net result is that the body is unable to carry oxygen rich cells to all parts of the body. The result is that skin loses its luster and develops a grey pallor
- The skin on the face is thinnest around the eyes and lips. While inhaling, smokers pucker their lips and crinkle their eyes. Due to habitual smoking, these areas develop wrinkles. Most smokers develop pucker lines around the lips and crows feet around the eyes at an early age.
- Nicotine in tobacco hinders the body’s ability to absorb Vitamins A and C. Both these nutrients are necessary for cell regeneration and revitalization. The result is that the skin is unable to renew itself and develops a leathery texture.