INDIAN SCHOOL MULADHA

BIOLOGY
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
Topic: How smoking affects your
health?

Name:-KOSHAM BISWAS
Class:-12 A
GrNo:-5075

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 INDEX
S.N Content Page.No
1
1 Introduction 3
2 How smoking affects your health? 3
3 Physical Addiction 7
4 Signs of Addiction 7
5 Side effects of smoking 8
Dangers of Smoking with Nicotine
6 Dangers of Smoking with Tar 9
7 How to quit smoking? 10
8 Medication therapy 11
9 Non-medication therapies 12
10 Effects of smoking on the respiratory 13
system

11 Effects of smoking on the circulatory 14

system

12 Effects of smoking on the immune syste 14

13 Effects of smoking on the 15
musculoskeletal system
14 Effects of smoking on the sexual organs 15

15 Other effects of smoking on the body 16

16 Effects of smoking on babies 16

17 Diseases caused by long-term smoking 18

18 Conclusion 17
19 Bibliography 18

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Introduction
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of
thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to
smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth
and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well. Most modern
manufactured cigarettes are filtered and include reconstituted tobacco and other
additives.
The term cigarette, commonly used, refers to a tobacco cigarette but can apply to
similar devices containing other herbs, such as cloves or cannabis. A cigarette is
distinguished from a cigar by its smaller size, use of processed leaf, and paper
wrapping, which is normally white, though other colors are occasionally
available. Cigars are typically composed entirely of whole-leaf tobacco.
Rates of cigarette smoking vary widely, and have changed considerably over the
course of history - since cigarettes were first widely used in the mid-20th century.
While rates of smoking have over time leveled off or declined in the developed
world, they continue to rise in developing nations.
Cigarettes like other tobacco products do carry serious health effects with them.
Nicotine, the primary psychoactive chemical in tobacco and therefore cigarettes,
is addictive. About half of cigarette smokers die of tobacco-related disease and
lose on average 14 years of life. Cigarette use by pregnant women has also been
shown to cause birth defects, including mental and physical disabilities

Smoking
In the early times, people could buy cigarettes and smoke pretty much anywhere
even in hospitals! Ads for cigarettes were all over the place. Today we're more
aware about how bad smoking is for our health. Smoking is restricted or banned
in almost all public places and cigarette companies are no longer allowed to
advertise on TV, radio, and in many magazines.

Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart
disease; that it can shorten your life by 10 years or more; and that the habit can
cost a smoker thousands of dollars year. So how come people are still lighting
up? The answer, in a word, is addiction

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Once You Start, It's Hard to Stop.

Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is

highly addictive. Like heroin or other addictive drugs, the body and mind
quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes that a person needs to have
it just to feel normal.

People start smoking for a variety of different reasons. Some think it looks cool.
Others start because their family members or friends smoke. Statistics show that
about 9 out of 10 tobacco user's start before they're 18 years old. Most adults
who started smoking in their teens never expected to become addicted. That's
why people say it's just so much easier to not start smoking at all.

How smoking affects your health?

There are no physical reasons to start smoking. The body doesn't need tobacco
the way it needs food, water, sleep, and exercise. And many of the chemicals in
cigarettes, like nicotine and cyanide, are actually poisons that can kill in high
enough doses.

The body is smart. It goes on the defense when it's being poisoned. First-time
smokers often feel pain or burning in the throat and lungs, and some people feel
sick or even throw up the first few times they try tobacco.

The consequences of this poisoning happen gradually. Over the long term,
smoking leads people to develop health problems like heart disease, stroke,
emphysema, and many types of cancer -including lung, throat, stomach, and
bladder cancer. People who smoke also have an increased risk of infections like
bronchitis and pneumonia. These diseases limit a person's ability to be normally
active, and they can be fatal.

Smokers not only develop wrinkles and yellow teeth, they also lose bone
density, which increases their risk of osteoporosis, a condition that causes older
people to become bent over and their bones to break more easily. Smokers also
tend to be less active than nonsmokers because smoking affects lung power.

