FAQ on Smoking and Health (Part V)




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21. Why do many smokers suffer from “smoker’s bronchitis”?

Since cigarette smoke contains harmful chemical compounds that severely irritate all parts of the respiratory tract, including the bronchi, lungs, and air passages, most smokers suffer from persistent cough. Coughing is a way for the body to expel those irritating compounds. Chronic bronchitis signals that the smoker’s respiratory system is under constant stress from inhaled tobacco smoke, resulting in chronic inflammation of the bronchi. This is why smokers often experience morning coughs, since the body tries to clear the air passages and get rid of harmful chemicals caused by smoking.

In addition, smoking can flatten cilia - tiny hair-like projections located along the airways, which action is to sweep impurities and irritating materials out of the respiratory system. When cilia are damaged by cigarette smoke, the respiratory tract is unable to effectively clean itself from harmful particles and other chemicals present in tobacco smoke. As a result, some of those hazardous compounds remain and accumulate in the airways, bronchi, and lungs, further damaging these vital organs. Long-term smoking can completely destroy the airway’s ability to clean itself, which also makes “experienced smokers” much more susceptible to catching bacterial and viral infections.

22. Snuff and chewing tobacco are presently promoted as much safer products than cigarettes. Is chewing or sniffing tobacco less harmful than smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes?

In fact, many experts consider snuff and chewing tobacco to be as harmful to our health as smoking cigarettes. Others think that smokeless tobacco is even more dangerous than cigarettes. All types of smokeless tobacco products still contain copious amounts of nicotine and other hazardous compounds. Nicotine is a highly addictive and damaging substance.

It is estimated that snuff users may consume up to ten times more nitrosamines and other carcinogens than do smokers.

Dangerous components of smokeless tobacco, including nicotine and nitrosamines, are immediately absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth, which makes smokeless forms of tobacco consumption more dangerous than smoking cigarettes.

Besides, chewing tobacco often causes an extensive damage of the mouth lining, which can lead to the development of inflamed areas, sores, and mouth cancer. The use of smokeless tobacco also significantly elevates the risks of contracting gum disease and various other types of cancer, such as cancers of the oesophagus or pharynx. Smokeless tobacco is known to cause darkening of teeth, bad breath, and rampant tooth decay.

About one fourth of those who use smokeless tobacco products also regularly smoke cigars, cigarettes, or pipes, which substantially increases their risk of contracting cancer and other tobacco-induced diseases.

23. I have heard that smoking cigars or pipes is less dangerous than smoking cigarettes. Is it true?

No, it is not. Smoking pipes or cigars is equally or even more dangerous than smoking cigarettes. Additional dangers come from non-filtered tobacco smoke that directly penetrates the pipe or cigar smoker’s airways. According to the statistics, pipe or cigar smokers have a higher incidence of lung cancer than cigarette smokers.

In addition, smoking cigars or pipes creates significantly more ETS than smoking cigarettes.

24. What about claims that menthol cigarettes are somehow safer than regular brands?

In fact, smoking menthol cigarettes can be more hazardous for health than smoking regular brands. Since menthol produces a cooling sensation in the mouth and throat and partially anaesthetizes the airways, smokers of menthol cigarettes can inhale tobacco smoke deeper and hold it longer than smokers of menthol-free cigarettes.

It is estimated that the rates of lung cancer, stroke, and heart attack deaths among the African American population, three fourth of whom prefer to smoke menthol cigarettes, are significantly higher than those of whites, who generally smoke more but mostly choose tobacco products without added menthol.

Composed by staff writers

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Posted on March 27, 2008 
Filed Under Facts on Smoking, Smoking and Health

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