Last Updated on 18th August 2021 by Charlie Walsh
So what’s in a cigarette?
Usually, a cigarette contains a product called “sheet”. In other words, it’s a reconstructed tobacco that contains recycled tobacco stems, stalks, scraps, collected dust, and floor sweepings. This whole mix of scraps are glued, some chemicals are added and other fillers. The last part of producing a cigarette it to spray it with nicotine (extracted from the tobacco scraps) and shaped into curls. Unfortunately, a lot of people still smoke nowadays, even if it’s banned from some public places and work areas. Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemical compounds like arsenic, formaldehyde, cyanide, lead, nicotine, carbon monoxide, acrolein etc. The saddest truth is that more than 70 of those chemicals are carcinogenic.
What is in rolling tobacco?
However, roll-your-own cigarettes don’t have as many chemical compounds as regular cigarettes do, but they do still contain dangerous chemicals. Roll-your-own cigarettes contain chemicals such as tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs – the most dangerous carcinogens in tobacco and its smoke). TSNAs are normally find in a green tobacco (tobacco plant leaves before drying and other processes) in small amounts, but as we said, the process that the green tobacco needs to go through causes high levels of TSNAs. Another dangerous chemical is called tar. Tar is the sticky brown remaining part or lime scale that stays the end of a cigarette filter when you are smoking. Tar also settles on the lungs surface and the bronchial tubes. Those who smoke roll-your-own cigarettes inhale way more tar (when not using a filter) and because they have to suck it more than a regular cigarettes. Nicotine is a next chemical found in cigarettes. This one is a very addictive substance of cigarettes. It’s also a dangerous poison that is found in some pesticides. Carbon monoxide widely known as CO is a toxic by-product of the incomplete burning of carbon-containing fuels. CO affects ability of your body to carry oxygen. The truth is, every single type of cigarette or tobacco is dangerous for our health. There is no safe way to smoke tobacco.
What are the effects smoking has on the body?
First of all, you need to know that every year almost 120,000 die because of smoking. Smoking affects your body and causes many inner and outer complications, especially long – term ones.
Your smell and taste senses are damaged, your hair, hands and breathe smell, smoking also affects your teeth and mood – you may feel irritated when you cannot go for a smoke break.
Further to this:
– Early menopause and really bad hot flashes
– Poor vision – smoking can cause problems with your vision like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts
– Bronchitis – this happens not only to SMOKERS but also to SECOND HAND SMOKERS.
– Lung cancer, this is extremely serious does not need any explanation
– Persistent coughing- even at night, or when you don’t smoke enough when you are a long term smoker.
– Heart diseases
– COPD- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
– Yellow, smelly fingers, wrinkles and dry skin
– Loss of appetite
– High cholesterol – why is smoking connected with high cholesterol levels? Smoking lowers your good cholesterol levels and increases the bad one. It also increases fats in your blood called triglycerides and total cholesterol level
– Immune system lowered
– Infertility
– Cervical cancer
– Erectile dysfunctions
– Blood cancer
– Financially, if you smoke 13 cigarettes a day (364 cigarettes a month). You spend £141 a month and £1,696 a year…..
Let’s take a look at what happens when we stop smoking and why it is essential to see it through no matter how difficult if may seem! People quit smoking everyday so you are not alone on this journey to a healthier happier you!
The top reasons to stop smoking are:
– Your head, face and ear will start to return to base or ‘normal’ first of all you will hear better, yes smoking affects your hearing!
– Your eyes work better. Quit smoking and your eyes will work better
– Your breathe doesn’t smell and your teeth look cleaner
– Your skin looks brighter
– Lower risk of heart diseases (your blood will be thinner and will not form blood clots that can potentially cause a heart attack or other diseases)
– When you quit smoking it lowers your blood cholesterol
– You will not do any more damage to your lungs. After two weeks of not smoking, you will feel the difference while breathing
– Smoking damages your lungs air sacs, when you quit smoking, you protect your lungs from emphysema
– Lower risk of cancer
– Stronger muscles and bones, better blood flow allows your muscles and bones to be stronger.
– Less risk of catching colds and flu because your immune system heals
– Quitting smoking reduces your belly fat
– Cilia are coming back to life so you will notice that you cough more, this is temporary
– Low risk of erectile dysfunction. Smoking affects your blood flow that is why your sex life will improve when you quit smoking
– Sexual healing. When you smoke your senses are affected. When you quit smoking, you feel more, smell more, your heart works better, you can work harder. Sex is great!
– Erection strength improves along with stamina -sex is better as your blood flow and circulation returns to normal your erection quality will increase
– Your libido is improved because your heart health and senses are getting better
Not only are you better off financially but your sex life improves, your confidence will sky rocket and your overall quality of life is better. Do you need any more convincing?
