Smoking causes around 440,000 deaths in the United States annually.
Lung cancer is a serious cause of death among smokers. However, smokers are also susceptible to a number of equally deadly smoking-related heart, lung and blood disorders, as well as several different kinds of cancer.
Features
The active ingredient in cigarette smoke is nicotine, an addictive drug. However, cigarette smoke contains a number of other harmful additives as well. The American Cancer Society lists some of the ingredients as benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, and methanol or wood alcohol, among others. Cigarette smoke also contains two poisonous gases, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.
Significance
Smokers are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. However, this is not the leading cause of death among smokers. WhyQuit.com indicates that heart disease and stroke outnumber lung cancer deaths by 15 percent. Some of the other diseases associated with smoking include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancers of the throat and leukemia.
Effects
Smoking causes loss of breath, impaired lung function and a persistent cough in the short-term. The majority of cigarette smokers die younger than non-smokers, according to the American Cancer Society. About half of all smokers eventually die from smoking-related medical conditions.
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