Free Essay

Smoking, the Effects

In:

Submitted By FericKorman
Words 1433
Pages 6
A tall man stands outside in the cold weather, wearing a hooded jacket and jeans in the chilly air. With a cigarette dangling in between his fingers and a faraway look in his eyes, he takes a drag and watches the smoke disappear into the air. Then, in order to get rid of the smell staying in his thick clothes, the man sprays on somewhat heavy cologne and washes his hands profusely with strongly-scented soap. He also goes to the sink and spits out spearmint mouthwash. However, the effects of the smoke remain no matter what, and can never completely go away. I used to be that man. I smoked for many years of my life before quitting cold turkey three years ago. It has been awhile since I have stopped smoking, but I still remember the taste and smell like yesterday, almost like second nature. I remember the way I would stop over at the gas station after work, looking over the Marlboros available in their shiny blue and green boxes, almost resembling unwrapped candy. I think the cigarette companies intentionally make the boxes look that way despite their health warnings, for everyone judges a product by its cover. Sometimes I would forgo the menthols and smoke the Marlboro Reds, the strongest kind, which isn't every smoker's cup of tea. Before work, I would buy a new pack along with a cup of black coffee to start the day. Coffee and cigarettes are two famous vices a lot of people seem to start the day with anyway.
It wasn't at all unusual to me. After all, growing up, I experienced smoking in my house. My Mom and my Stepdad were healthy people, and my Mom smoked. Smoking inside and outside of the house was the norm. They grew up in a time in which there weren't scary commercials or advertisements for cigarettes, a time period in which pregnant women smoked in public without getting a second glance on the street. Anyone at that time could see the characters of "I Love Lucy" smoking without a care in the world. It was not only a social thing, but a normal thing. Looking at my healthy Mom back then, you would have no idea that she would be in the condition she is now. It is a difficult image to bear, the type that no one conceives of in their childhood.
My Mom has severe emphysema and needs an oxygen tank in order to function around the house. She can hardly walk and is always out of breath. It is hard to see her like this. It is a dire, grave condition to be in. Yet, in the irony of it, she refuses to quit. She has a whole carton of cigarettes of the house and doesn’t plan on letting go of it soon. Painful health conditions are not enough to convince her to do so, and smoking is a lifestyle habit that she only knows. It is very hard to accept. From an objective point of view, her lifestyle is a juxtaposition of contradicting images, one containing an oxygen mask and another holding a Camel cigarette, the kind that supposedly tastes like chocolate. My Stepdad does not smoke but is affected by the second-hand form of it. He has smoke-related asthma and headaches. He has to be dependent upon inhalers and other prescription medications containing tapered doses of Prednisone. There are times in which he will cough and wheeze repeatedly through the day and have to be sent to the hospital. There have been occurrences of unexpected asthma attacks and I would have to drive him to the Emergency Room. On most days, he has to take Benadryl and Claritin, all over-the-counter drugs so that his allergies would become more manageable. All because of smoking, all because of a habit, all because of nicotine and possibly other additives we have no idea rolled up into a fancy-looking tube. My Stepdad's condition does not seem to be all that uncommon. It is a reflection of how smoking both inside and outside can affect others without us realizing it. We tend to think that something so small couldn't add up to something big, that a few particles of smoke couldn't really harm someone. It's probably analogous as to thinking that eating McDonald's French Fries everyday wouldn't hurt us since it couldn't be the worst thing to eat in the world, or to thinking that too many beers a day isn't the same as drinking a whole of bottle vodka, so it must be okay in the end. Life is never like that. I have learned that things, both good and bad, tend to accumulate. We don't tend to see it when we're very young, but things add up. It's like having a few dollars become a few thousand over time. Or it can be like spending twenty dollars here and there before realizing you've spent over a thousand dollars. In the same way, a habit, depending if it's a good one or bad one, can make or break us. And if we smoke outside, especially, what we exhale can harm a passerby's health. We may not be the single factor in causing someone's asthma or lung cancer, but we contribute to it.
Another experience I have known about dealing with smoking outside is not my own first-hand, but one belonging to one of my friends. About ten years ago, my friend, a native Californian, went on a road trip so that she could accomplish her lifelong dream of finally visiting New York City. After a few days, she finally arrived in the Big Apple. She was very excited as she and her friends got out of the car. But instead of feeling welcomed, she was immediately hit by a thick waft of cigarette smoke by a pedestrian who was smoking it, not caring that she was only a mere few inches away from him as he blew the smoke out of his mouth. She was literally in a cloud. He acted like she was not there at all, walking on the sidewalk and not even turning his head to look. No apologies or “excuse me” were given. Not only did it sensitive her allergic rhinitis, it also reddened her face due to her chronic eczema. While she ended up enjoying her trip and tried not to let the incident bother her, it was hard for her to forget. She thought it was very inconsiderate and very rude. From some smokers’ points of view, it may have simply been an accident. When someone is lighting up a cigarette, nothing else may inhabit the mind besides lighting it. However, I have never been that disrespectful whenever I smoked outside. I always made sure that no one was directly in front of my face, and always put out my cigarette properly instead of just randomly throwing it in a public area or throwing it in the dirt without putting it out. But to some people, I can see why one bad experience with a smoker may represent all smokers to them. It is because the habit is stigmatized and looked down upon, and anything associated with it isn’t necessarily positive. I did quit three years ago, I have smoked for over twenty years ever-since I was a teenager. I smoked because virtually everyone in my circle of friends and age group was doing it, it wasn't a premeditated habit or image I strived for just to be "cool". Plus, my Mother and I bonded over smoking despite any problems between each other at the time before watching the ashes burn out inside a glass ashtray. But even though I no longer buy Marlboros with my coffee or take little smoke breaks at work, I can't say I have never paid the price. I currently suffer from asthma and it can be difficult to deal with sometimes. A lot of people do have it, but we don't have to have it. It is a condition that can be prevented by not smoking inside or outside, period. There is no way around it, no in-between Smokers and non-smokers alike suffer from the consequences of it, and the message needs to be understood more, loud and clear. When it comes to staring at one’s life in the face, it isn’t ash at the bottom of a dish that is being looked at, it is the ash-like sand pouring down the bottom of an hourglass that is all too real.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Effects of Smoking

