The sayings, “The Federal Ministry of Health warns that smokers are liable to die young,” “Smoking damages the heart and lungs,” and other warnings have almost become clichés. I found it funny, growing up, that whenever cigarettes were advertised, a warning was attached to it, and even written on the packs. I found it more surprising that people still bought them and smoked, regardless. Speaking with acquaintances who smoke, I get comments such as:
“Those who smoke will die, those who don`t will die too.”
“My grandfather`s been smoking before my dad was born; he still does, and he`s not dead, of course.”
“Oh, there`s more to smoking than you know, my friend; it has its benefits, you know, they won`t just tell you.”
So, who`s not telling the truth? The health experts or the smokers? Maybe none. Yeah, perhaps they`re both right. You will discover as you read on.
A question on the mind of many non-smokers, of which, the answers are already forgotten by many addicted smokers is, “Why do people smoke?”
So why do people smoke?
Experimentation
Source: [1]
A number of people, teens especially, smoke because they find people around them do it. As a child, I saw people smoke but did not have the opportunity to, as my dad was strict and always around me. What I did was to pick an already smoked cigarette, hoping to take a puff, but unfortunately, or maybe fortunately actually, they were already off. People want to try new things. We want to know what others experience when they do the things they do, and as a result, people smoke.
Social Integration
A number of people smoke because they see people around them do it and find the act cool. Smoking is a social habit; hence some people consider themselves “social smokers”. They start out smoking so they can relate better with people around them who smoke. They also feel cool smoking. They, however, realize as they keep smoking that it is difficult to remain a social smoker. Addiction sets in.
Addiction
It stimulates the brain.
It enters the bloodstream.
It calms the nerves.
Its name is nicotine. It keeps smokers wanting more. It gets irresistible. There`s a way the body gets accustomed to nicotine as it flows through the blood. Addicts (many who were only social or occasional smokers) consistently feel the urge for a cigarette. The feeling is difficult to combat. Some health experts claim that nicotine is more addictive than heroin and cocaine. This addiction leads to a psychological dependency on cigarettes; they almost cannot feel ‘normal’ without smoking.
Relaxation
People who are stressed and under much pressure take to smoking. Smoking makes the nerves calm, hence relaxation. It helps the body deal with anxiety, depression, and stress, but of course with a cost—health risks.
What`s worse?
The World Health Organization describes tobacco as “the single most preventable cause of death in the world.” When a cigarette burns, it releases over 7,000 poisonous chemicals which are all harmful to the body. Over 70 of these chemicals cause cancer.
Considering these, one wonders why people still smoke. My mind drifts to the comments made by my acquaintances. Let`s consider them.
“Those who smoke will die, those who don`t will die too.”
True, however, smokers lose over 10-14 years of potential life. Even occasional smoking damages the heart—it increases the risk of heart attack. It is a gradual process which seems slow or nonexistent because the effects are not easily seen. Cigarettes contain:
DDT which is found in insecticides,
methanol which is found in jet fuel,
ammonia found in bleach,
arsenic found in rat poison
How poisonous it is!
So yes, smokers and non-smokers will die eventually, but who is liable to die faster?
“My grandfather`s been smoking before my dad was born; he still does, and he`s not dead, of course.”
This does happen. Researchers found interest in this and found that long-living smokers have certain genes that promote longevity. These genes protect cells in the body from the harm of smoking. They also help these cells maintain and repair themselves, providing protection from aging. Amazingly, these genes also reduce the risk of cancer by 11%.
But, how many smokers have this gene? There are more smokers without it, who suffer cancer and diseases than those who have it. Is it worth the risk?
“Oh, there`s more to smoking than you know, my friend; it has its benefits, you know, they won`t just tell you.”
Like every other practice, there are two sides to smoking. It has its positive sides too. So as unbelievable as it may sound, smoking has some benefits.
Smoking protects against Parkinson`s disease.
The more people smoke, the less likely they are to developing Parkinson`s disease. Nicotine has been discovered to protect neurons which produce dopamine in the midbrain. These dopamine-producing neurons, without the protection of nicotine, could degenerate and die if Parkinson`s disease strikes. But with this protection, smokers cannot be affected by Parkinson`s disease. However, this protective effect ebbs as they quit smoking.
Smoking helps clopidogrel work better
Another benefit of smoking is that it activates proteins called ‘cytochromes’. Cytochromes are a certain protein which converts clopidogrel into a more active state. Clopidogrel is a medication that is used to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Considering the pros and cons, does your health deserve the risks? From mouth cancer to throat cancer, lung cancer, asthma, bad breath, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, heart and blood diseases, colored teeth, coughing, a lessened glow of the skin, lower energy, and the almost endless list goes on…
So the situation is even worse than smokers being liable to die young. They die gradually and are exposed to a lot of risks. So imagine suffering five, six, or seven of the risks for years, and still dying young. What pitiable torture it is. It`s not worth it.
Before puffing over 7,000 lethal chemicals, I mean the cigarette, give it a second thought, and maybe a third one too because smokers are still liable to die young.
Reference
[1] www.imageusa.com
