Cigarette Smoking – Risks to Human Health and Environment. There are more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer

 Direct risks to human health

1. Cancers of the Lungs, Oesophagus, Throat and Larynx are common in smoking population. Smoking is also associated with cancers of the bladder, pancreas, lips, kidney, uterus and cervix.
2. Autoimmune disorder: Smoking suppresses the body’s immune system.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease are common and causes periodic flare-ups of autoimmune diseases.
4. Type 2 Diabetes: Smokers are 30% to 40% more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes compared to non-smokers.
5. Premature deaths: Smoking leads to premature death because of the associated health risks including respiratory, cancer and vascular diseases.
6. Lung Disease: Apart from lung cancer, smoking can also contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
7. Heart attack and stroke: Smoking narrows blood vessels and restricts blood circulation to the heart; brain and other critical organs. Smokers are vulnerable to heart attack and stroke.
8. There is an increase in the risk of likelihood of blood clotting in the legs and lungs.
9. Complications for pregnant women: Risks of developing complications during birth. They may also experience a wide range of congenital disorders
10. Chewing tobacco: Is not a healthier alternative to smoking; it can increase your risk of mouth cancer, throat cancer and cancer of the oesophagus (food pipe). Teeth become more vulnerable to tooth decay and tooth loss.

Environmental hazards include:

1.  Health dangers of second hand smoke
2. Cigarette butts and the contamination of waterways
3. Deforestation
4. Generation of huge amounts of toxic waste
5. Air pollution through industrial production
6. Soil and land pollution through farming and from cigarette butts
7. Smoke air pollution
8. Impact on aquatic fish
9. Health impacts on pets.
10. Forest fires (Wild fires).

Dr.N.Mariappan

Plastic surgeon

Ramagondanahalli

Whitefield, Bangalore –560066

Ph: 9901043568

E-mail: drn_m@hotmail.com

The post Cigarette Smoking – Risks to Human Health and Environment appeared first on Health Vision.