According to the CDC statistics (2016), cigarette smoking kills over 480,000 Americans each year. At least 41,000 of deaths are caused by secondhand smoke. Despite the numerous dangers of smoking, many are still smoking. In 2014, an estimated 16.8% of the U.S. adults smoked cigarettes, with over 76.8% smoking every day (CDC, 2016). Smoking related illnesses caused the government over $300 billion annually, with $170 billion on medical care and about $156 billion in lost productivity (CDC, 2016). The causes of smoking should be explored, and dealt with to reduce the number of people addicted to smoking. Evidently, there are numerous reasons as to why people smoke, however, real knowledge on the effects of smoking on their health, the health of others and on the economy can make a difference.
According to Lantz (2003), smoking addiction begins at a young age. About 2/3 of adolescents smoke before they reach the age of 18. Young people smoke for various reasons, and mainly due to peer pressure. High school students are at a pivotal time of their lives where they have an intense need to be cool and to fit in, sadly young people associated drugs with being cool. As they grow up, they attempt to quit, but like any other form of addiction, cigarette smoking is hard to quit.
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It is worth noting that the causes of cigarette smoking among adults and adolescents are slightly differentiated (Lantz, 2003). Adolescents smoke cigarettes to look mature, to fit in and to experiment. Teenagers want to be taken seriously as if they are grown up, and sometimes they pick the wrong attributes of adult life such as smoking cigarettes. Young people are also attracted by things that are forbidden to them. They are at an experimental stage of their lives, and tend to experiment with things that are forbidden especially alcohol and cigarettes. They find it exciting to sneak away from their parents and to engage in smoking with their friends.
On the other hand, adults smoke for various reasons: the stress and pressures in their lives, to relax and some smoke because they are addicted to smoking. Adult life is challenging, adults are struggling to make ends meet, and some are struggling work, bad marriages and even abuse. With all these challenges going on, adults are looking for a break and a bit of relaxation. Many adults believe that they can relax and catch a break from the pressures of life while smoking cigarette (Lantz, 2003).
Adults who started smoking from an early age find it hard to quit smoking. About 84% of adult smokers try to quit, but they find it hard to quit. Only 8.5% of adults can manage to quit for 6 months or more, while others only quit for a few days before giving up (Hoerster, 2012).
The many causes of smoking are responsible for rendering at least 40 million Americans addicted to smoking (CDC, 2016). Cigarette smokers are after the high and the feeling of relaxation it brings initially, but as they become addicted to smoking, they smoke to avoid the anxiety and other bad feelings. Like any other drug, cigarettes have negative effects on one’s health and life in general. Before looking at the health side effects of smoking, some misconceptions about smoking have to be addressed. The popular misconception that smoking relieves stress is not based on science, and studies have shown that smokers have a higher levels of stress than non-smokers (Saha et al., 2007). Smoking also alters the brain cells, such that smokers have fewer dopamine receptors, hence it leaves the smoker always craving for cigarettes.
Saha et al. (2007) also notes that cigarette smoking is one of the main causes of lung cancer. Cigarette smoking is linked to about 80 to 80% of lung cancers in the United States (CDC, 2016). Cigarette is made from over 4,000 chemicals, among them are 43 identified carcinogenic components and a variety of toxins. Statistics show that cigarette smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer in comparison to non-smokers. Additionally, those who smoke more cigarettes regularly and for more years are more likely to get lung cancer. Cigarette smoking is associated with other forms of cancer, it can cause cancer of the mouth, throat, stomach, liver, kidney among other body organs (Saha et al., 2007).
Cigarette smoking is another cause of cardiovascular diseases, in particular atherosclerosis. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a life threatening condition caused by cigarette smoking and other risk factors such as hypertension (Saha et al., 2007). The risk for CAD is high among cigarette smokers who smoke a higher number of cigarettes per day. Smoking cigarettes has a negative effect on the endothelial and smooth muscle cell functions of the cardiovascular systems, such that both active and passive cigarette smokers have an impaired endothelium-dependent vasoregulation which plays a role in the development of cardiovascular conditions (Saha et al., 2007). Respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma are also caused by smoking. Fatal conditions such as stillbirth, bone and gum disease, cataracts and rheumatoid arthritis are also associated with smoking.
Cigarette smoking is not just harmful to the smoker, but it is harmful to the public in general and to the economy. Second hand smoking is also known to cause lung cancer, and about 7,300 people who have never smoked die of lung cancer annually in the U.S. (CDC, 2016). The effects of cigarette smoking are fatal, and it is unfortunate that many people are still smoking despite their knowledge of the serious consequences. Young people should be educated on the side effects, and the dangers of smoking from a young age. According to the CDC (2016), cigarette smoking causes more deaths than the following causes combines: HIV, illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, motor vehicle injuries and firearm accidents. Hence, whatever cause that makes an individual to start smoking cigarettes is not worth the fatal effects.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2016). Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoki ng/
Hoerster, V. (2012). Smoking Behavior Among College Students: A Survey (Doctoral dissertation).
Lantz, P. M. (2003). Smoking on the rise among young adults: implications for research and policy. Tobacco control , 12 (suppl 1), i60-i70.
Saha, S. P., Bhalla, D. K., Whayne, T. F., & Gairola, C. G. (2007). Cigarette smoke and adverse health effects: An overview of research trends and future needs. International Journal of Angiology , 16 (03), 77-83.
