One of the top leading causes of preventable deaths and illness in the United States, is tobacco.
Approximately 20 million people as of 1964 have died from the use of tobacco, and an estimated 2.5 million from second hand smoke (Services). One single cigarette contains over 7,000 chemicals which include ammonia, nicotine, arsenic, and acetone. Some of these chemicals are very dangerous poisons and are known to cause different types of cancer. When cigarettes were first discovered there were not as many harmful chemicals in them, nowadays the harmful chemicals that are put into cigarettes are also found in rat poison and gasoline. Smoking has many negative effects on the health of an individual such as heart disease, lung cancer, COPD and death. …show more content…
The second considerable effect of smoking is lung cancer. Lung cancer is a cancer that begins in the tissues of the lungs or the cells lining the airways. This cancer originates when the normal lung cells become cancerous, and begin to divide (Eldridge). Research shows that in the United States alone, 90% of lung cancer cases are a result of cigarette smoke (Fast Facts). Doctors believe that when a person smokes one cigarette it instantly damages the cells lining the liver. With the first inhale of smoke the body attempts to repair the damage that was done to the lungs, but with repeated exposure to smoke the lungs can no longer function properly, and from there the cells begin to act abnormally and cancer becomes more likely.
The third considerable effect of smoking is COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
COPD is one of the most common lung diseases in the world, and is also the third leading cause of death in the United States. Along with lung cancer, smoking causes 90% of COPD cases in the world (centers for disease). Smokers who suffer with lung damage have a greater chance of developing COPD.
Approximately 20 million people as of 1964 have died from the use of tobacco, and an estimated 2.5 million from second hand smoke (Services). One single cigarette contains over 7,000 chemicals which include ammonia, nicotine, arsenic, and acetone. Some of these chemicals are very dangerous poisons and are known to cause different types of cancer. When cigarettes were first discovered there were not as many harmful chemicals in them, nowadays the harmful chemicals that are put into cigarettes are also found in rat poison and gasoline. Smoking has many negative effects on the health of an individual such as heart disease, lung cancer, COPD and death. …show more content…
The second considerable effect of smoking is lung cancer. Lung cancer is a cancer that begins in the tissues of the lungs or the cells lining the airways. This cancer originates when the normal lung cells become cancerous, and begin to divide (Eldridge). Research shows that in the United States alone, 90% of lung cancer cases are a result of cigarette smoke (Fast Facts). Doctors believe that when a person smokes one cigarette it instantly damages the cells lining the liver. With the first inhale of smoke the body attempts to repair the damage that was done to the lungs, but with repeated exposure to smoke the lungs can no longer function properly, and from there the cells begin to act abnormally and cancer becomes more likely.
The third considerable effect of smoking is COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
COPD is one of the most common lung diseases in the world, and is also the third leading cause of death in the United States. Along with lung cancer, smoking causes 90% of COPD cases in the world (centers for disease). Smokers who suffer with lung damage have a greater chance of developing COPD.