BREAST CANCER, RENAL CANCER, STOMACH CANCER, and
LIVER CANCER. The burning of a cigarette releases
smoke that contains more than 4,000 chemicals,
dozens of which are known carcinogens (sub-
stances that cause cancer).
CARCINOGENS IN CIGARETTE SMOKE
acrolein acrylonitrile
aminobiphenyl aromatic amines
aromatic nitrohydrocarbons arsenic
benzene benzofluoranthene
benzopyrene butadiene
cadmium chromium
chrysene crotonaldehyde
dimethylhydrazine dibenzacridine
dibenzanthracene dibenzocarbazole
dibenzopyrene ethylcarbamate
formaldehyde hydrazine
hydrocarbons lead
methylamine methylchrysene
naphthylamine nickel
nitropropane nitrosamines
nitrosonomicotine phenols
polonium-210 (radon) quinoline
tar toluidine
urethane vinyl chloride
Cigarette smoking and chronic pulmonary con-
ditions Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of
numerous chronic pulmonary conditions, includ-
ing CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE(COPD),
chronic BRONCHITIS, and nonallergic ASTHMA. The
damage that results from COPD is irreversible and
progressive, often leading to permanent disability.
Cigarette smoking and healing The changes
that take place in the cells with cigarette smoking
slow cellular metabolism, limiting the ability of
cells to grow and divide. These functions are
essential for HEALINGafter injury or surgery. As
well, lungs damaged by cigarette smoking are
unable to deliver adequate oxygen to the blood
circulation, restricting a fuel source necessary for
cell function. The effects of cigarette smoking on
healing are so significant that most surgeons will
not perform elective (nonemergency) operations
on people who smoke. It is necessary to be smoke
free for two to four weeks to mitigate enough of
smoking’s deleterious action on cellular function
to allow effective healing.
Cigarette smoking, fertility, and pregnancy
Cigarette smoking affects sperm production in
men and OVULATIONin women. Smoking during
PREGNANCYlimits the amount of oxygen the devel-
oping fetus receives, affecting fetal growth and
development. The babies of women who smoke
during pregnancy tend to be 10 to 20 percent
smaller at birth than the babies of women who do
not smoke. Low birth weight is a health risk for
the infant.Smoking and Preventable Disease
Nearly all of the health consequences associated
with cigarette smoking are preventable by not
smoking. People who never smoke enjoy the
strongest preventive benefit. People who smoke
and quit can, over time, restore their health risk
for many conditions to near normal. Health condi-
tions such as COPD, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer,
and bladder cancer are rare in nonsmokers. Other
factors such as EATING HABITSand physical inactivity
contribute to CVD, though not smoking removes a
significant factor from an individual’s health risk
profile.
See also ANTISMOKING EFFORTS; ENVIRONMENTAL
CIGARETTE SMOKE; ERYTHROCYTE; LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH;
NEUROTRANSMITTER; NICOTINE REPLACEMENT; SMOKING
CESSATION; TOBACCO USE OTHER THAN SMOKING.smoking cessation Efforts to stop smoking.
Tobacco contains NICOTINE, the addictive quality of
which is comparable to that of HEROIN. As well,
cigarette smoking becomes a compelling behav-
ioral element of daily life. Most smokers who
attempt to quit make numerous efforts before suc-
ceeding for the long term and the risk for relapse
remains high for years. Of the 1.8 million Ameri-
can smokers who quit every year, 30 percent
remain smoke free for one year.
Several medical interventions can help to
smokers break the grip of nicotine, including NICO-
TINE REPLACEMENTproducts (such as chewing gums,
transdermal patches, inhalers, and nasal sprays)
and the prescription medication bupropion
(Zyban), which appears to diminish the desire to
smoke. Nonmedical interventions includeHYPNOSIS
andBEHAVIOR MODIFICATION THERAPY. Many smokers
are more successful with a combination of meth-
ods than with a single approach; those who smoke304 Lifestyle Variables: Smoking and Obesity