Introduction
Smoking is one of the oldest traditions followed by millions of people in the world. Despite pleasure and positive feelings, smoking is dangerous as it harms the human body and tissues. Smoking is dangerous as it leads to health-related problems including cardiovascular disease. According to Carr (22), one-third of all deaths in America are caused by coronary heart disease, and at least 30 percent of these deaths are related to smoking. Smoking affects the lungs and respiratory organs causing such terrible diseases as cancer. Among the most wider spread diseases are peptic ulcers, cancer of the larynx, kidney, pancreas, and other major organs. The resins from the smoke enter the blood and ruin cells. This process is inevitable if a person smokes for years. Also, smoking harms the fetus, increasing the risk of spontaneous abortion and low birth weight.
Main body
The investigators explain the effects of smoking on the breath as follows: the rapid pulse rate of smokers decreases the stroke volume during rest since the venous return is not affected and the ventricles lose the habit and ability to make large strokes. Similar conditions arise during strenuous exercise, that is, with the rapid heart rate, the diastolic filling is incomplete and the stroke output remains small. This results in a relatively small unit circulation and oxygen supply to the tissues with the result that an oxygen debt must be incurred. This ends in breathlessness and dyspnœa. Just giving the facts is not enough. Attitudes and behaviors need to be addressed (Rabin and Sugarman, p. 43).
Students want behavioral tips on how to maintain peer acceptability while avoiding the pressure to show how cool they are b smoking. While cigarette ads on television and radio are forbidden, “gifts” of cigarettes to minors (particularly in minority communities) are not discouraged as an advertisement ploy. Moreover, the interlacing of beer ads with sports events and wine cooler ads with upscale women’s television programming sends strong messages to young people about how society views substance use. Role-plays, debates, “raps,” and antismoking jingles allow students an active exploration of their motivation for wanting or not wanting to smoke. These techniques encourage youngsters to think for themselves, to develop their judgments and attitudes (Carr, p. 87). Recently, studies by Rabin and Sugarman (2003) have demonstrated an increased cancer risk in adulthood among children who were exposed to parental smoking in their early years. An overview of the health effects of passive smoking on children and adults is the same as on active smokers. Smoking has direct physiological effects on the body, and the cumulative wear and tear on the system caused by recurring stress can eventually cause damage to the system. Indeed, there is abundant evidence that stress can cause several physiological and biochemical changes (Cnossen, p. 31).
In sum, smoking harms the human body ruining healthy cells and tissues. Smoking is dangerous as it leads to inevitable changes in blood and tissues of the heart and lungs. Smoking can cause neural and endocrine change that alters the normal functioning of the organism (e.g., change in cardiovascular activity or immune system functioning). This physiological stress response is accompanied by behavioral responses as well. Smoking and the subsequent behavioral response to it can affect health and facilitate, if not cause, some illnesses.
Works Cited
- Carr, A. The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Non-Smokers Using Allen Carr’s Easyway Method. Sterling; 1 edition, 2005.
- Cnossen, S. Theory and Practice of Excise Taxation: Smoking, Drinking, Gambling, Polluting, and Driving. Oxford University Press, 2005.
- Rabin, R. L., Sugarman, S.D. Regulating Tobacco. Oxford University Press, 2001.