Smoking can also cause fertility problems and can impact sexual health in both
men and women. Girls who are on the pill or other hormone-based methods of
birth control increase their risk of serious health problems, such as heart attacks,
if they smoke.

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The consequences of smoking may seem very far off, but long-term health
problems aren't the only hazard of smoking. Nicotine and the other toxins in
cigarettes, cigars, and pipes can affect a person's body quickly, which means
that teen smokers experience many of these problems:

• Bad skin
Because smoking restricts blood vessels, it can prevent oxygen and nutrients
from getting to the skin - which is why smokers often appear pale and
unhealthy. Studies have also linked smoking to an increased risk of getting a
type of skin rash called psoriasis.

• Bad breath
Cigarettes leave smokers with a condition called halitosis, or persistent bad
breath.

• Bad-smelling clothes and hair

The smell of stale smoke tends to linger - not just on people's clothing, but on
their hair, furniture, and cars. And it's often hard to get the smell of smoke out.

• Reduced athletic performance

People who smoke usually can't compete with nonsmoking peers because the
physical effects of smoking impair sports performance.

• Greater risk of injury and slower healing time

Smoking affects the body's ability to produce collagen, so common sports
injuries, such as damage to tendons and ligaments will heal more slowly in
smokers than nonsmokers.

• Increased risk of illness

Studies show that smokers get more colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia than
nonsmokers. And people with certain health conditions, like asthma, become
sicker if they smoke because teens who smoke as a way to manage weight often
light up instead of eating, their bodies also lack the nutrients they need to grow,
develop, and fight off illness properly.

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 • Immune Cells
Smoking weakens the immune system by depressing antibodies and cells that
are in the body to protect against foreign invaders. There is an association
between smoking and the increased incidence of certain malignant diseases and
respiratory infections, according to the National Center for Biotechnology
Information (NCBI). There is also a significant decrease in immune cells that
normally help the body. But this process can be reversed if a smoker gives up
cigarettes. Smokers who stop show increased levels of natural killer cell (NK)
activity that targets cancerous cells in the body.

• Infections
Many cancer-causing chemicals from cigarette smoke travel throughout a
smoker's bloodstream to reach the organs of the body and damage the immune
response. Carbon monoxide is carried through the body by smoke, interfering
with oxygen levels. Less oxygen reaches the brain, heart, muscles and other
organs. Lung function is reduced because of the narrowing of the lung airways
and excess mucus in the lungs. Lung irritation and damage result from invading
substances, leading to lung infection. Blood pressure and heart rate are affected
negatively by smoking chemicals carried through the blood. The immune
system does not work as well and smokers become more prone to infections,
such as pneumonia and influenza. It takes smokers longer than nonsmokers to
get over illnesses.

• Lung Tissue
Smoking can cause the body's immune system to attack lung tissue and result in
severe respiratory disorders, according to research at the University of
Cincinnati, Ohio. Health scientists examined mice to study the link between
cigarette exposure, the immune system and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disorder (COPD), a serious lung disease characterized by emphysema and
severe inflammation of the lung tissue. After lung cells were damaged from
cigarette smoke in the lab research, the cells signaled the immune system when
the damaged cells needed to be destroyed. The research shows that smoking
actually activates certain parts of the immune system, which works against the
lungs and attacks the tissue; it was reported in the March 2009 issue of the
"Journal of Clinical Investigation. The researchers found a strong correlation
between cellular stress signals, activation of the immune system and
development of diseases similar to COPD.

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Researchers compared the results with tissue samples from humans who
included nonsmokers, smokers with COPD and smokers who did not have
COPD. They found that patients who had never smoked had no trace of the lung
cells that triggered the immune system to attack lung tissue. Current and former
smokers who developed the disease had evidence of those lung signals.

Physical Addiction
Being physically addicted means a person's body actually becomes dependent
on a particular substance (even smoking is physically addictive). It also means
building tolerance to that substance, so that a person needs a larger dose than
ever before to get the same effects.