...Effects of Smoking Did you know cigarette smoke is the leading cause of preventable death? It kills about 500,000 Americans each year, and many more suffer from smoking related illness caused by both direct smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. (Whelan, 1996) The effects of smoking cigarettes are mainly related to a person’s health, but there are other effects of smoking that people do not realize. I think the three major effects smoking has on a person’s: health, the health of those around them, and on their pocket. Whether you are a smoker or know someone who is, you need to be informed of the serious effects smoking has on a person. There are many health concerns related to smoking effects to a person’s body from head to toe. The two commonly known are: lung disease and heart disease. Smoking has an effect on the lungs functions when oxygen you breathe in is exchanged with carbon monoxide. It starts to damage the lungs tissue, impairing its ability to take in oxygen. A smoker’s lungs also has decreased blood flow, robbing both the lung and body tissue of the nutrients and oxygen they need to be healthy and to function normally. (Whelan, 1996) This leads to lung disease and later can turn into lung cancer. When a person lights up a cigarette and starts smoking their heart rate begins to rise, and does not return to normal until after smoking has stopped. Blood pressure also returns to normal between episodes of smoking. But smoking throughout the day results in higher...

Words: 535 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Effects of Smoking

...The Effects of Smoking Smoking is one of the most common vices that some people have. For smokers, it has already become a part of their daily routine. In fact, the number of smokers has been dramatically increasing every year. In this essay, I will be discussing more about smoking with the hope of convincing smokers to consider quitting smoking. According to a news by the Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations (FAO), the number of smokers has increased from 1.1 billion to 1.3 billion worldwide which is equivalent to an increase of about 1.5% annually. If we are to count the tons of tobacco sold annually, it would reach about 7.1 million (“Higher world,” 2004). Given that fact, it is very disturbing and disappointing to know that this bad habit is slowly spreading to almost seven billion people worldwide like an epidemic. However, let us try considering some of the reasons why they smoke. Seeing their older relatives or their parents smoke makes them consider starting smoking as well. As a result, most teenagers think that smoking makes them look matured. Another reason why they smoke is peer pressure. If one’s group of friends is a group of smokers, there is a high possibility that he will also be influenced by them for the sake of fitting in. Minors also tend to be excited to try something new such as smoking. Some also consider smoking as their way of relieving from their personal problems; it is where they pour out all their stress. Lastly, they use...

