The Causes/effects of Smoking

The causes/effects of smoking

        Do you realize tobacco smoke can damage your body? A single cigarette contains thousands of harmful chemicals. There are very few people who can actually recognize the dangers involved and quit it altogether. “In United States, 100 people die due to it every year, the number of smokers just keeps rising and people do not stop smoking” (Smokefree.gov). It is not only the smokers who get affected but also the non-smokers who get affected due to inhaling of secondhand smoke. Let us first see what causes people to start smoking. The major causes of smoking are peer pressure, stress relief, and media influences, consequently, the effects are heart disease and lungs disease.

        First, one cause of smoking is peer pressure. While there are certainly other influences that can lead a smoker into the habit, peer pressure is one of the biggest. A research showed the high percent of who got the effect by peer pressure is the groups of young teenagers. If a child in a social circle starts experimenting with tobacco, it is all too easy for him to lead peers into smoking as well. Also included the smoker does not want to be alone, and the not-yet-smokers do not want to be seen as afraid to try something risky or boundary-pushing.

        The second cause of smoking is stress relief. For people not suffering from severe mental illness, cigarettes may still become a form of self-medication. In some high-pressure job, many people experiencing much lower levels of stress, but they may also start to smoke as a way to manage the tension and nerves associated with the situation. Unfortunately, these people may find that they cannot easily give up tobacco once the stress passes. The tobacco becomes a psychological and chemical crutch, as any potentially stressful situation sends them instinctively reaching for a cigarette.

        The last cause of smoking is media influences. “According to the research, tobacco advertising plays a role in the number of people who start or stop (Cunningham 10). Like advertising, media can exert a significant influence on viewers’ decision-making; for example, smoking. Smoking in the media can have the same influence as fashion or the appearance of a trendy gadget in an actor’s hand. When young viewers see the main character smoking, they are more likely to see smoking as something socially acceptable, stylish and desirable.

        As you can see, smoking is a serious problem. Therefore, after reviewing the cause of why people smoking which may include peer pressure, stress relief and media influences, there are also consequences of smoking. “Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths in England, accounting for more than 80,000 deaths each year” (Smoke-Free NHS). Smoking can harm nearly every organ of the body. The effects of people smoking may include heart disease and lungs disease.

        First, one of the effects of smoking is heart disease. Smoking raises your blood pressure and puts stress on your heart. Over time, stress on the heart can weaken it, making it less able to pump blood to other parts of your body. “Carbon monoxide from inhaled cigarette smoke also contributes to a lack of oxygen, making the heart work even harden” (smokefree.gov).