Cigarettes contain over 4000 chemicals, at least 43 of them are known to cause cancer. These chemicals can affect both the smoker and the people around them (
passive smoking). With every cigarette you smoke, you are inhaling:
- Nicotine
- Carbon Monoxide
- Tar
- Phenols
Nicotine is the addictive drug in tobacco. It is a central nervous system stimulant and with regular use, it produces feelings of
- pleasure
- relief of anxiety
- improved memory and task performance
- wakefulness
- anorexia
Nicotine also:
- increases your heart rate and blood pressure
- causes your heart and blood vessels to work harder
- constricts blood vessels
- reduces your blood flow to your extremities (hands and feet)
- increase the risk of blood clots that can lead to strokes
Carbon Monoxide leaves your vital organs (muscles, heart and brain) with less oxygen. With less oxygen, your heart has to work harder to pump blood and oxygen so your organs can function.
Tar clogs your lungs with cancer causing chemicals. Smoking low tar or "light" cigarettes doesn't reduce the amount of tar (or other cancer causing chemicals) because the smoker usually takes deeper puffs.
Phenols damage and destroys the small hairs lining the airways. These small hairs are used to clean your airways, and when destroyed, it leaves your lungs vulnerable to irritants and cancer causing chemicals.
Inhaling these chemicals and others is certain to increase
health risks of the smoker.
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