Technological University of the Philippines
College of Liberal Arts
English Department
Research Paper
“Smoking: A Social Poison”
Paolo Crizan Felizardo
Kevin Morales
Al Jonathan Reyes
BSECE 2A
Prof. Dimayuga
Oct. 15, 2007
Introduction
The study used a common protocol in China, Mexico, Brazil,
Poland, India and Korea to explore the relationship between smoking
habits, cigarette content and nicotine dose. Recent analyses have
addressed differences between less and more addicted smokers,
differences in cotinine in “light” and regular cigarette smokers, and
gender smoking patterns and addiction. Because nicotine is the
addictive substance in cigarette smoke, this research may help to
predict cessation rates, as well as provide guidance for treating nicotine
addiction. Further, nicotine dosing can be used as a surrogate for
exposure to the toxic substances in tobacco smoke and may predict
adverse health outcomes of smoking as well.
How Smoking Affects Your Health
There are no physical reasons to start smoking. The body doesn't
need tobacco the way it needs food, water, sleep, and exercise. In fact,
many of the chemicals in cigarettes, like nicotine and cyanide, are
actually poisons that can kill in high enough doses.
The body is smart. It goes on the defense when it's being poisoned. For
this reason, many people find it takes several tries to get started
smoking: First-time smokers often feel pain or burning in the throat and
lungs, and some people feel sick or even throw up the first few times
they try tobacco.
The consequences of this poisoning happen gradually. Over the
long term, smoking leads people to develop health problems like
cancer, emphysema (breakdown of lung tissue), organ damage, and
heart disease. These diseases limit a person's ability to be normally
active — and can be fatal. Each time a smoker lights up, that single
cigarette takes about 5 to 20 minutes off the person's life.
Smokers not only develop wrinkles and yellow teeth, they also
lose bone density, which increases their risk of osteoporosis
(pronounced: ahs-tee-o-puh-row-sus), a condition that causes older
people to become bent over and their bones to break more easily.
Smokers also tend to be less active than nonsmokers because smoking
affects lung power.
Smoking can also cause fertility problems and can impact sexual
health in both men and women. Girls who are on the pill or other
hormone-based methods of birth control (like the patch or the ring)
increase their risk of serious health problems, such as heart attacks, if
they smoke.
The consequences of smoking may seem very far off, but long-
term health problems aren't the only hazard of smoking. Nicotine and
the other toxins in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes can affect a person's
body quickly, which means that teen smokers experience many of these
problems:
Bad skin. Because smoking restricts blood vessels, it can prevent
oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin — which is why smokers
often appear pale and unhealthy. An Italian study also linked smoking
to an increased risk of getting a type of skin rash called psoriasis.
Bad breath. Cigarettes leave smokers with a condition called halitosis,
or persistent bad breath.
Bad-smelling clothes and hair. The smell of stale smoke tends to
linger — not just on people's clothing, but on their hair, furniture, and
cars. And it's often hard to get the smell of smoke out.
Reduced athletic performance. People who smoke usually can't
compete with nonsmoking peers because the physical effects of
smoking (like rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of
breath) impair sports performance.
Greater risk of injury and slower healing time. Smoking affects the
body's ability to produce collagen, so common sports injuries, such as
damage to tendons and ligaments, will heal more slowly in smokers
than nonsmokers.
Increased risk of illness. Studies show that smokers get more colds,
flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia than nonsmokers. And people with
certain health conditions, like asthma, become more sick if they smoke
(and often if they're just around people who smoke). Because teens who
smoke as a way to manage weight often light up instead of eating, their
bodies lack the nutrients they need to grow, develop, and fight off
illness properly
Conclusion
Although some claim that smoking in a public place is their
right and should be kept that, smoking in public places should not be
allowed. Public smoking endangers non-smokers through secondhand
smoke and it pollutes our environment. Most importantly it is the
publics right to chose not to expose themselves to the dangers caused
by smoking. Cigarettes are the most deadly habit, affecting the greatest
number of people in the world today. A ban on public smoking would
create a healthier country.
Recommendation
All forms of tobacco — cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and smokeless
tobacco — are hazardous. It doesn't help to substitute products that
seem like they're better for you than regular cigarettes, such as filtered
or low-tar cigarettes.
The only thing that really helps a person avoid the problems
associated with smoking is staying smoke free. This isn't always easy,
especially if everyone around you is smoking and offering you
cigarettes. It may help to have your reasons for not smoking ready for
times you may feel the pressure, such as "I just don't like it" or "I want
to stay in shape for soccer" (or football, basketball, or other sport).
The good news for people who don't smoke or who want to quit
is that studies show that the number of teens who smoke has dropped
dramatically. Today, about 23% of high school students smoke.
If you do smoke and want to quit, you have lots of information
and support available. Different approaches to quitting work for
different people. For some, quitting cold turkey is best. Others find that
a slower approach is the way to go. Some people find that it helps to go
to a support group especially for teens. These are sometimes sponsored
by local hospitals or organizations like the American Cancer Society.
The Internet offers a number of good resources to help people quit
smoking.
When quitting, it can be helpful to realize that the first few days
are the hardest. So don’t give up. Some people find they have a few
relapses before they manage to quit for good.
Staying smoke free will give you a whole lot more of everything
— more energy, better performance, better looks, more money in your
pocket, and, in the long run, more life to live!
References
*Coe, Sophie D. (1994) America's first cuisines
*Gately, I. (2003) Tobacco: A Cultural History of How an Exotic
Plant Seduced Civilization
*James I of England, A Counterblaste to Tobacco
*Lloyd, J & Mitchinson, J: "The Book of General Ignorance".
Faber & Faber, 2006
*Nahas, G. G. (1999) Marihuana and Medicine
*Phillips, J. E. African Smoking and Pipes,The Journal of African
History, Vol. 24, No. 3.
*Robicsek, F. (1978) The Smoking Gods: Tobacco in Maya Art,
History, and Religion
*http://www.rpi.edu/~campbe/Hyperlink/Conclusion_Hyp.htm
