Side Effects of Smoking on Health

Dear cousin

It has been a long time since we interacted and this letter comes to you as a reminder that I still love you. I am doing exceptionally well, and I trust that it is the same with you even as you progress in your studies.  However, I spoke to aunty last week, and she informed me that you had picked up on tobacco smoking. I was so much disappointed and with the great concern and love I have for you I could not hesitate to talk to you over the same. I hope that after reading this letter, you will be enlightened enough to make a sober decision over the same.

From a recent report that was released by The Centre for Disease Control in the United States, cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the country. The report indicates that more than ten times US citizens have died prematurely from the smoke of tobacco as compared to that that have been killed in the war. The world is estimated to have close to 1.1 billion tobacco users in the world as predicted by the WHO (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). The use of tobacco has been known to impact poverty and development, and this is primarily in poorer countries where up to 30% of the income is spent on smoking which then reduces this funds that would have been used for education and healthcare. In the 20^th century alone it is estimated that 100 million individuals died from tobacco-related diseases and it is projected that 1 billion persons could pass away this century from tobacco-related diseases. In general, tobacco kills up to 50% of its users at all times.  Worldwide it is estimated that smoking kills more than 6 million people per year (“Tobacco Statistics & Facts – ASH > Action on Smoking & Health,” 2018).

The health effects of tobacco on the users cannot be underestimated and should be taken into consideration before adopting this habit. As research by Sylvia has indicated, using any of these products exposes the user to more than 7000 toxicants and at least 70 carcinogens thus damaging the whole body. A regular smoker typically loses more than a decade of life.  The harm that tobacco use causes can begin from birth as pregnant women who smoke give birth to infants at a higher of getting congenital disorders (Font & Maguire-Jack, 2016).  One of the significant health effects of tobacco smoking is on the brain.  Nicotine shares the same characteristics with heroin in addictiveness as the mind finds it hard to beat the addiction.

As a consequence, the brain has to develop more receptors that will put up with the vast quantities of nicotine from tobacco, and when the brain fails to get the nicotine, it is used to its results to nicotine withdrawal syndrome. This condition is characterized by anxiety, irritability a strong desire for the nicotine. Tobacco smoking also has effects on the ears in which it affects the supply of oxygen to the cochlea and after prolonged use of permanent destruction to the cochlea and mild loss of hearing ability. Some physical changes may occur to the eyes due to smoking and among such which may, in the long run, threaten one’s ability to see. This is especially since nicotine resists the generation of the necessary chemicals that are important for helping people see at night. Smoking may also increase the chances of one developing cataracts and macular degeneration that may result to permanent loss of eyesight. Dry skin may arise as a side effect of smoking and also the loss of elasticity which may lead to wrinkles and stretch marks. You should be able to note that smoking may elevate one’s blood pressure putting stress on the heart and over time this may reduce its ability to distribute blood to other parts of the body. The carbon monoxide that is inhaled from a cigarette may lead to lack of oxygen, and this makes the heart work even harder (“Health Effects | Tobacco Atlas,” 2018).

More importantly, smoking will make your blood thick and have a high viscosity, and the heart also has to work extra hard to make it move around. The stickiness may also result in blood clots which may block blood flow to the heart and thus increasing cholesterol and unhealthy fats. More importantly, smoking affects the lungs in many ways, and one of the significant effects is that it leads to scarred lungs (Abuse & Administration, 2016). This makes the lungs feel tight and wheeze or feel short of breath. Smoking also affects the DNA, and this may be linked to the abnormal multiplication of cells that may result in cancer. Lastly, cancer may lead to erectile dysfunction leading to infertility. People who smoke continuously have a high white blood cell count, and this is the vital sign that your body is under stress as a result if the inflammation caused. There are still many others effects of smoking that I have not mentioned in this letter which are also extreme and life-threatening (“Health Effects,” 2018).

I hope this gives you a reason to stop this habit and consider your future days to come. It is still early and you can seek help from the rehabilitation centers around town or confide to anyone you think can help overcome the addiction. If you need you, we can arrange and meet and have a discussion over the same.  I hope to hear your response soon and am glad to help anywhere I can.

Best regards

Nick

References

Abuse, S., & Administration, M. H. S. (2016). 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Font, S. A., & Maguire-Jack, K. (2016). Pathways from childhood abuse and other adversities to adult health risks: the role of adult socioeconomic conditions. Child abuse & neglect, 51, 390-399.

Health Effects | Tobacco Atlas. (2018). Retrieved from https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/health-effects/

Health Effects. (2018). Retrieved from https://smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/why-you-should-quit/health-effects

Tobacco Statistics & Facts – ASH > Action on Smoking & Health. (2018). Retrieved from https://ash.org/programs/tobacco-statistics-facts/

US Department of Health and Human Services. (2014). The health consequences of smoking—50 years of progress: a report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 17.