Dr. P S Das

Tobacco kills irrespective of religion, culture, gender and age. Thus, in order to create awareness regarding the hazardous effects of consuming tobacco an initiative was started in 1987 by the World Health Organization.

Tobacco is the chief ingredient of cigarette and there are over 4000 chemicals compounds created by burning cigarette, 69 of those are known to cause cancer as well as damage the heart and its blood vessels! 6 of these chemicals and their actual usage and side effects are listed below:

1. Nicotine: A naturally occurring chemical in tobacco, which when reaches your brain triggers adrenaline, by increasing your blood pressure and gives you a high. It is a chemical which makes you addictive to cigarette.

2. Arsenic: A common chemical used in rat poison. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can be fatal. Over time, it accumulates in smokers’ bodies and can lead to liver and kidney damage, irregular heartbeat and shortage of red and white blood cells.

3. Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong smelling chemical which is used to preserve dead bodies and is found in cigarette smoke. Short term exposure to it can cause nausea, skin irritation and burning in eyes, nose and throat, it is a lesser known fact that long term exposure to it can cause cancer.

4. Benzene: A flammable liquid commonly found in gasoline, coal tar and crude oil. Long term exposure to Benzene decreases red blood cells, damages bone marrow and increases your risk of blood cancer (leukemia).

5. Polonium: A highly radioactive substance and regular consumption can cause diarrhea, vomiting and hair fall. Over time it causes severe damage to kidney and liver along with your DNA.

6. Cyanide: The most lethal type of poison, which prevents the body to use and absorb oxygen when inhaled.

Would you still want to hang till death? I doubt. It’s never too late to quit! Seek help now on Lybrate. Share this with your friends and family to spread awareness about how deadly every single cigarette is.