Words: 1358 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Effects of Smoking

...The Effects of Smoking The harmful substances in cigarette smoke include:- * Tar * Carbon Monoxide * Nicotine Short Term effects of tar * It settles in the lining of alveoli causing th diffusion distance to increase. * The chemicals in tar cause an allergic reaction. This forces the smooth muscle to contract and narrows the lumen. * It destroys the cilia so mucus cannot be removed. It also makes the goblet cells secrete more mucus. * Bacteria and Viruses build up in the mucus and can block the bronchioles leading to infection. Long Term effects of tar * Smokers cough is an attempt to remove the mucus and bacteria blocking the bronchioles. * However, this cough damages the lining of the airways and alveoli. This is replaced by thicker scar tissue that reduces diffusion pathway and narrows the lumen as it replaces smooth muscle. The flow of air is restricted. * Infections due to the bacteria and viruses in the layer of mucus inflame the airways. This damages the epithelium. White blood cells try to remove the infection they use enzymes like elastase to get in to the airway. This damages the elastic tissue and can lead to bronchioles and alveoli bursting. Effects of Nicotine * It mimics the action of transmitter substances at the synapses. This makes the person feel more alert. * Nicotine causes adrenaline to be released. This raises heart rate, breathing rate and causes constriction of the arterioles. This raises blood...

Words: 992 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

The Effects of Smoking

...Smoking can be deliberated as one of the maximum unsafe lifestyles that any person can have. Smoking kills more people each year, even more than motor vehicle accidents, drunk driving, and prohibited drugs. Despite this fact, people still continue to smoke today. Whatever the reason, individuals need to smoke even though they know the deadly outcome. Since there is no actual motive that causes people to smoke but a number of them possibly will start smoking because they saw somebody they idolized is smoking and believed it was cool to do it. The effect of smoking cigarettes, it can become very hazardous too human’s life. Most of all, there are various reasons that make people smoke and there could be numerous effects on their health by smoking cigarettes. Even though smokers claim that it helps them to unwind and release stress, the harmful aspects of the habit take over the positive. Even though it has been stated by the scientists and experts, there are a number of details of smoking. Then again it’s crucial to identify the risks and it must be taken into consideration. On the other hand, it can be separated into two leading reasons, which are physical and mental. The leading cause of physical anxieties is the human body craves nicotine. It is the substance which is the roots of craving. Smoking is a tough practice to halt for the reason that tobacco encompasses nicotine, which is extremely addictive. Similar to other addictive drugs, such as cocaine, and heroin the body...

Words: 841 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Effects of Smoking

...The health effects of tobacco are the circumstances, mechanisms, and factors of tobacco consumption on human health. Epidemiological research has been focused primarily on cigarette tobacco smoking,[1] which has been studied more extensively than any other form of consumption.[2] Tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally.[3] Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), and cancer (particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer). It also causes peripheral vascular disease and hypertension. The effects depend on the number of years that a person smokes and on how much the person smokes. Starting smoking earlier in life and smoking cigarettes higher in tar increases the risk of these diseases. Also, environmental tobacco smoke, or secondhand smoke, has been shown to cause adverse health effects in people of all ages.[4] Cigarettes sold in underdeveloped countries tend to have higher tar content, and are less likely to be filtered, potentially increasing vulnerability to tobacco-related disease in these regions.[5] The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco caused 5.4 million deaths in 2004[6] and 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century.[7] Similarly, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

Words: 417 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Effects of Smoking

...I wrote a paper for English A111 Written Communication. Thought you all might like to read it. 6 double spaced pages of content and a page of sources. (When I posted the article it didnt transfer the double spacing) 75% of the sources had to be from peer-reviewed articles. Its formatted oddly, and in third person, but thats the way he wanted it. Feel free to point and laugh, its already submitted and graded (got an A) so I can't change it. I had to keep it fairly basic so I didnt get into mods or too deep into the chemistry. Smoking without dying is every smoker’s fondest dream. Simply quitting is much easier said than done and hundreds of thousands of smokers have tried to quit multiple times. Finally there is a viable alternative; electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes enable smokers to avoid the damage combusted tobacco does, yet avoid withdrawals or having to “break the habit”. Electronic cigarette use is one-sixth the cost, doesn’t stink, or stain walls and teeth. Furthermore there are no objectionable smells and can be enjoyed almost anywhere without having to step outside. Users inhale a vaporized propylene glycol liquid that contains nicotine and flavorant, all that’s exhaled is a water vapor. Best of all electronic cigarettes are far healthier and have little or no health drawbacks. Smokers sicken or die from the other chemicals in the smoke not the nicotine (T Powledge, 2004). E-Cigarette liquid is composed of liquid nicotine in a propylene glycol...

