Carbon monoxide: combines with haemoglobin in red blood cells – reducing their capacity to carry oxygen

Hydrogen cyanide: a toxic colourless gas which is poisonous. Also dangerous for passive smokers.

Tar: causes cancer of the lungs, mouth and throat. It coats the surface of the breathing tubes and the alveoli. This causes coughing and damages the alveoli, making it more difficult for gas exchange to happen.

Nicotine: Highly addictive drug. Also increases your heart rate and blood pressure.

The long term effects of smoking:

Cancer

Bronchitis

Emphysema

Smokers cough

Cancer - Tobacco smoke contains at least 80 different cancer causing substances. When you inhale smoke, these chemicals enter your lungs and spread around the rest of your body.

Scientists have shown that these chemicals can damage DNA and change important genes. This causes cancer by making your cells grow and multiply out of control.

Bronchitis - The passages to the lungs are swollen and sore because the smoke irritates them.

Emphysema - destruction of the alveoli for gas exchange which causes extreme shortage of breath

Smoke - Cells in the lining of the breathing tubes produce sticky mucus to trap dirt and microbes. Cells with tiny hair-like parts, called cilia, normally move the mucus out of the lungs.

Hot smoke and tar from smoking damages the cilia. So smokers cough to move the mucus and are more likely to get bronchitis.

•Smokers are three times more likely to get heart disease.•9 out of 10 people with lung cancer are smokers.•25% of people who take up smoking, die from it.•Most smokers live 10–15 years less than non-smokers.•100 000 people per year die from diseases caused by smoking, like cancer, heart disease, emphysema and bronchitis.

Can cause babies to have a low birth weight if mother smokes during pregnancy

Due to less oxygen reaching the growing foetus

Hypnotherapy Acupuncture Nicotine patches Habit change Will power

When you start smoking cigarettes, the changes in your body can be monitored. Some smokers wonder what the short term effects of smoking are…

◦ A person's blood pressure and heart rate are increased This means the heart is working harder than it should

◦ The blood flow to the body's hands and feet is reduced◦ There is short-term stimulation to the brain and nervous system◦ Reduced appetite is seen in some people.

Smoking is a poor way to try to control weight◦ Bad breath◦ Stained teeth & fingers◦ Annoying coughing◦ Reduced or loss of taste & smell◦ A reduced immune system often sees smokers getting more colds and flu

with longer recovery time◦ Reduced potency in men & fertility in women◦ It affects the skin.

Making smokers look older, earlier.

http://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Tobacco/Chewing/HealthEffects.htm

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