In ancient times in India and other neighboring countries people used to smoke Hakka and employed other crude methods. With the passage of time more convenient ways were invented. As a result cigarette and cigar came into vogue. Now research is on to invent smokeless cigarette. It might be a success in due course of time but no one can deny the harmful effects of smoking on health. Prolonged smoking leads to bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer heart, vascular and respiratory diseases.
Smoking Leads to Lung cancer
Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. Carcinogenic compounds accumulate in the lining of the respiratory passage of the smoker which disturbs the normal balance of the cells. Some other forms of cancer common among smokers are cancer of mouth, throat and esophagus. Smoking and air pollutions are the notorious causes of chronic respiratory diseases. Both the particulates and gases produced by smoking interfere with the normal beating of the cilia. As a result, mucus accumulates along the respiratory lining providing habitat for the invading bacteria. Particulates present in the smoke also accumulate on the lining of avow and interfere directly with the ability of surface film to absorb oxygen. Thus, smoking leads to chronic bronchitis. Risk of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is 20 times more among smokers.
Other Effects
If a pregnant woman smokes, the supply of oxygen to the developing child is reduced. The fetus may get retarded babies born to smoking mothers weigh less. The rate of spontaneous abortions (miscarriage), still-birth and infant death up to the age of four months is high among women who smoke. Smokers also have a higher rate of peptic ulcers, gum diseases, tooth loss and other oral problems.
Smoking can Cause Impotence
Smoking can cause impotence, researchers at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States say. Researchers at the centre found smokers were 50 per cent more prone to impotence than non-smokers. The findings published in the US law journal ‘Tobacco on Trial’ quoted the center as saying that cigarette smoke may affect the reproductive abilities of both women and men. Smoking may cause disruption of the chromosomes in human eggs, leading to miscarriages. The Journal quoted researchers form the Toronto General Hospital as saying that they found nicotine and cadmium, another component of cigarette smoke, in fluids that surround mature eggs just before they are fertilized.