Someone who is physically addicted and stops using a substance like drugs,
alcohol, or cigarettes may experience withdrawal symptoms. Common
symptoms of withdrawal are diarrhea, shaking, and generally feeling awful.

Psychological Addiction
Psychological addiction happens when the cravings for a drug are psychological
or emotional. People who are psychologically addicted feel overcome by the
desire to have a drug. They may lie or steal to get it.

A person crosses the line between abuse and addiction when he or she is no
longer trying the drug to have fun or get high, but has come to depend on it. His
or her whole life centers on the need for the drug. An addicted person whether
it's a physical or psychological addiction or both no longer feels like there is a
choice in taking a substance.

Signs of Addiction
The most obvious sign of an addiction is the need to have a particular drug or
substance. However, many other signs can suggest a possible addiction, such as
changes in mood or weight loss or gain. (These also are signs of other
conditions too, though, such as depression or eating disorders.

Signs that you or someone you know may have a cigarette addiction include:

Psychological signals:

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 • Use of drugs or alcohol as a way to forget problems or to relax.

• Withdrawal or keeping secrets from family and friends.

• Loss of interest in activities that used to be important.

• Problems with schoolwork, such as slipping grades or absences.

• Changes in friendships, such as hanging out only with friends who use
drugs.

• Spending a lot of time figuring out how to get cigarette.

• Stealing or selling belongings to be able to afford cigarette.

• Failed attempts to stop taking cigarette or drinking.

• Anxiety, anger, or depression.

• Mood swings.

Physical signals:
• Changes in sleeping habits.

• Feeling shaky or sick when trying to stop.

• Needing to take more of the substance to get the same effect.

• Changes in eating habits, including weight loss or gain

Side effects of smoking

Dangers of Smoking with Nicotine:
One of the main dangers of smoking is due to Nicotine. Nicotine is found
naturally in tobacco. It has no odor and no color. It is, however, both physically

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and psychologically addictive, and it causes those who use it to want to smoke
one cigarette after another.

Nicotine enters the body as tiny droplets resting on particles of tar in cigarette
smoke. Inhaled into the lungs, the drug passes quickly into the bloodstream,
reaching the brain within. about 10 seconds. In another 5 to 10 seconds the
nicotine has spread to all parts of the body.

The nicotine raises both the heart rate and blood pressure. The smoker quickly
feels more alert and relaxed. In less than 30 minutes, however, about half of the
nicotine has left the bloodstream, and the smoker starts feeling less alert, more
edgy.

So he or she reaches for another cigarette to get a new "hit" of nicotine. Over
time, the smoker starts needing more cigarettes throughout the day to satisfy the
craving.

Dangers of Smoking with Tar:

There are other dangers of smoking as well. The tar from tobacco smoke starts
to accumulate on the bronchial tubes leading to the lungs. The hot smoke burns
the tiny hair like projections (called cilia) that trap harmful particles before they
enter the lungs.

Carbon Monoxide:

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One more of the dangers of smoking are Carbon monoxide. Smoking also
increases the level of carbon monoxide in the lungs. This poisonous gas is
quickly absorbed into the blood, reducing its capacity to carry oxygen.

As a result, the smoker has to exert more physical effort to attain a given task
than does a nonsmoker. The heart in particular must work harder, particularly
during rigorous exercise. Increased levels of carbon monoxide in the blood can
impair vision, perception of time, and coordination.

Oxides of nitrogen:
Animal experiments showed that nitrogen oxides lungs. It is believed that
nitrogen oxides are some specific chemicals in tobacco that causes lung disease
and efizem.

Hydrogen cyanide:
The lungs have some hairs (cilia) that help to "clean" lungs by removing the
foreign substances. Hydrogen cyanide prevents the development process of
clearing. The substances of cigarette smoke remains in the lungs.

Ammonia:
Ammonia is a powerful chemical found in household products, it is used to
preserve human bodies in the morgue, which is also harmful to the lungs.

How to quit smoking?

There are many different methods that have successfully helped people to quit
smoking, including:

• Quitting smoking cold turkey.

• Systematically decreasing the number of cigarettes you smoke.

