I have seen people who smoke and cough. I have also read many articles on the ill effects of smoking, particularly cancer. Based on medical literature that says smoking is bad for a person’s health, your smoking will eventually make you ill. But don’t take my word for it. I hope these medical facts will convince you to quit smoking. ‘Smoker’s cough’ is due to harmful chemicals present in cigarette smoke. Smoking weakens the immune system making the smoker prone to getting sick. Smoking has been scientifically proven to cause cancer.
The chemicals in cigarette smoke irritate the throat, air passages, and lungs. ‘Smoker’s cough’ happens when the parts of the body where the smoke passes try to protect themselves. Coughing is the body’s reflex action to clear the lungs and expel the irritants. The smoker coughs because the lungs clear away the harmful irritants and poison that stay in the lungs and air passages (Questions About Smoking, 2008). More smoke weakens the clearing action as the lungs become more prone to infection.
Smoking weakens the immune system right at the cellular level because tobacco smoke stimulates the formation of free radicals. Cigarette smoke is an externally generated source of free radicals that stick to normal and healthy cells and destroy them (SMOKING…….JUST THE FACTS, 2008). The presence of free radicals in cells, brought about by cigarette smoke, damages all cellular macromolecules including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. The destruction of these macromolecules weakens the immune system, making the smoker unable to fight off sicknesses.
Much information point to the relation of smoking to cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (2004), “cigarette smoking causes 87 percent of lung cancer deaths and is responsible for most cancers of the larynx, oral cavity, and pharynx, esophagus, and bladder.” The fact sheet further adds that “tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemical agents, including over 60 substances that are known to cause cancer.” Lung cancer is the leading cancer death classification for both men and women. Cigarette smoke has been scientifically recorded to have caused 87 percent of lung cancer deaths.
A smoker eventually, and surely, gets sick because of the harmful effects of tobacco smoke. Smoking induces coughing known as ‘smoker’s cough.’ The harmful chemicals and poison found in cigarette smoke help produce free radicals that weaken the person’s immunity at the cellular level making him susceptible to illnesses. And, most importantly, I’m sure you have also heard by now that smoking leads to cancer. These can most possibly happen to you because you are a smoker. Medical literature are aplenty regarding these scientific research findings. I hope these facts convince you to quit smoking now. I know you are an avid and habitual smoker, and I cannot convince you myself without telling you these medical facts.
