Chemicals in Cigarette Smoke

Most of the people who smoke try to quit at least at some point in their life. However, in reality no more than 5% of these people actually succeed unless they seek a medical attention, for example, nicotine replacement therapy. This addiction occurs thanks to a chemical ingredient of a smoke called, Nicotine. Nicotine exerts pleasant effects on your mood making to indulge in tobacco smoking ultimately causing dependence. Once you are dependent on nicotine you cannot quit smoking as it will cause symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, irritability, undue anger and agitation and many more.

Cigarette smoke also contains hundreds and thousands of other chemicals some of which are well known to cause different types of cancers. Tar, Carbon monoxide, Hydrogen cyanide, lead, free radicals, organic acids, arsenic, and cadmium are amongst the most dangerous chemical components of the cigarette smoke. Together these chemicals exert a number of hazardous effects on almost all the organs and systems of the body.

Cancers Occurring Secondary to Tobacco Smoking

Tobacco smoking is estimated to be the leading preventable cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. It is found to increase the likelihood of following malignancies.

• Lung cancer
• Nasal carcinomas
• Esophageal carcinomas
• Pancreatic Cancers
• Myeloid Leukemia
• Cervical Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Ureteric cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Gastric carcinoma
• Hepatocellular carcinoma

Respiratory system

• Causes different types of lung cancers
• Frequent irritation of the trachea and larynx
• Damages the clearance mechanisms of the airways and interferes with the lung functions
• Increases the risk of developing infections such as pneumonia etc
• Increases the risk of conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung diseases

Circulatory system

• Elevation of the blood pressure
• Thickening and stiffening of the arteries
• Decrease in oxygen carrying capacity of blood
• Increase in the incidence of CVA and heart attack
• Restricting the blood flow to the fingers and toes

Reproduction system

Tobacco smoking affects the male reproductive system in following ways.

• Decrease in sperm count
• Increased structural abnormalities of the sperm
• Increased risk of impotence

Tobacco smoking affects the female reproductive system in following ways

• Decreasing fertility
• Menstrual irregularities
• Earlier menopause
• Increase in risk of cervical and endometrial cancers

Tobacco smoking also reduces the levels of anti-oxidants such as vitamin C in the body. In addition it increases the risk of stomach and intestinal ulcers as well risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures in females.