The Dangers of Smoking

The Dangers of Smoking

Smoking has a very negative impact on the health of people and causes serious long-term and short-term health problems for both the smoker and non-smoker. The act of smoking began since centuries ago. Today, many people still smoke knowing the fact that it can lead to seious heatlh problems and also possibly death.

Smoking has been around since the beginning of time. It is uncertain on how the practice of smoking first came about, but it is certain that the ancient Maya and Aztec Indians of Central America did smoke tobacco. Before cigarettes were invented, tobacco was consumed by chewing, in pipes, cigars, and also made into powder to be sniffed. The first cigarettes were hand-rolled, until the United States invented the automatic cigarette-rolling machines. This allowed smoking to spread even more rapidly around the world then before. In the sixteenth century, tobacco was also used for medical purposes. Even though tobacco was used for medical purposes, doctors did not support the idea of using it for smoking. When the dangers of smoking were discovered, many countries passed laws against smoking. In the U.S., the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act was passed. This law was passed because of surgeon general’s report stating that smoking causes lung cancer and other deadly diseases. Smoking was also banned in twelve American states, but people ignored the laws.

Many people began smoking at an early age. “Statistics show that about 9 out of 10 tobacco users start before they are 18 years old” (“Smoking” 1). There are many reasons as to why people start smoking. Some people start smoking to fit in. They might have friends who smoke and will feel left out if they don’t smoke wit...

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... the children who are not exposed to secondhand smoke. Wheezing and coughing are more common in children who breathes in secondhand smoke. They also have severe and frequent asthma attacks that can put their life in danger. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 40% of children who go to the emergancy room for asthma lives with smokers. Secondhand smoking can also cause childrens with no history of asthma to develop asthma. Childrens who lives with smokers can also get more ear infections and often have to get surgery to drain the build up liquid out of their ears.

Knowing that smoking can cause health problems not only to the smoker, but also to the non-smokers, people still risk their lives on it by starting. Quitting smoking can be a very long and hard process. It is better not to start considering all the damages it can cause to the health.