Introduction
The Health Effects of Tobacco Smoking can be attributed to active tobacco smoking rather than inhalation of tobacco smoke from environment and passive smoking. According to WHO report (2002). Tobacco smoke is responsible for about 26 percent male and 9 percent female deaths in the developed countries. The health effects of tobacco smoking includes diseases pertaining to cardiovascular system like myocardial infarction; pulmonary disorders like COPD, emphysema, lung cancer and malignancy of the larynx and oral cavity (Witschi, 2001). Tobacco smoke also causes impotence and erectile dysfunction in male (Peate, 2005). The health related risk is proportional to the time and quantity of the smoke that has been inhaled. Studies have shown that the prevalence of smoking is greatest among persons in working class jobs, low educational level, and low income. This takes us to the conclusion that the complexities of class along with race/ethnicity and gender are significant factors that determine smoking habit (Elizabeth M. Barbeau, 2004). Further, acculturation has also an influence on smoking in certain areas like smoking and substance abuse. There is evidence that acculturation has a negative effect and that it is associated with worse health outcomes, behaviors, or perceptions. It has been shown that smoking initiation greatly influences smoking prevalence in the United States (Escobedo, et.al, 1990). It has been found that incidence of smoking initiation increased rapidly after 11 years of age, reaching a peak in groups 17 to 19 years of age, rapidly declining in groups through age 25 years, and gradually declining thereafter indicating that age and educational attainment are the factors most consistently associated with cigarette smoking initiation among all race/ethnic groups in the United States.
A phone survey conducted with 1,669 San Francisco Hispanics (Marin et.al, 1989) has shown that the age-adjusted overall smoking prevalence Hispanic men was 25.4 per cent (95% CI = 23.3, 27.5) with more men (32.4 per cent) smoking than women (16.8 per cent). A study to determine if hypothesized differences in attitudes and beliefs about cigarette smoking between Latino and non-Latino white smokers are independent of years of formal education and number of cigarettes smoked per day has shown that differences in attitudes and beliefs about cigarette smoking between Latinos and whites are independent of education and number of cigarettes smoke (Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable et.al, 1998). A multivariate analyses for gender, age, education, income, and number of cigarettes smoked per day has also shown that Latino ethnicity is a significant predictor of being less likely to smoke while talking on the telephone ,drinking alcoholic beverages, after eating or at a bar and a significant predictor of being more likely to smoke at a party.Latino ethnicity has also been shown to be a significant predictor of a man considering quitting important because of being criticized by family , burning clothes , damaging children’s health, bad breath, family pressure and being a good example to children (Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable et.al, 1998).
Active components of tobacco smoke
About 3000 active chemicals have been detected in tobacco smoke with at least 19 known carcinogens that can cause cancer (Lipworth et.al, 2006). Apart from Nicotine as the major component tobacco smoke contains cyanide and carbon monoxide that can cause tissue damage. The tobacco smoke also contains small traces of radioactive lead and polonium that emit gamma rays and cause mutagenic changes (Martell, 1983). Benzopyrene and Nitrosamine are cancer-causing components, which are formed during the smoking of tobacco by combustion (Sumner et.al, 2006). Nicotine is a powerful neurostimulant that causes physiological and psychological dependence leading to smoking addiction. This in turn contributes to more tobacco to be inhaled and lodged in the tissues causing various diseases that can cause death and permanent disabilities in the system.
Health Effects Of Tobacco Smoke
Tobacco smoke has been found to cause a wide range of diseases like cancer of the lungs, cancer of the kidney, cancer of the larynx, urinary bladder, esophagus, pancreas and stomach. Apart from these, tobacco smoke also causes myeloid leukemia, squamous cell cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer. Tobacco smoke has been found to be the main culprit in cardio vascular diseases, stroke, congenital birth defects, male impotence and cognitive disabilities (Kuper et.al, 2002).
There are about 20 carcinogens in the tobacco smoke that cause lung cancer. Of these, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and a nitrosamine have been found to be tobacco specific. These tobacco specific carcinogens interact with the host DNA, cause mutations in the tumor suppressor genes and induce cancer (Stephen, 1999). Even passive smoking by way of environmental exposure to tobacco smoke has been found to cause lung cancer. An analytical study of incidence of lung cancer in non-smokers has shown that there was a high risk of lung cancer in non-smokers who lived with a smoker taking us to the conclusion that breathing other people’s tobacco can cause lung cancer (Siegel, 1993).
Environmental tobacco smoke has been proved as a significant occupational health hazard for food-service workers. The smoke level in bars has been shown to be 4-56 times higher than in homes. Thus there is evidence to suggest that there is a 50 percent increase in the risk of lung cancer among food service workers due to exposure to tobacco smoke (Hackshaw, 1997). Asthmatic symptoms are common in tobacco smokers. Baseline spirometric measurements of smokers show a forced expiratory volume of 4.38 liters on average. Tobacco smoke stimulates an asthmatic reaction in chronic smokers and a severe bronchial hyper responsiveness has been observed.
Recently serum analysis for serum thyrotropin by solid phase immunoradiometric assay measured by Radioimmuno assay has shown severe thyroid disorders in tobacco smokers with TSH levels of 7.34 against the normal 0.81-3.2 IU/ml. The tobacco particles enter the human system by inhalation route i.e. respiration. The deposition of these particles is influenced by physical and chemical properties and a variety of host factors. n the lungs, these particles produce a variety of reactions depending on the concentration, duration and degree of exposure. Particles greater than 10 microns are deposited on the mucous membrane in the pharynx. Particles between 3 microns and 10 microns are deposited in the trachea of the lungs. But, particles less than 3 microns are deposited in alveoli and have a fair chance of being carried into the blood stream causing various diseases.
Smoking increases the chance of heart attacks because of the ability of the tobacco ingredients to cause narrowing of blood vessels. Blocking the vessels causes stroke. Tobacco ingredients also cause high blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. Smoking has a devastating effect on the oral cavity including oral cancer.
The other exclusive oral diseases due to smoking are Smoker’s palate, leukoplakia, Snuff Dipper lesions, teeth loss and loss of taste sensations (Reibel, 2003). Smoking induces a range of physical and physiological effects like nausea, dizziness and tachycardia. Nicotine acts as a powerful neurostimulant like caffeine and increases adrenaline secretions. This neurostimulation effect causes an addiction and causes irritability, dry mouth, tachycardia, insomnia and depression in abstinence. Research studies have also proved that tobacco smoking enhances the symptoms of serious mental illness like schizophrenia (Hughes, 2006). Tobacco smoking has been cited as an important factor causing male impotence due to the phenomenon of arterial constriction. Smoking reduces male sperm count and reduces motility and fertilizing capacity. Recently there have been suggestions to study the genotoxic effect of smoking at the chromosomal level for possible mutagenesis and chromosomal aberrations. Foetal amniotic cells have been marked a s potential sites of expression of nicotine induced mutagenesis (Rosa, 2005).
Conclusion
The discussions based on scientific research takes us to the conclusion that tobacco smoke is injurious to human health in spite of its stimulating nature. It is thus important to be aware of the harmful effects of smoking tobacco.
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