"Cigarette smoking is the leading single cause of cancer mortality in the United States" according to the Surgeon General's Report. Everyone should know all the facts about smoking before they try it. Smoking is the single most cause of heart disease, bronchitis, emphysema and stroke, while contributing to colds and pneumonia. Lung cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat, although it is preventable. Smoking is also responsible for cancers of the lungs, larynx (throat) and the esophagus. Tobacco on the other hand, has had an affect on women's health and can lead to miscarriages, preterm delivery, stillbirth and infant deaths. .
Tobacco is not only harmful to the body, but it has many poisonous ingredients as well. These include ammonia, tar, carbon monoxide, dried tobacco leaves as well as ingredients that are added by different manufactures to enhance flavor. The effect these ingredients have on a smoker's health is not known, but there is no evidence that lowering the tar content of a cigarette improves a person's health either. Another main ingredient in tobacco is NICOTINE. Nicotine is a poison/drug that causes addiction. The first puff of nicotine causes a person to feel pleasant and makes the smoker want more. Smokers usually become dependent on nicotine to calm their nerves. Nicotine plays a very important role in increasing a smoker's risk of heart disease or stroke.
There are two major types of lung cancer "small cell" and "non-small cell". Small cell lung cancer are generally faster growing then non small cell. Most lung cancer are caused by cigarette smoking. The more you smoke per day, the greater the risk of lung cancer (ex. A person that smokes 3 packs of cigarettes per day has a greater risk of lung cancer than a person that smokes 1 pack a day). Second-hand smoke increases your risks as well. Some symptoms to look for are wheezing, chest pain, weight loss and shortness of breath.