Long term and Short term Effects of Tobacco

Tobacco contains nicotine, which is harmful to health. It is addictive, and many end up as chain smokers. People smoke for pleasure and to relieve their daily mental stresses and strains.

Mostly people smoke cigarettes, but some prefer smoking pipes. People of all ages smoke. They can not do without their fags. Efforts have been on to encourage them to get rid of the habit, but it is a difficult task indeed.

Chemical Composition of Tobacco

Burning of tobacco has serious ill effects on one’s health. What are these, you may ask? Lets us have a look.

Short term effects of tobacco

1. Increase in blood pressure

Tobacco use can also cause an increase in blood pressure, which can put additional strain on the heart and blood vessels.

2. Heart rate goes up

Tobacco use can cause an increase in heart rate, which can lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

3. Increased risk of respiratory infections

When tobacco is smoked, the smoke damages the lining of the respiratory system, including the bronchial tubes and the lungs. This damage can weaken the immune system and make it more difficult for the body to fight infections.

Smokers are more likely to develop respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, which can be more severe in smokers than in non-smokers. Smokers are also at an increased risk of developing lung infections, such as tuberculosis, and are more likely to experience complications from these infections.

In addition to increasing the risk of respiratory infections, tobacco use can also worsen existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Conversely, smoking tobacco can help reduce the risk of respiratory infections and improve overall respiratory health.

4. Decrease in the flow of blood from the heart

The chemicals in tobacco can constrict blood vessels, reducing blood flow to various parts of the body. This can lead to wound healing problems and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

5. Arteries become narrow

The chemicals in tobacco can damage the inner lining of the arteries and cause them to become inflamed, which can lead to a build-up of plaque. Plaque is a sticky substance made up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the blood. As the plaque builds up, it can narrow the arteries and reduce the amount of blood that can flow through them. This process, known as arteriosclerosis, can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. It can also lead to other problems, such as peripheral artery disease, which is a condition in which the arteries that carry blood to the legs and feet become narrow, reducing blood flow to these areas.

6. Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen content in the flow of blood

The smoke contains some harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced when tobacco is burned. When inhaled, carbon monoxide can bind to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, reducing the amount of oxygen carried to the body’s tissues.

This can lead to a variety of health problems, including:

• Reduced oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues: Carbon monoxide reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, which can lead to problems such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Increased workload on the heart: The reduced oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues can put additional strain on the heart, which has to work harder to pump oxygen-depleted blood throughout the body.
• Damage to the blood vessels: Carbon monoxide can damage the blood vessels, leading to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Tobacco may be used for pleasure or relaxation, but it seriously affects one’s health. Excessive use of it can prove to be bad for health.

Long term effects of Tobacco

• Smoking can result in chronic lung disease.
• Use of tobacco can cause coronary heart disease.
• One can suffer from a stroke.
• Tobacco use can cause lung, esophagus, larynx, bladder, and mouth, as well as oral cancer. Smoking can also cause cancer of the pancreas, cervix, and kidneys.
• Pregnant women who smoke can deliver low-weight babies or babies with physical and mental abnormalities.
• Infant death risk is there.
• Passive smoking or nonsmokers exposed to smoke let off by smokers can cause serious illnesses such as lung cancer, respiratory disease, etc.
• One can get addicted to nicotine found in tobacco which is harmful to health.

Health Effects of Clove Cigarettes

Clove cigarettes, as it is more popularly known, are considered more dangerous than regular cigarettes. The “United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention” confirm that clove cigarettes contain double the amount of tar, carbon dioxide, and nicotine gases as regular American cigarettes.

Some dangerous effects of clove cigarettes are listed here below:

• An active ingredient of cloves is eugenol, used as a topical anesthetic for dentistry. Smoking eugenol through clove cigarettes can numb the throat and damage the gag reflex
• The anesthetic effect can cause food or liquids to enter the wrong pipe
• Lung infections as clove cigarettes are inhaled and exhaled after a long period
• Allergic reactions
• Respiratory illnesses

Adverse Symptoms of Smoking Clove Cigarettes

Some dangerous symptoms of smoking clove cigarettes include the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Allergies
• Secreting blood through coughs

Clove cigarettes are a kind of alternative to smoking. Some other common forms of alternative smoking include bidi smoking and herbal or vegetable smoking. Studies show that clove cigarettes are more often consumed by people aged below 30 years. They often smoke alternative cigarettes because they think they are cool, safe, and different from regular ones.

It is definite that clove cigarettes are different than regular cigarettes but to the extent that they can be more harmful than regular cigarettes.