| Almost everybody knows that smoking is bad for the | | | | Besides cancer, smoking is also related to several |
| health. Images of blackened lungs line school hallways | | | | other diseases of the lungs. Emphysema and bronchitis |
| and hospital waiting rooms, but despite this people | | | | can be fatal and 75% of all deaths from these |
| continue to take up smoking. This may have to do with | | | | diseases are linked to smoking. |
| the pervasive romantic image of smoking -- an image | | | | Smokers have shorter lives than non-smokers. On |
| that has nothing in common with reality. | | | | average, smoking takes 15 years off your life span. |
| There are many ways to take tobacco. You can | | | | This can be explained by the high rate of exposure to |
| chew it, inhale it through the nose, and smoke it in the | | | | toxic substances which are found in cigarette smoke. |
| form of cigars or cigarettes. No matter how it's taken it | | | | Smokers also put others at risk. The dangers of |
| is dangerous, but because smoking is the most popular | | | | breathing in second-hand smoke are well known. |
| way to consume tobacco it has also received the | | | | Smokers harm their loved ones by exposing them to |
| greatest attention from the medical field and the media. | | | | the smoke they exhale. All sorts of health problems |
| When a smoker inhales a puff of cigarette smoke the | | | | are related to breathing in second-hand smoke. |
| large surface area of the lungs allows nicotine to pass | | | | Children are especially susceptible to the dangers of |
| into the blood stream almost immediately. It is this | | | | second-hand smoke because their internal organs are |
| nicotine "hit" that smokers crave, but there is a lot | | | | still developing. Children exposed to second-hand |
| more to smoke than just nicotine. In fact, there are | | | | smoke are more vulnerable to asthma, sudden infant |
| more than 4000 chemical substances that make up | | | | death syndrome, bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear |
| cigarette smoke and many of them are toxic. | | | | infections. |
| Cigarette smoke is composed of 43 carcinogenic | | | | Smoking can also be dangerous for unborn children. |
| substances and more than 400 other toxins that can | | | | Mothers who smoke are more likely to suffer from |
| also be found in wood varnish, nail polish remover, and | | | | miscarriages, bleeding and nausea, and babies of |
| rat poison. All of these substances accumulate in the | | | | smoking mothers have reduced birth weights or may |
| body and can cause serious problems to the heart | | | | be premature. These babies are more susceptible to |
| and lungs. | | | | sudden infant death syndrome and may also have |
| Cancer is the most common disease associated with | | | | lifelong health complications due to chest infections and |
| smoking. Smoking is the cause of 90% of lung cancer | | | | asthma. |
| cases and is related to 30% of all cancer fatalities. | | | | It is never too late to give up smoking, even those who |
| Other smoking-related cancers include cancers of the | | | | have smoked for 20 years or more can realize |
| mouth, pancreas, urinary bladder, kidney, stomach, | | | | tremendous health benefits from giving up the habit. |
| esophagus, and larynx. | | | | |