In almost every environment we go to, we see people who have the terrible habit of smoking. Many of these people know the risks of smoking for the body, but insist on continuing to use this substance.
The biggest problem with cigarette use is the fact that it contains nicotine, a substance that causes chemical dependency. This means that smokers have extreme difficulty quitting the cigarette because they are literally “addicted”.
It is estimated that there are approximately 50 types of diseases caused by smoking, some being milder and some extremely lethal. Data from the National Cancer Institute indicate that smoking is responsible for approximately five million deaths every year worldwide.
The damage caused by smoking appears in the short and long term. Among the problems that quickly occur in the body as a result of cigarette use, we can mention the reduced lung capacity, airway obstruction and increased number of heart beats per minute.
When cigarette use occurs for several years, the damage to health is even greater, as there is a considerable increase in various types of serious diseases, such as cancer, especially lung cancer, strokes, emphysema and heart attacks. It is believed that 90% of people who die from lung cancer are smokers. In addition to these problems, smokers can develop or worsen problems such as high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, asthma and developing more severe forms of tuberculosis.
It is noteworthy that, during pregnancy, smoking can also trigger various damages, such as abortion, increased chances of pregnancy with embryo development outside the womb, low birth weight babies and birth of mentally retarded children and developmental and learning problems.
Passive smokers also suffer damage to health
The risks of cigarettes, although many think otherwise, do not only affect smokers. Passive smokers, that is, people who live with smokers, are also exposed to smoke generated by cigarettes and, consequently, to substances that are harmful to health. Therefore, all the diseases mentioned can be acquired by those who live exposed to smoke.
Important: Law No. 12,546/2011, also called the Anti-Smoking Law, prohibits people from smoking in fully or partially closed places. With this law, a cleaner environment is guaranteed for those who do not use this substance.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
