Does smoking really damage your health? Discuss your findings.
Zubair Shaikh
Introduction to Study ASB012
Does smoking really damage your health? Discuss your findings.
"Tobacco smoke is a complex mixture of more than 4,000 chemicals in the form of gases, particles or both. When you inhale cigarette smoke, dozens of harmful substances enter your lungs and spread through your body. They can reach your brain, heart and other organs within 10 seconds of the first puff." (Winstanly. M et al 1995)
Tobacco is a plant which has been grown over thousands of years upon which many scientific experiments have taken place. The researchers have looked into the matter in many ways. The experiments through research have shown many results regarding the issue, whether smoking is harmless or harmful.
The essay will differentiate between the two issues and give an insight into the matter to evaluate the damage of health caused by smoking.
A cigarette is known to contain thousands of chemicals in the form of tobacco. Some of these chemicals are used in other everyday products such as aerosols and paints. The main chemicals which contribute inside a cigarette are known to be nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide.
Over many years, scientific research has been undergoing relating to these chemicals and what effects they have on the human body and brain. This is due to the increase in cancer.
In a recent study (Dossing, M 2001) it shows that "One in five people die from lung cancer and 0.5% of people who have developed lung cancer have never touched a cigarette". The study indicates that smoking cigarettes has a relation with lung cancer.
"When nicotine is taken it is absorbed into the blood system and reduces circulation in the blood." (Dr. Traquet p. ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
Over many years, scientific research has been undergoing relating to these chemicals and what effects they have on the human body and brain. This is due to the increase in cancer.
In a recent study (Dossing, M 2001) it shows that "One in five people die from lung cancer and 0.5% of people who have developed lung cancer have never touched a cigarette". The study indicates that smoking cigarettes has a relation with lung cancer.
"When nicotine is taken it is absorbed into the blood system and reduces circulation in the blood." (Dr. Traquet p. 49). The effect seems to be filtering in the bloodstream where it can become a regular absorbent. Further, tar is known to make the lungs unhealthy and cause bronchial problems (Emphysema) such as chronic lung disease and relatively a smoker's cough.
"Emphysema is a disease where the lungs become inflamed and causes the airways to contract making it harder to breathe." (Dossing, M 2001)
Further, there seems to be numerous reports and studies made by scientist and physicians, however there are arguments made by smokers who claim that most chemicals are exhaled and only little is consumed.
Smokers are at a higher risk of cancer according to a pro smoker's website (issue 182) where it states "the magnitude of the relative risk and the numbers of lung cancers now attributed to smoking and all smokers are at very high risk" (Doll et al., 1994).
Looking at the scientific research which has been carried out, it would be sensible to say that smoking does cause lung cancer, however this can raise a question.
If smoking is the route to cancer, then why is their a minority that suffer?
The proof is to be found in many sources, however if the argument was raised, then evidence can be related to the matter that smoking causes lung cancer. On the contrary, to argue that cigarettes do not damage the health would leave implication that this is impossible.
Many anti smoking campaigners, such as the Ash.org offer information related to the subject. These campaigners have established themselves due to an increase in lung cancer.
The figures in England show "364,000 patients are admitted to NHS hospitals each year due to diseases caused by smoking. This translates into 7,000 hospital admissions per week, or 1,000 day. In 1997/98, cigarette smoking caused an estimated 480,000 patients to consult their GP for heart disease, 20,000 for stroke and nearly 600,000 for COPD. (Ash.org)
These figures indicate that lung cancer is ever so on the increase. As well as England, there are many other countries, where lung cancer is on the increase via the relation of smoking.
Many methods have been used to improve on the method of research related to smoking. However new methods are constantly on the go by scientist to figure out more damageable causes.
"Lung cancer can cause symptoms such as coughing, weight loss and excessive fatigue". In conclusion to the essay it would seem that smoking reduces the life expectancy of an average individual, whereas it can also affect the internal health such as leading to a poor diet. "Similarly smoking can also affect your well being, skin and even the eye's, it can infect the gums and stain the nails. It can kill you slowly." (Dr. Traquet pp. 48-49)
Overviews of smoking from medical and scientific areas show some damaging effects to the health.
Zubair Shaikh
Bibliography
Ash.Org - Nicotine Addiction in Britain. A report of the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians. RCP, 2000 (for percentage of smoking-related deaths).
Doll et al., (1994) The Pro smokers Guide (Issue 182) Stuff they blame smoke for.
http://www.smokersclub.com/newsind.htm
Date Accessed 22/06/05
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-drugs-tobacco-resources.htm/$FILE/tobcfacts_harms.pdf
Date Accessed 21/06/05
Dossing, M (2001), Smoking and Cancer,
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/smoking/index.shtml?articleldent=uk.smoking.facts.smoking.horrors.uk_smoking_article_4475
(www.netdoctor.co.uk)
Accessed 6/3/05
ASH.Org - www.ash.org.uk
Zubair Shaikh