• Reducing your intake of nicotine gradually over time.

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 • Using nicotine replacement therapy or non-nicotine medications to reduce
withdrawal symptoms.

• Utilizing nicotine support groups.

• Trying hypnosis, acupuncture, or counseling using cognitive behavioral

techniques.

You may be successful with the first method you try. More likely, you'll
have to try a number of different methods or a combination of treatments
to find the ones that work best for you.

Medication therapy
Smoking cessation medications can ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce
cravings, and are most effective when used as part of a comprehensive stop
smoking program monitored by your physician. Talk to your doctor about your
options and whether an anti-smoking medication is right for you. U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) approved options are:

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy involves "replacing" cigarettes with other nicotine
substitutes, such as nicotine gum or a nicotine patch. It works by delivering
small and steady doses of nicotine into the body to relieve some of the
withdrawal symptoms without the tars and poisonous gases found in cigarettes.
This type of treatment helps smokers focus on breaking their psychological
addiction and makes it easier to concentrate on learning new behaviors and
coping skills.

Non-Nicotine Medication
These medications help you stop smoking by reducing cravings and withdrawal
symptoms without the use of nicotine. Medications such as Bupropion (Zyban
or Wellbutrin) and Varenicline (Chantix) are intended for short-term use only.

Bupropion (Zyban or Wellbutrin) is a prescription anti depressant in an

extended-release form that reduces symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. It does
not contain nicotine. This drug acts on chemicals in the brain that are related to

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nicotine craving. Bupropion works best if it is started a week or 2 weeks before
you quit smoking. The usual dosage is one or two 150 mg tablets per day.

Varenicline (Chantix) is a newer prescription medicine developed to help

people stop smoking. It works by interfering with nicotine receptors in the
brain. This means it has 2 effects: it lessens the pleasurable effects a person gets
from smoking, and it reduces the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Varenicline
should be started a week before your Quit Day.

Non-medication therapies
There are several things you can do to stop smoking that don't involve nicotine
replacement therapy or prescription medications:

Hypnosis
A popular option that has produced good results. Forget anything you may have
seen from stage hypnotists, hypnosis works by getting you into a deeply relaxed
state where you are open to suggestions that strengthen your resolve to quit
smoking and increase your negative negative feelings toward cigarettes. Ask
your doctor to recommend a qualified smoking cessation hypnotherapist in your
area or refer to the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) for
guidelines on selecting a qualified professional.

Acupuncture
One of the oldest known medical techniques, acupuncture is believed to work
by triggering the release of endorphins (natural pain relievers) that allow the
body to relax. As a smoking cessation aid, acupuncture can be helpful in
managing smoking withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor for a referral or
search for a local practitioner at the American Association of Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine (AAAOM).

Behavioral Therapy
Nicotine addiction is related to the habitual behaviors (the "rituals") involved in
smoking. Behavior therapy focuses on learning new coping skills and breaking
those habits. The American Lung Association offers afree online smoking
cessation program that focuses on behavioral change. To find a local behavioral

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therapist, check with your doctor or search at the Association for Behavioral
and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).

Motivational Therapies
Self-help books and websites can provide a number of ways to motivate you to
quit smoking. One well known example is calculating the monetary savings.
Some people have been able to find the motivation to quit just by calculating
how much money they will save after they quit. It may be enough to pay for a
summer vacation.

Filters
Filters that reduce tar and nicotine in cigarettes do not work. In fact, studies
have shown that smokers who use filters tend to smoke more.

Smoking deterrents
Other methods have been used to help stop smoking, such as over-the-counter
products that change the taste of tobacco, stop-smoking diets that curb nicotine
cravings, and combinations of vitamins. At this time there is little scientific
evidence that any of these work.

Effects of smoking on the respiratory

system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the respiratory system include:

• irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box)

• reduced lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing

of the lung airways and excess mucus in the lung passages

• impairment of the lungs' clearance system, leading to the build-up of

poisonous substances, which results in lung irritation and damage

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 • increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and
wheezing

• permanent damage to the air sacs of the lungs.

