Should Cigarette Smoking Be Banned - Term Paper Example

BAN ON CIGARETTE SMOKING Introduction Tobacco which is the substance from which cigarette is extracted has a number of chemicals that are very harmful to the body. Nicotine forms one of the most dangerous drugs in tobacco has the addictive effect that makes it hard for smokers to quit smoking. Tobacco has over seven thousand dangerous chemicals of which sixty of them are well known to be causing cancerous infections. Other damaging chemicals found in tobacco include carbon monoxide which occupies the role of oxygen once it gets into the blood system of the body by competing with it to bind on the haemoglobin leading to less oxygen being transported to other parts of the body. Tar is another chemical found in tobacco that causes the teeth to develop stains as well as damaging the lungs. Hydrogen cyanide which hinders the natural cleaning mechanism of the lungs from operating efficiently leads to accumulation of harmful substances in the lungs which in turns causes severe damage to the lungs. Tobacco smoke contains some metals such as arsenic, lead and cadmium which carcinogenic and very harmful to the lungs and other parts of the body. Highly reactive chemicals known as free radicals that can cause damage to the heart muscles and the blood vessels are found in tobacco (Pampel, 2009). Cigarette smoking is not just harmful to smokers but also to non-smokers who are termed as second-hand smokers. This arises when one involuntarily inhales cigarettes leading to adverse health risks that are associated with first-hand smokers. It has been proved through research that about thirty eight deaths witnessed among tobacco related cases takes place among second-hand smokers. Hence, complete ban on cigarette smoking will significantly reduce such deaths which occur among the innocent people who are non-smokers. There are several ways through which people get exposed to tobacco such as second-hand smoking, snuff, cigars, hookahs and literal chewing of tobacco. All these forms ensure that one takes in considerable amount of tobacco and it components into their system and none of them is harmless. Negative effects of cigarette smoking that necessitates its ban Cigarette smoking should be banned due to the many side effects that it accrues to smokers as well as non-smokers who come into close contact with those whom smoke. Cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of deaths in the United States as well other countries of the world. Past statistics have indicated that more than 480,000 deaths are recorded in every year in the United States which is either caused directly or indirectly through cigarette smoking which translates to about one for every five reported deaths. A combination of other causes of death such as drug abuse, alcoholism, road accidents and HIV/AIDS cannot attain the figures of deaths due to cigarette smoking. 90% of all lung cancer deaths in the United States are caused by smoking inn both the sexes. Lung diseases that arise due to cigarette smoking occur when it causes damage to the air sacs and the airways located in the lungs leading to diseases such as bronchitis which is manifested by swelling of the walls lining the bronchial tubes and emphysema which is the condition in which the linings of the walls within the air sacs in the lungs loosing their ability to stretch and to shrink back to their original state. People who are asthmatic are likely to experience more severe attacks when they engage in smoking. There are a number of health risks that are associated with smoking which can easily lead to death among the victims. For pregnant women who engage in smoking, they are likely to witness still birth in which death occurs before birth of the child, preterm or early delivery, ectopic pregnancies, and sudden infant death syndrome, orofacial clefts which occurs in infants or low birth weight. All these condition will either lead to the death of the infant or permanently affect their growth as well as putting the life of the mother at serious health risk (Sessa, 2000). Smoking can affect the bone structure as well as their development especially among women who have gone past menopause and still smoke as they are more likely to have broken bones compared to those who do not smoke. The continued use of tobacco is marked by decreased bone density hence increases the risk of osteoporosis in which the bones has increased cases of fracture. The condition is more rampant among older people in the society who had spent a better part of their lives smoking. Smoking has the tendency to increase the pace at which women attain menopause since it lowers the amount of hormone estrogen in the body thus increasing the chances of witnessing severe bone conditions (Topol, 2007). Smoking can reduce the level of fertility in men by reducing sperm counts which may lead to birth defects. The dental formulation has not been left behind as smoking increases the risk of tooth loss and incurring discolored teeth and gums. The body’s immune system can be adversely affected by cigarette smoking making the victim more prone to disease outbreaks and infections. Type 2 diabetes mellitus which is the most dangerous form of diabetes because it is hard to manage occurs mostly among smokers than in nonsmokers. Impaired vision may be due to smoking owing to the fact that smoking has increased risk of developing cataracts which lowers to ability to see clearly thus being unable to distinguish objects. Smoking is the main cause of cancerous infections which attacks different parts of the body such as cervix, colon, bladder, kidney, rectum among others. Studies have shown that one out of three deaths due to cancer in the United States has been occasioned by cigarette smoking. A wide range of cardiovascular diseases that affects the heart and the blood vessels are caused by cigarette smoking. It causes damage to the blood vessels by making them grow thicker or narrower. The end result is that there will be an increase in the rate of the heart beat which leads to high blood pressure. Clotting of blood may also take place within the blood vessels especially in cases where the vessels are constricted and may lead to sudden death among cigarette smokers due to heart attack or severe damage to the heart muscles. Blood clot to veins that leads to the brain is more likely to cause stroke. It may also cause blockages of the vessels which may hinder the flow of blood to other parts of the body such as the legs and the skins leading to numbness of those body organs. The effects of smoking on the skin is manifested by reduction of the amount of oxygen reaching the skin which leads to increased rate of aging which further makes the skin to look dull and change in the original color. The toxins due to smoking also lead to development and accumulation of cellulite. It may make a young person to look very old due to the aging of the skin. Smoking may further affect the mouth and the throat of the smoker in different forms. The mouth may develop conditions such as continuous bad breath and stained teeth. Gum diseases which may in later stages lead to destruction of the taste buds is likely to take place among smokers. It has been established that 93% of all oropharangeal cancers are as a result of cigarette smoking. Smoking leads to increased cases of stomach ulcers which arise when the muscles that govern the lower section of the gullet to weaken thus allowing the acid in the stomach flow in the opposite direction (Mecklenburg, 2004). Conclusion If cigarette smoking is banned, those already in the habit of smoking will have to quit which will lead to both short-term and long-term benefits. Some of the short-term benefits of smoking include return to normalcy of the heart rate as well as the blood vessels which will regain their normal sizes. After a short period of time, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood will go down thus increasing the pace at which oxygen is transported in the body. They will register less cough and production of phlegm as well as a major improvement in the performance of their lungs. Another quick benefit will be manifested in the improved sense of taste and smell. Long term effects will be manifested by improved general health condition due to decrease in the risks associated with smoking. A ban on smoking will improve the productivity of the people due to increased health status which will lead to economic growth and development. Improved life expectancy will mean that people will work for a longer duration of time due to absence of premature deaths that are caused by cigarette smoking (Halliwell, 2006). References Halliwell, B., & Poulsen, H. E. (2006). Cigarette smoke and oxidative stress. (Springer e-books.) Berlin: Springer. Mecklenburg, Robert E. (2004). Tobacco Effects In The Mouth. Diane Pub Co. Pampel, F. C. (2009). Tobacco industry and smoking. New York, NY: Facts On File. Seminar on Cigarette Smoking and Kidney Involvement, & Sessa, A. (2000). Cigarette smoking and the kidney. Basel: Karger. Topol, E. J. (2007). Textbook of cardiovascular medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More