An Analysis of Smoking: Facts, Causes, Health Impacts, and Solutions

This report presents a comprehensive overview of smoking, encompassing its global prevalence, causes, and profound health impacts. It details the addictive nature of nicotine, the psychological factors driving smoking habits, and the harmful chemical composition of cigarettes. The report meticulously outlines the adverse effects of smoking on various bodily systems, including increased risks of stroke, heart attack, lung cancer, and reduced life expectancy, as well as the dangers of passive smoking. Furthermore, it explores effective strategies for quitting smoking, such as nicotine replacement therapies, awareness campaigns, and legislative measures. The report also highlights the benefits of quitting, including improved health and financial savings. References to supporting research are also included.

Facts about Smoking
Around 1.3 billion people in the world are
smokers.
An approximate of 6000 billion cigarettes are
smoked every year.
According to WHO, 4.9 million deaths occur
worldwide every year due to smoking.
The number of deaths due to smoking is
expected to increase to 10 million by 2020.
The number of smokers is high on developing
countries.

Why do people smoke ?
Nicotine present in cigarettes is an addictive
substance.
Smoking causes relaxation due to the release of
dopamine.
Abruptly quitting smoking may have side-effects.
Nicotine has psychological effects on the human
brain.
Most youngsters start smoking as an influence or to
follow their favorite celebrities (Hughes et al. 2015).
It partners well with alcohol.
Smoking is a social habit.

What happens when you smoke?
Almost every organ of the body is
affected by nicotine.
An average cigarette stick contains 8 to
9mg of nicotine, out of which 1.5mg is
inhaled from each cigarette.
The heart starts beating faster when you
smoke.
The veins constrict and blood pressure
increases with each puff.
Muscles relax and the electrical impulses
of the brain experience changes.

Harmful ingredients in cigarettes
Burning cigarettes produce a poisonous
mixture of 3500 chemicals.
Nicotine, Tar, Pyridine, Methyl Alcohol,
Ammonia, Arsenic, Hydrogen cyanide,
Insecticides and other toxic substances are
present (Mayer 2014).
Carbon monoxide is extremely poisonous in
nature and may even cause death.
Almost 60% of chemicals present in
cigarettes are carcinogenic in nature.

Impact of smoking on health
Increased chances of stroke and heart attack.
Increased risk of developing diabetes.
The risk of lung cancer increases by 50%
Each cigarette decreases 14 minutes of your life.
An average smoker’s life expectancy is around 60
to 65 years (Shah et al. 2013).
Alzheimer’s disease, erectile dysfunction,
increased chances of miscarriage, throat cancer,
mouth cancer and bronchitis are caused by
smoking.

Limited sense of taste and smell.
Increased chances of gum diseases.
Shortness of breath
Increase in coughing and sneezing.
Increase in wrinkles on skin.
Increased chances of defective vision or
blindness.
Passive smokers are susceptible to health
effects of smoking as well.

Solutions to prevent smoking
Nicotine gums and nicotine patches as
alternatives to quit smoking.
Increased advertisements, campaigns and
awareness programs to educate people on
effects of smoking.
Laws that prevent smoking in many public
places.
Laws preventing the sale of cigarettes to
minors.
The presence of warning labels on cigarette
packets (Glock et al. 2013).

How to quit smoking?
Quitting an addiction requires time, therefore take
it slow.
Remember, smoking is expensive and it kills.
Form a plan to reduce the number of cigarettes
smoked, with each passing day.
Social support from friends and family and co-
workers helps to withdraw from smoking.
Maintain control over the withdrawal symptoms
and the urge to smoke.
Consult a doctor to provide assistance in the
withdrawal process.