Group members
Nicholas-B. ED/G/153/20/21
Urbanus- B. ED/G/172/20/21
Derrick
Risper-B. ED/G/150/20/21
Question 3. Discuss five effects of smoking on student’s health
Effects of smoking
No matter how one smokes tobacco is dangerous to your health. There are no
safe substances in any tobacco products from acetone and tar to nicotine and
carbon monoxide. The substances you inhale don’t just affect your lungs. They
can also affect a person’s entire body.
Nicotine is the addictive drug in tobacco smoke that causes people who smoke
to continue to smoke.
Along with nicotine, people who smoke inhale about 7,000 other chemicals in
cigarette smoke. Many of these chemicals come from burning tobacco leaf.
Some of these compounds are chemically active and trigger profound and
damaging changes in the body.
Tobacco smoke contains over 70 known cancer-causing chemicals. Smoking
harms nearly every organ in the body, causing many diseases and reducing
health in general.
Dangerous chemicals in tobacco smoke
Highly damaging components of tobacco smoke include:
tar – is the word for the solid particles suspended in tobacco smoke. The
particles contain chemicals, including cancer-causing substances
(carcinogens). Tar is sticky and brown, and stains teeth, fingernails and
lung tissue
carbon monoxide – is a poisonous gas. It is odourless and colourless
and, in large doses, quickly causes death because it takes the place of
oxygen in the blood. In people who smoke, the carbon monoxide in their
blood makes it harder for oxygen to get to their organs and muscles
oxidizing chemicals – are highly reactive chemicals that can damage the
heart muscles and blood vessels of people who smoke. They react with
cholesterol, leading to the build-up of fatty material on artery walls. Their
actions lead to heart disease, stroke and blood vessel disease
metals – tobacco smoke contains several metals that cause cancer,
including arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead and
nickel
radioactive compounds – tobacco smoke contains radioactive
compounds that are known to be carcinogenic.
Effects of smoking tobacco on the body
Inhaling tobacco smoke causes damage to many of the body’s organs and
systems.
Effects of smoking on the respiratory system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the respiratory system include:
irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box)
reduced lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing
of the lung airways and excess mucus in the lung passages
impairment of the lungs’ clearance system, leading to the build-up of
poisonous substances, which results in lung irritation and damage
increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and
wheezing
permanent damage to the air sacs of the lungs.
Effects of smoking on the circulatory system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the circulatory system include:
raised blood pressure and heart rate
constriction (tightening) of blood vessels in the skin, resulting in a drop in
skin temperature
less oxygen carried by the blood during exercise
‘stickier’ blood, which is more prone to clotting
damage to the lining of the arteries, which is thought to be a contributing
factor to atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery
walls)
reduced blood flow to extremities (fingers and toes)
increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to blockages of the blood
supply.
Effects of smoking on the immune system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the immune system include:
Greater susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and influenza.
More severe and longer-lasting illnesses lower levels of protective antioxidants
(such as vitamin C), in the blood.
Effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the musculoskeletal system include
tightening of certain muscles
reduced bone density.
Effects of smoking on the sexual organs
The effects of tobacco smoke on the male body include an increased risk for:
lower sperm count
higher percentage of deformed sperm
genetic damage to sperm
impotence, which may be due to the effects of smoking on blood flow
and damage to the blood vessels of the penis.
The effects of tobacco smoke on the female body include:
reduced fertility, menstrual cycle irregularities, or absence of
menstruation
menopause reached one or two years earlier
increased risk of cancer of the cervix
greatly increased risk of stroke and heart attack if the person who smokes
is aged over 35 years and taking the oral contraceptive pill.
Other effects of smoking on the body
Other effects of tobacco smoke on the body include:
irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines
increased risk of painful ulcers along the digestive tract
reduced ability to smell and taste
premature wrinkling of the skin
higher risk of blindness
gum disease (periodontitis).
Diseases caused by long-term smoking
A person who smokes throughout their life is at high risk of developing a range
of potentially lethal diseases, including:
cancer of the lung, mouth, nose, larynx, tongue, nasal sinus, oesophagus,
throat, pancreas, bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia), kidney, cervix,
ovary, ureter, liver, bladder, bowel and stomach
lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, which includes obstructive bronchiolitis and
emphysema
heart disease and stroke
ulcers of the digestive system
osteoporosis and hip fracture
poor blood circulation in feet and hands, which can lead to pain and, in
severe cases, gangrene and amputation
type 2 diabetes
rheumatoid arthritis.
Smoking can also lead to a variety of ongoing complications in the body
systems. While smoking can increase one’s risk of a variety of problems over
several years. Some bodily effects are immediate. The following are the major
effects of smoking on the body of a student below
Mood stimulation- smoking can temporarily put a student on a good mood but
withdrawal side effects like anxiety and irritability can be challenging to
manage
Anxiety and irritability- students are likely to find themselves a bit on edge if
they missed their cigarette. Nicotine withdrawal is responsible for these
symptoms
Poor vision- smoking can cause a student future vision problem and increase the
risk of eye problems like glaucoma, macular, degeneration and cataracts
Yellow teeth- yellowish or brownish stains on teeth are signs of long- term
smoking. Smoking also increases a student’s risk for infections or
inflammations that can lead to tooth and bone loss
Bronchitis- students who smoke have a higher rate of bronchitis. Second- hand
smoking can also increase the risk of bronchitis especially in young people.
Other respiratory problems such as tuberculosis and pneumonia may worsen by
smoking
Persistent smoking- smoking damages the airways hence contribute to cough
Dull sense and taste- a person’s smell and taste would be dull as smoking
decreases appetite
Increased risk of blood cancer- people who smoke are likely to suffer from
blood cancer compared to people who don’t smoke
references
Winstanley M, et al., 2015, ‘Chapter 3. The health effects of
active smoking’, Tobacco in Australia: Facts and Issues, Cancer Council
Victoria.
Winstanley M, Ford C, Campbell M, 2017, ‘Chapter 4. The health
effects of secondhand smoke’, Tobacco in Australia: Facts and Issues,
Cancer Council Victoria.
