look news india
Often people who smoke cigarettes or consume gutkha-khaini argue that they consume it in very small quantities, hence there will be no harm to them. But according to medical science, even a small amount of tobacco can prove to be extremely fatal for your body. In today’s time, tobacco consumption is not just a bad habit but has also become the main cause of serious diseases that hollow the body from within. Senior Consultant (Clinical and Interventional Pulmonology), Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad Dr V. Nagarjuna Maturu Has explained in detail how every puff and every grain of tobacco leads to destruction of your body organs.
Attack on lungs: swelling in respiratory tubes and risk of emphysema
According to Dr. V. Nagarjuna Mathuru, when a person takes a puff of a cigarette or beedi, thousands of toxic chemicals along with nicotine enter the lungs and blood stream within a few seconds. Repeated exposure to smoke causes the delicate lung tissue and respiratory tubes to become severely swollen. Due to this, the functionality of the lungs begins to deteriorate, leading to deadly diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which later turn into lung cancer.
Effect on heart and arteries: Risk of heart attack doubles
Nicotine present in tobacco increases blood pressure and heart rate abnormally as soon as it enters the body. At the same time, the carbon monoxide gas released from the smoke greatly reduces the supply of oxygen in the blood, due to which the heart has to work more than necessary. Tobacco greatly speeds up the process of hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This is the reason why the risk of heart attack and brain stroke in smokers directly doubles as compared to ordinary people.
Deadly consequences of chewing tobacco: From broken teeth to oral cancer.
People who do not smoke cigarettes but chew gutkha, khaini or zarda are also in equally great danger. By chewing tobacco, nicotine and cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) come in direct contact with the delicate skin of the mouth. Due to this, chronic and serious gum diseases start, teeth start breaking prematurely and leukoplakia (white or red spots) start forming inside the mouth. According to the doctor, these spots are the initial symptoms of oral cancer.
Attack on digestive system and fertility, big risk in pregnancy
Both smoking and smokeless tobacco (chewing) increase the risk of cancer of the stomach, pancreas and esophagus many times over. Apart from this, it weakens the fertility of both men and women. The body’s immune system becomes so weak that any normal wound does not heal quickly. Tobacco consumption during pregnancy is extremely dangerous; Due to this, there is a risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and extremely low birth weight of the child.
How does the body recover immediately after quitting? Know the solution
The doctor says that if you want a healthy life, then quit tobacco today and right now. Within a few hours of quitting it, your blood pressure and heart rate start becoming normal. Gradually, lung capacity and blood circulation in the body improves. The risk of cancer also starts decreasing with time. If quitting addiction seems difficult, create a proper quitting plan with the help of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), behavioral support, and prescription medications.