Consequences of Smoking

Physical effects of smoking cigarettes

When a person smokes a cigarette, the chemicals in the cigarette enters the lungs and starts travelling through the body causing serious damage.

Smoking cigarettes can harm almost every organ of the body like this:

Eyes and ears

Smoking can cause eye problems and even blindness and is also linked to hearing loss if a person has smoked a lot of cigarettes over a long period of time.

Heart 

Smoking cigarettes can narrow blood vessels and force the heart to work harder. It can raise blood pressure increasing the likelihood of heart attacks/strokes.

Lungs 

Smoking cigarettes can put pressure on the lungs as the chemicals from the cigarette stick to the lining of the lungs. This weakens the lungs and increases risks of diseases such as lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema.

Mouth and Teeth 

Smoking cigarettes can make a person's teeth turn yellow and give them bad breath. Smoking cigarettes can also cause gum disease and mouth cancer.

Muscles and joints 

Smoking cigarettes keeps oxygen from getting to muscles, making the body feel weak. It can also increase the risk of a serious and painful disease called rheumatoid arthritis.

Skin and hair 

Smoking cigarettes may affect a person's appearance because smoking reduces the blood supply to the skin and cause a person to get wrinkles and lose hair at a younger age. A person who smokes also tends to have paler skin and experience premature ageing.

The mind

A person who smokes cigarettes can become addicted to the drug, nicotine, that is in the cigarettes. This drug can make a person feel good when they are smoking but it can make them anxious or nervous, moody or depressed afterwards.

Smoking increases the risk of cancer in the bladder, kidneys, pancreas, stomach and reproductive organs as well as the lungs, lips, mouth or throat which may lead to the removal of parts of the body or premature death.

Impacts of smoking on social health

Social health is about the way a person interacts with other people, contributes to and holds a conversation with people and maintains relationships with people in various situations/circumstances.

Smoking cigarettes can impact a person's social health in the following ways:

Poor personal hygiene

When a person smokes a cigarette, they may have bad breath and sometimes body odour and this could result in other people avoiding the smoker as they do not like the smell of them.

Social isolation

When a person smokes a cigarette, they usually have to go outside to smoke. This can make them feel socially isolated as they are spending periods of time on their own.

Economic costs

Smoking cigarettes is an expensive habit and it can put financial strain on a person and as a result they may not be able to attend social events and meet with people/friends/family.

Poor work relationships

When a person smokes a cigarette, work productivity may decrease as the person is taking breaks from work to smoke. This may lead to people in the workplace not wanting to work with the person as they worry that they may not meet targets and deadlines.

Poor sick record

Due to the effects of smoking on a person's health, they may take a lot of time off work. This would also mean they fall behind in their work and so people in work may not want to work with the person when they return to work.

QUESTIONS YOU COULD BE ASKED ON THIS

Explain two physical consequences of a young person smoking cigarettes. (4marks)

Smoking increases the risk of developing lung or throat cancer, which can lead to serious illness or even early death. (2 marks)

Smoking can also damage a person’s appearance, causing pale skin, wrinkles, and yellow teeth because it reduces blood flow to the skin and harms dental health. (2 marks)

Discuss how smoking can affect a young person’s physical health. (6 marks)

Firstly, it increases the risk of developing cancers such as lung, mouth or throat cancer, which can lead to serious illness, removal of body parts, or early death.

Secondly, nicotine in cigarettes raises blood pressure, putting extra strain on the heart. This increases the risk of heart attacks or strokes, even at a young age.

Finally, smoking can harm a person’s teeth and gums. It can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, yellow staining and even loose teeth, which can affect eating, speaking, and overall appearance.

Explain two ways smoking can impact a person’s social health. (4 marks)

Smoking can lead to poor personal hygiene, such as bad breath or body odour. This can cause other people to avoid the smoker because they do not like the smell, which may affect their friendships or relationships. (2 marks)

Smoking can also cause social isolation, as smokers often have to go outside away from others to smoke. This can make them feel left out or lonely in social situations. (2 marks)