Words: 1310 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The Cause and Effects on Smoking

...The Cause and Effects on Smoking In earlier times, tobacco was called herba panacea- meaning cure-all herb. People used to believe Tobacco had medicinal value. Some people even believed that smoking cleaned out the lungs. A French Ambassador named Jean Nicot brought Tobacco plants to Portugal in 1559, telling friends it was useful in treating wounds, asthma and cancer. The words nicotine and nicotiana came from Jean Nicot's last name. Did you know that in spite of the dangers, many people still become smokers. Many young people begin smoking as an act of rebellion or independence. Most adults smoke for relaxation and pleasure, and to satisfy a craving for nicotine. The purpose of this essay is to discuss three effects of cigarette smoking; such as its the leading cause of many life-threatening diseases, the appearance of premature aging on the body, and the extra cost of living. The effects of smoking on human health are serious and in many cases, deadly. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body. There are approximately 4,000 chemicals in cigarettes, hundreds of which are toxic. The ingredients in cigarettes affect everything from the internal functioning of organs to the efficiency of the body's immune system. Not only does smoking increase a persons’ chances of developing lung cancer but many other cancers as well; including lip, oral, pharynx, esophagus, larynx, pancreas, cervix, bladder, and even kidney. The effects of smoking on the body can also include...

Words: 516 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

The Effects Of Teenage Smoking

...seen in chimney sweepers were caused by soot and that tobacco may have similar effects. This was one of the earliest recognized instances of smoking being related to ill health. Cigarette making machines were developed in the second half of the 1800s. The first such machines produced about 200 cigarettes per minute, whereas today’s machines produce about 9,000 per minute (A Brief History of Smoking, 2014).Hence, teenagers are becoming addicted to smoking...

Words: 895 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Bad Effect of Smoking

...Introduction: Like most people, we already know that smoking and drug addiction is bad for your health. But we do not know how dangerous smoking and drugs really are. Tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive drug that makes it difficult for smokers to kick the habit. Tobacco products also contain many poisonous and harmful substances that cause disease and premature death. Did we know that out of a group of 1000 smokers (age 30), that a full quarter of them (250!) will die of smoking-related illnesses prior to completing middle age, an additional quarter will die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses shortly after retirement age, and another large group will develop debilitating chronic illnesses as a result of their smoking? Most people don't know the odds of getting sick as a result of smoking are really that bad, but when you do the numbers, that is how they come out. People usually take drugs because they want to change something in their lives. Here are some of the reasons young people gave for taking drugs: * To fit in * To escape or relax * To relieve boredom * To seem grown up * To rebel * To experiment They think drugs are a solution. But eventually, the drugs become the problem. The consequences of drug use are always worse than the problem one is trying to solve with them. For many people, truly understanding the very real dangers associated with smoking and drugs becomes the motivating factor that helps them to quit. Although...

Words: 4269 - Pages: 18

Free Essay

Negative Effects of Smoking

...Negative Effects of Smoking Cigarettes An estimated 42.1 million people in the United States of America smoke cigarettes. Before people decide to smoke they should think about the consequences that smoking cigarettes have. Addiction, health problems, and pregnancy risk are a few of the many effects of smoking. Addiction is the most common effect in smokers. Cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance found naturally in tobacco. Nicotine travels quickly to the brain when it is inhaled and can cause a feeling of temporary relaxation and/or stress relief. This temporary feeling is what smokers enjoy. Nicotine has a calming effect on smokers who are anxious or worried. The nicotine addiction can also affect smokers’ moods. If smokers do not replenish this need for nicotine, they may experience irritability, anxiety, restlessness, and increased appetite. Cigarettes contain over 7,000 toxic substances, which can lead many health problems. Over 440,000 people are diagnosed with some type of disease or disorder every year. Breathing problems are the first problems to appear in smokers. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a breathing disease that is very common in smokers. COPD is the number one risk factor for developing lung cancer. COPD causes wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Smoking cigarettes can give smokers heart problems such as cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and many other heart issues. Smoking cigarettes...

Words: 326 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Cause and Effect of Smoking

... Cause and Effects of Smoking What are the causes of smoking? Is there anyone who does not know someone who smokes? We all know at least one family member, friend, or co-worker who smokes. They have chosen to smoke for some of then since they were in their early teens, but by just being around them, many people are also starting smoking indirectly. Before one chooses to take this risk he or she should think what problems they can face because of it. There are many causes for smoking but effects of smoking are same. Smoking is a hazardous habit because it leads to addiction, disease, and high-risk pregnancy. For example, addiction is one of the bad side effects of smoking and it is caused by nicotine. Once one inhales the cigarette he or she will want the need for another one. Many people change there personalities because of the addiction to smoking. One may adopt more grouchy and violent behavior and need a cigarette to relax, but instead it is doing more damage. Researchers have found ways to control addictions and some have succeeded while many have failed. People at a younger age start to get addicted by the nicotine in the cigarette and this is where the problem starts. One of the major effects of smoking is also causing of fatal diseases. First, a major disease caused by smoking is cancer. According to American lung association of Texas lung cancer is leading killer of both men and women in U.S.A and number one cause of lung cancer is smoking. This disease...

