The video was posted on the Instagram account @businessgrowthmentor. It shows how smoking affects the lungs - turning them black, wrinkled, and "soaked in tar." "A smoker's lungs are usually more damaged and less efficient compared to those of a non-smoker. Smoking can cause various lung problems, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and reduced lung function," reads the description.
What do we inhale with cigarette smoke?
When you inhale cigarette smoke, it quickly reaches the lungs, and the bloodstream carries it throughout the body. What does tobacco smoke contain? Let's start with carbon monoxide. This deadly gas contributes to the body’s oxygen deprivation by displacing oxygen in the blood. Tobacco smoke also contains a chemical called acrolein. This toxic compound damages the lungs and, in small amounts, can cause throat pain. Cigarette smoke also includes bronchodilators, which increase the amount of harmful chemicals absorbed by the lungs. There’s also nicotine, acetone, cadmium, naphthylamine, hydrogen cyanide, and many other harmful substances.
"The lungs are one of the body’s filtration systems, drawing air from the atmosphere, supplying oxygen to the blood circulating throughout the body, and expelling excess carbon dioxide. Inhaling tobacco disrupts this delicate balance," warns the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
How do cigarettes affect health?
Smoking can have serious consequences for the lungs at any age. What health risks are associated with smoking? According to Gov.pl, smoking increases the risk of:
- Lung cancer
- Bronchial cancer
- Oral cancer
- Throat cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Stroke
- Respiratory diseases
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Chronic inflammatory bowel disease
- Osteoporosis
When it comes to the respiratory system, cigarettes contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, and increased susceptibility to common upper respiratory infections such as colds or laryngitis. There is also a higher risk of pneumonia and other inflammatory conditions, which is exacerbated by the weakened immune system due to the toxic compounds in smoke. Cigarettes worsen the course of diseases like asthma or allergies, harm eye health, and damage teeth. They are also linked to impotence issues—causing reduced libido in both men and women and difficulties in achieving and maintaining an erection. Cigarettes also reduce sperm volume and quality, making conception more difficult.
