The Evils of Tobacco Use

    Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to inform you of one of the most self-destructive habits you could possibly engage in. The use of tobacco, "smoking" or "chewing". Lets first start with a little bit of information about the harmful substances contained therein. Through the use of tobacco, nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs and the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the U.S. Cigarette smoking accounts for 90% of lung cancer cases in the U.S., and about 38,000 deaths per year can be attributed to secondhand smoke. Cigarettes and chew tobacco are illegal substances in most U.S. states for those under 18; a handful of states have raised the age to 19.
      Nicotine is highly addictive. The tar in cigarettes increases a smoker's risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. The carbon monoxide in smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. Pregnant smokers have a higher risk of miscarriage or low birth-weight babies. Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children. Here is a good video of the effects of tar and other carcinogens left in your body from smoking:

     I think we can all agree that is pretty disgusting. Now that we have a good understanding of the chemicals involved in tobacco that can kill you, lets take a look at some of the physical effects caused by them. Here is a picture of a healthy lung and an abnormal lung caused from smoking:

X-Ray of lung cancer

     Now for all the people that like to "chew" their tobacco instead of smoking it, I haven't forgotten about you. Popular belief among many is that "chewing" is safer than smoking. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have added a few pictures below to illustrate the damage of having mouth cancer.

     For the people who have already started smoking or chewing, there is hope. If you quit now you can significantly reduce your risk of cancer and other harmful effects of tobacco use.
     There are also different types of methods that can help you kick the habit such as nicotine gum, nicotine patches , and a drug called Zyban. Coupled with a support program these treatments can be very successful. There are also some great websites to help if you are a tobacco user such as Smokefree.gov, Quitnet.com, and Quitsmokingsupport.com.
     So please stay away from these harmful habits, if you can't do it for yourself, do it for the ones that you love.

What Happens When You Quit

• Immediately after quitting smoking, heart rate and blood pressure, which is abnormally high while smoking, begin to return to normal.
• Within a few hours, the level of carbon monoxide, which reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, begins to decline.
• Within a few weeks, circulation improves, you don’t produce as much phlegm, and you don’t cough or wheeze as often.
• The workload on the heart is decreased and cardiac function is improved.
• Food tastes better, and your sense of smell returns to normal.
• Everyday activities no longer leave you out of breath.
• Within several months of quitting, you experience significant improvements in lung function.
• In one year, your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke is halved.
• In five years, many kinds of cancer, including lung, larynx, mouth, stomach, cervix, bladder, show decline in risk, and that decline approaches the risk of someone who has never smoked.
• Within 10 to 15 years, risk of lung disease, including bronchitis and emphysema, are decreased.
• Conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, thyroid conditions, hearing loss, dementia, and osteoporosis are positively affected.
• Nerve endings in the mouth and nose begin to regenerate, improving taste and smell.
• Medications may work better, enabling some to be taken in decreased doses.
• If you’re taking birth control pills, quitting smoking will decrease your chance of heart attack and stroke due to clotting.
• You’ll have decreased risk for impotence and infertility.
• If you’re pregnant, you’ll protect your unborn child from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and low birth weight.
• Years will be added to your life: people who quit smoking, regardless of their age, are less likely than those who continue to smoke to die from smoking-related illness.