Dangers of Smoking Cigarette Tobacco

Experts suggest we all have our drug of choice. "Drug" in this instance refers to a negative habit, such as smoking, that has rendered us powerless to stop. But, when the dangers of smoking cigarettes are known, many people have found the courage to take their power back.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), "smoking harms nearly every organ of the body." That's pretty scary considering the number of organs in the human body.

Recent statistics show that in the U.S., smoking cigarettes account for one out of five deaths annually.

Let's look at a few lesser known dangers of smoking cigarettes.

• Nicotine is contained in cigarettes. If the nicotine in one cigarette was reduced to liquid and introduced to the human body as an intravenous injection, instantaneous death would result.
• There are about 43 carcinogens in tobacco. Smoking tobacco heightens the risk of various cancers such as, bladder, esophagus, kidney, larynx, mouth, lung, pancreas and stomach.
• Manufacturers have introduced the equivalent of over 4000 chemicals into one cigarette to ensure they burn better.
• Males who smoke one year or longer can develop impotence and/or erectile dysfunction.
• Tobacco is instantly addictive.

Tobacco is a multi-billion dollar annual business. Cigarette manufacturers have long refused to disclose lesser-known dangers of smoking. In essence, the health of Americans is being compromised to protect their healthy bottom-line.

Lung Diseases Result from Smoking Cigarettes

Lung cancer is the most familiar of the dangers of smoking tobacco. One out of ten chronic smokers dies from lung cancer. The remaining nine may develop chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma or a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Does Smoking Affect the Brain?

Many people believe that smoking improves concentration. Fact: a reduction in the brain's supply of oxygen, caused from smoking tobacco, brings about a lack of concentration.

Chronic smokers are at increased risk of a brain stroke. Nicotine causes thicker blood and arteries suffer loss of elasticity. Eventually arteries will become blocked, which could culminate in a brain stroke.

Does Smoking Cigarettes Affect the Heart?

Smoking cigarettes creates a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease. Because smoking "steals" good cholesterol and raises blood pressure, it could cause fatty substances to build-up in the arteries. Clogged arteries a.k.a. atherosclerosis increase the risk of blood clots.

Atherosclerosis is the #1 cause of death in America.

Dangers of Smoking Cigarettes are multitudinous. Smoking cigarettes is the most preventable cause of death in America.

Learn more about the health effects of cigarette smoking here: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/

Find out more about the dangers of smoking, why you should quit and much more by visiting http://helpforsmoking.com/

Check out the effects smoking cigarettes has on your body and what to do about it by visiting http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-stop-smoking-information/

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