Smoking Cigarettes Research

“Three cigarettes in, your body already craves it. It is that addictive.” The given quote could be related to several people in my life. My mother, father, sister, stepfather, and stepsister all contribute to the awful habit of smoking cigarettes. Growing up, my mother has always smoked-- all day and every day. While there was not any noticeable harm being done--the older I got--the more I could see the toll it was taking on her. Her once young skin began to wrinkle as the years went on. Her beautiful, white smile turned into a dentist’s worst nightmare. Because of smoking, my mother is weak, fatigued and different. While I can not get mad at my mother for smoking cigarettes, I can only get upset towards the addiction that has taken her hostage. …show more content…
Smoking one cigarette increases carbon monoxide levels in the lungs. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, poisonous gas that is instantly absorbed into the blood replacing oxygen. Due to this, the heart has to work harder to get the approximate amount of oxygen to the muscles, brain, heart and other organs. When nicotine is breathed in by the individual, it only takes about ten seconds for it to reach the brain. Nicotine leads to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Not only does it affect the brain and heart, it also affects the respiratory system, as well. Due to this, individuals who smoke experience persistent coughing and the excessive production of phlegm. While smoking leads to hundreds of health issues, there are, in fact, ways that cigarettes assist in preventing certain diseases. Some of these diseases and health issues include Parkinson’s disease, psychiatric symptoms, and obesity.
Any individual can experience the negative effects that are retrieved after smoking, no matter the age or gender. Long-term smoking can lead to several different types of cancers. Smoking can cause lung, esophagus, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, liver, and pancreas cancer; however, the list continues to grow. In comparison, smoking can also cause heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cataracts, and aortic aneurysms (a balloon-like bulge in an artery in the chest). Smoking causes cancer by damaging …show more content…
Smoking, believe it or not, can help prevent Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system. This disease causes nerve cells in the brain to slowly die and causes spastic movements. The nicotine that is naturally found in tobacco products is believed to be the leading cause for this prevention. While doctors do not recommend smoking, it can, in fact, help prevent this fatal disease. Similarly, smoking also reduces the risk of obesity because nicotine is an appetite