Words: 577 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Cause and Effect of Smoking

...Causes and Effects of Smoking Smoking is considered as one of the most dangerous habits of an individual, especially for women and children eventually leading to several complications and causing grave health problems. There are numerous harmful as well as dangerous effects related with smoking. Carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarette smoking has been related with several adverse impacts on lungs and heart. For example, in pregnant women it can eventually result in grave outcomes including; low birth weight babies, preterm delivery; premature rupture of membranes, placental abnormalities, and increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. It is pertinent to mention that smoking causes vascular diseases that in turns affect flow of blood through the placenta. Smokers, in fact, look older than they actually are because the blood vessels are partially obstructed and calcified. The complications resulting from placental abruption are more common in smokers. As mentioned above, smoking cigarette includes carbon monoxide. Since carbon monoxide is the replacement for oxygen in the blood during smoking, there are some fetuses that could attempt to compensate for this particular deprivation by creating extra red blood cells for the purpose of carrying extra oxygen. In some extraordinary cases, the blood gets thicker from the proliferation of such cells and ultimately cuts off the supply of blood to critical organs with fatal results. Smoking causes a person's heart to run in overdrive...

Words: 1042 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

The Effects of Tobacco Smoking

...about 431,000 deaths in the United States each year. Lung cancer accounts for about 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States, and smoking accounts for nearly 90 percent of lung cancer deaths. Cigarettes, the most popular method of smoking, consist of finely shredded tobacco rolled in lightweight paper. Until the 1940s, smoking was considered harmless, but laboratory and clinical research has since confirmed that tobacco smoke presents a hazard to health. Smoke from the average cigarette contains around 4,000 chemicals, some of which are highly toxic. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking is the most preventable cause of death in America today, and it is imperative for smokers to be aware of the effects of smoking. The effects of tobacco smoking are: increasing the risk of developing a wide array of cancers, suffering from life-threatening respiratory ailments, increasing the chances of birth complications, and becoming addicted to the substance. According to the American Legacy Foundation (2008), the risks of dying from lung cancer; and contracting cancer of the larynx, oral cavity, esophageus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas are 23 times higher for smokers than for non-smokers. In general, the risk of developing a tobacco-related cancer depends on the intensity of the habit as determined by the duration of the smoking habit, number of cigarettes smoked per day, tar content of the cigarette, and the depth of inhalation. Studies have also shown that various...

Words: 292 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Effects of Cigarettes Smoking

...Cigarette Smoking 1 The effects of cigarette smoking on the American public are of significant concern in America. This effect is harmful to the body’s major organs, causing many diseases and generally alters the health and life of smokers. There is considerable different health risk, which result in diseases and changes in the Larynx with elevated levels of stress in the vocal area (Guimaraio and Abberton, 2005). Lung cancer is only one of the diseases associated with smoking cigarettes. The diagnosis of lung cancer risk increases due to the number of cigarettes a person smokes over time. The use of tobacco, principally cigarette smoking, in America, is the lone most preventable cause of death. A person smoking at least two packs of cigarettes per day would have what, doctors call a smoker with a history of 20 packs year. While a smoker with a history of 20 packs, risk of lung cancer, increases, the same is less in a cigarette smoker, having a history of 10 packs per year. A smoker with a history of smoking 30 packs a year or more risk developing lung cancer at a higher rate. Approximately one in seven who smoke two or more packs of cigarettes a day will die from...

Words: 1211 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Effects Of Smoking Essay

...INTRODUCTION In this study we are going to study about the background of smoking and are the smoking good in our health? All of us know that smoking is not good in our health because it can cause so many diseases such as According to Harry Mills PH.D.(2005) that many people nowadays smoke cigarette even teenagers smoke. Some other people have no idea about the chemical of a tobacco and what it can cause in our body. Because the effects of cigarette like lung cancer, heart disease and mouth cancer. But if you really love your body you will quit or you will lessen smoking because he/she you know the bad effects of cigarette smoking. Considered that cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for many cancers and respiratory diseases. Because the heavier the usage of an individual and the longer he smokes, the higher the...

Words: 743 - Pages: 3