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THE NATURE OF TOBACCO


Prof. Peter Odhiambo a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon shows a hideous poster illustrating just what cigarrette smoking does to the human body
Prof. Peter Odhiambo a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon shows a hideous poster illustrating just what cigarette smoking does to the human body

Tobacco is a product of the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum. This plant grows to a height of about 6 feet (2.7m) Its leaves are picked when they mature and then dried and cured by heating. The curing of tobacco leaves reduces the harsh and bitter taste of green tobacco.

What is Tobacco?

When Columbus reached the "New World" he found the native Indians using tobacco in their religious and tribal ceremonies. The Indians smoked the tobacco in pipes or in cigars made from rolled leaves of tobacco. The Arawak Indians of the West Indies gave the name tobacco to the cigars they smoked. The practice was to inhale it through the nose. The Europeans introduced inhalation of tobacco smoke through the mouth by using pipes and later they made it into snuff, which is finely ground tobacco that is sniffed through the nose. They also developed the form of tobacco that is chewed. Today, cigarettes are the most popular form in which tobacco is used.

What Does Tobacco Smoke Do?

The smoke of burning tobacco consists of thousands of ingredients. It is a mixture of gases, vapors, and tiny particles. The especially harmful of these components are tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide.

Tar is a mixture of several substances. Alone, each substance may or may not be harmful. When burned, the tobacco particles, vapors and gases condense to form a sticky mass that coats the lining of the lungs. A pack-a day smoker inhales about 8 ounces (224g) of tar a year. This tar has been shown to be extremely harmful to the lining of the respiratory system.

Nicotine, which is a drug, is a stimulant. Nicotine is also highly addictive, since it causes both physical and psychological dependence. In people with hypertension, nicotine can increase blood pressure to extremely dangerous levels, possibly resulting in stroke or heart failure. Nicotine also reduces the sense of taste and the sense of smell.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is colorless, odourless and tasteless. When a person inhales tobacco smoke, the carbon monoxide combines with the blood haemoglobin in place of oxygen. The longer a person smokes, the more the oxygen supply in the blood decreases. As a result, organs and tissues of the body are deprived of sufficient oxygen. Finally, this process results in damage to the heart, the blood vessels and other organs.

Because of the dangers posed by tobacco smoke inhalation, all manufacturers are required by law to place a warning on all packages and advertising. This was put into force in 1970. Although several people have now come forth and sued the companies for health damage, some people feel that the warning is not strong enough and should be more detailed to include the kind of diseases and complications and consequences that may result such as lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema. Complications in pregnancy which may result in foetal injury, premature birth and low birthweight.

Use of Tobacco

Most cigarette smokers are aware of the grave health risks posed when they smoke. Every cigarette smoked reduces life expectancy by one and a half minutes. Smokers are also aware that they endanger the health of friends and family members by polluting the air with cigarette smoke. Despite all these hazards, millions of people continue to smoke and millions more begin each year.

Risks to the Circulatory System

The single greatest risk associated to tobacco smoking is heart disease. Nicotine causes the heart to beat faster than normal and it causes the blood pressure to rise. As a result, the hart must work harder than it should and needs a greater amount of oxygen. In addition, the smoker inhales carbon monoxide along with the nicotine. The combined effects of nicotine and carbon monoxide probably account for the fact that smokers are twice as likely as non-smokers to die of heart disease.

Risks to the Respiratory System.

When a person smokes, the inhaled smoke reaches the alveoli. These are tiny air sacs in the lungs and they become coated with a layer of tar. Eventually, a deposit of tar is laid down all along the respiratory tract. This is tar buildup and it prevents the cilia in the air passages from moving mucus and small inhaled particles of dust and pollen back into the throat where they can be swallowed. Without the cleaning action of the cilia, mucus and inhaled matter collect in the bronchial tubes. As a result, long time smokers develop a 'smoker's cough'.

Emphysema, a serious respiratory disease can develop in heavy smokers. In this case, the build up of tar clogs the alveoli and destroys the lung surface needed for the absorption of oxygen. The lungs lose their elasticity and become enlarged. This leads to a severe shortage of breath, as there is simply not enough oxygen in the blood to allow the muscles to perform even mild activity.

There is also the very real danger of developing lung cancer. Cancerous cells in the lungs develop as a result of altered makeup of normal cells caused by the reaction of tar build up. Cancerous cells multiply rapidly and they destroy healthy lung tissue. Unfortunately, lung cancer is usually not detected until the disease is beyond effective treatment.

Tobacco use is harmful to many parts of the body apart from the lungs. Cancer can develop in the mouth and on the lips, the throat, oesophagus and larynx. The circulatory system is affected by increased heart rate and higher blood pressure. In the stomach, nicotine increases acid production contributing to the formation of ulcers. The bladder, pancreas and kidneys can also demonstrate tobacco related cancers.

Why Tobacco

Smokers give various reasons for using tobacco. Many people start using tobacco as a result of peer pressure or curiosity. Some say that smoking gives them a "lift" or helps them relax. Some get pleasure from the physical act of smoking - lighting up and handling cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. Others say that a cigarette break creates an occasion and an atmosphere for socializing.

Once a person starts using tobacco, that person may give a variety of reasons for continuing the habit. One reason why some people continue to smoke is that smoking is addictive. Most smokers do not mention this reason. They may even say they can stop the habit anytime. However, cigarette smoking produces a physical and psychological dependence that is very difficult to break.

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