Stop Smoking Cigs

Statistics show that the negative health effects of smoking result in more deaths in the United States than murder, substance abuse, alcohol, motor vehicle accidents, suicide and AIDS… combined!

The dangers of smoking extend far beyond the effects to the body of the smoker. Their immediately family, the environment, society, and even the economy are all affected. Did you know that there are more than seven hundred chemicals added in cigarettes? In fact, many of them are classified as being toxic and aren’t even allowed to be used in food production!

A cigarette, after being ignited, has the potential to reach over two thousand degrees! This extremely high level of heat is responsible for releasing the above mentioned toxins into your body and the air around you. Some of the toxins found in cigarettes include carbon monoxide, arsenic, cyanide, and numerous cancer-causing chemicals as well. Every time you inhale with a cigarette, you are flooding your body with these.

Dangers Presented by Nicotine

Nicotine is the addictive substance in cigarettes and represents one of the primary dangers. It is both colorless and odorless and highly addictive both physiologically and mentally. Cigarette companies use specially calculated levels of nicotine to encourage an addiction.

The drug enters your body in the form of tiny drops that attach themselves to the tar found in the smoke of the cigarette. From there, it flies directly into both of your lungs, followed by its entrance into your bloodstream. Within a matter of seconds, it goes straight to your brain. Shortly thereafter, it has successfully infiltrated your entire system, killing you slowly.

One of the effects of nicotine is an increased blood pressure and a faster heartbeat. After inhaling from a lit cigarette, the smoker begins to feel much more at ease and comfortable. After approximately thirty to forty minutes, the majority of the nicotine has exited the system, leaving the subject with a feeling of anxiety.

This effect encourages the user to grab yet another cigarette to calm the feelings caused by the crash resulting from the exiting of the nicotine.

The Dangers of Tar

Nicotine is not the only danger from smoking. Tobacco, which is what a cigarette is composed of, builds up inside your lungs over time. As mentioned earlier, the smoke from a cigarette can reach extreme temperatures, which burns cilia (which are tiny hairlike fingers) whose mission is to capture any harmful substances before they enter your lungs. This further promotes bodily damage, since a natural defense mechanism has been destroyed.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a toxic substance that can lead to death if a human is exposed to a high enough amount. This substance is also a prime component in cigarettes. As you breathe in the smoke, it increases the level of this chemical in your lungs, which prevents them from in-taking the proper amount of oxygen, which is necessary for survival.

Due to this lack of oxygen, a smoker is required to put much more effort into any type of physical activity, and as a result, their heart is put under severe stress. Carbon monoxide also has the ability to strain your visual system, internal clock, and coordination.

The Potential for Disease

“Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.”
- Surgeon General’s Warning Located on Cigarette Packaging

Can you guess what the number one cause of death in America each year is? That’s right, cigarettes. The Surgeon General has a label printed on each and every package of cigarettes warning smokers of a variety of diseases, cancers and other health complications.

Smoking is also responsible for a number of respiratory issues that dramatically reduce the quality of life for those affected. They can prevent you from enjoying any activities, life in general, and also massively reduce your life expectancy. Still think there’s a benefit to smoking? Think again.

Over time, anyone affected by cigarettes becomes significantly more likely to suffer from debilitating health complications such as damage to the arteries, heart disease, lung cancer, cancer in your larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and more. Women may suffer from pregnancy complications and cancer of their cervix.

As time continues to pass, a resistance is created in the lungs that slowly prevents oxygen from entering them. There are also cosmetic problems as a result of smoking – yellow teeth, stinky breath, stained fingers, and more. Your house and personal belongings will also be coated in thin layers of smoke.

The Economic Effects of Smoking

Think about the average price of a pack of cigarettes. Recent statistics show this number to be at about four dollars, give or take. Now, let’s do the math and assume you only smoke one pack per day, at $4 each… that equals a total of over $1,500 per year! That money could be much better spent, right? Smoking presents a large cost to anyone maintaining this unhealthy way of life.

Medical Expenses

Are you aware of the extreme costs of medical treatment these days? You’ve probably heard about them in the news or from your friends and family. Perhaps you’ve even experienced them yourself. Smokers have increased insurance premiums and may even deny you many types of coverage.

Getting the diseases outlined above treated are horrifically expensive and will certainly burn a hole in your wallet – pun intended. Plus, you might have to take off work and spend your time in a hospital bed, instead. So now you’ve now not only wasted your money on cigarettes, but you’re spending it on medical treatment and/or raised insurance premiums, and not bringing in any additional money.

Secondhand Smoke

Cigarette smoke doesn’t only affect your life, it affects the lives of everyone around you who is forced to be exposed to it. They suffer even more dangerous medical effects from your bad habit because the smoke to which they are exposed is not even filtered!

Cosmetic Damages

Your breath will smell terrible, your teeth will be stained, and your clothing will reek of smoke and may even be discolored. Darker gums are also an effect of smoking, as well as premature aging and wrinkles.

Miscellaneous Problems

A notable number of house fires have been caused by cigarettes that were not properly extinguished. There is also a significant adverse effect to the environment, caused by the release of carbon monoxide and other chemicals found in cigarettes.

As mentioned earlier, many insurance plans have higher premiums for those who smoke. Some companies may even refuse to extend coverage to you. Your bad habit could also put your pension and social security at risk.

The average person, when asked if they find smoking to be unattractive, would respond in the affirmative. Nobody wants to kiss someone who tastes like an ashtray. They wouldn’t want to cuddle with someone whose clothing smells like smoke. Your skin, hair and nails are also affected.

Finally, we can’t neglect the emotional costs caused by smoking… addictions can restrict your freedom and impair your desired lifestyle. You’re also hurting your family and will be faced with a lot of pressure to finally give up your smoking addiction.

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