Effects of Cigarettes on Smokers and Non-Smokers

The products that are present in cigarette and are most damaging are as follows
:
* carbon monoxide, which reduces oxygen in the body
* nicotine, which is addictive and increases cholesterol levels in your body
* tar, a carcinogen (substance that causes cancer)
* components of the gas and particulate phases cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

The damage caused by smoking is influenced by:
* The total number of cigarettes smoked per day
* whether the cigarette has a filter in it or not
* The process used to prepare tobacco.

There are many health-related reasons to give up cigarettes - not just for smokers, but to protect those around.

Passive smoking : The 'side-stream' smoke that comes off a cigarette between puffs carries a higher risk than directly inhaled smoke.

Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are twice as likely to be born prematurely and with a low birth weight.

Children who grow up in a home where one or both of their parents smoke have twice the risk of getting asthma and asthmatic bronchitis. They also have a higher risk of developing allergies.

For adults, passive smoking seems to increase the risk of lung cancer, but the evidence for an increased risk of heart disease is not yet conclusive.

Infants under two years old are more prone to severe respiratory infections and cot death.

Benefits of quitting smoking

As well as reducing your risk of getting a smoking-related illness, there are other benefits to quitting smoking.

* General health improves - tiredness and headaches can be linked to smoking.
* Your sense of taste and smell improve.
* Your heart will be less strained and work more efficiently.

Its a well known fact that smoking is difficult to quit but on average it takes four to five attempts to give up, and there are a number of things that can help willpower:

* nicotine replacement treatment (NRT) in the form of gum, skin patches or nasal spray
* Zyban (bupropion) is a medicine that's licensed to help smoking cessation
* behaviour modification programmes
* alternative therapies such as acupuncture and hypnosis.

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