Effects of smoking on the circulatory

system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the circulatory system include:

• raised blood pressure and heart rate

• constriction (tightening) of blood vessels in the skin, resulting in a drop in

skin temperature

• less oxygen carried by the blood during exercise

• 'stickier' blood, which is more prone to clotting damage to the lining of

the arteries, which is thought to be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis
(the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls)

• reduced blood flow to ovtromitios (fingers and toes)

• increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to blockages of the blood
supply.

Effects of smoking on the immune system

The effects of tobacco smoke on the immune system include:

• greater susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and influenza

• more severe and longer-lasting illnesses

• lower levels of protective antioxidants (such as vitamin C), in the blood.

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Effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal
system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the musculoskeletal system include:

• tightening of certain muscles

• reduced bone density.

Effects of smoking on the sexual organs

The effects of tobacco smoke on the male body include an increased risk for:

• lower sperm count

• higher percentage of deformed sperm

• higher percentage of deformed sperm

• genetic damage to sperm

• impotence, which may be due to the effects of smoking on blood flow

and damage to the blood vessels of the penis.

The effects of tobacco smoke on the female body include:

• reduced fertility, menstrual cycle irregularities, or absence of

menstruation

• menopause reached one or two years earlier

• increased risk of cancer of the cervix

• greatly increased risk of stroke and heart attack if the person who smokes
is aged over 35 years and taking the oral contraceptive pill.

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Other effects of smoking on the body
Other effects of tobacco smoke on the body include:

• irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines

• increased risk of painful ulcers along the digestive tract

• reduced ability to smell and taste

• premature wrinkling of the skin

• higher risk of blindness

• gum disease (periodontitis).

Effects of smoking on babies

The effects of maternal smoking on an unborn baby include:

• increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth

• weaker lungs

• low birth weight, which may have a lasting effect of the growth and
development of children. Low birth weight is associated with an
increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes in
adulthood

• increased risk of cleft palate and cleft lip

• increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Passive smoking (exposure of the non-smoking mother to second-hand smoke)

can also harm the fetus.

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If a parent continues to smoke during their baby's first year of life, the child has
an increased risk of ear infections, respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and
bronchitis,sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) and meningococcal
disease.

Diseases caused by long-term smoking

A person who smokes throughout their life is at high risk of developing a range
of potentially lethal diseases, including:

• cancer of the lung, mouth, nose, larynx, tongue, nasal sinus, oesophagus,
throat, pancreas, bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia), kidney, cervix,
ovary, ureter, liver, bladder, bowel and stomach

• lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease, which includes obstructive bronchiolitis and
emphysema

• cancer of the lung, mouth, nose, larynx, tongue, nasal sinus, oesophagus,
throat, pancreas, bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia), kidney, cervix,
ovary, ureter, liver, bladder, bowel and stomach

• lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease, which includes obstructive bronchiolitis and
emphysema

• heart disease and stroke

• ulcers of the digestive system osteoporosis and hip fracture

• poor blood circulation in feet and hands, which can lead to pain and, in
severe cases, gangrene and amputation

• type 2 diabetes

• rheumatoid arthritis.

Conclusion

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 1. Cigarette smoking by youth and young adults has immediate adverse
health consequences, including addiction, and accelerates the
development of chronic diseases across the full life course.
2. Prevention efforts must focus on both adolescents and young adults
because among adults who become daily smokers, nearly all first use of
cigarettes occurs by 18 years of age (88%), with 99% of first use by 26
years of age.
3. Advertising and promotional activities by tobacco companies have been
shown to cause the onset and continuation of smoking among adolescents
and young adults.
4. After years of steady progress, declines in the use of tobacco by youth
and young adults have slowed for cigarette smoking and stalled for
smokeless tobacco use.

Bibliography
1. www.google.com
2. www.esmokingsideeffects.com
3. www.causesofsmoking.net
4. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/quit_smoking_cessation.htm
5. betterhealth.vic.gov.au
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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