Anatomy of the cigarette smoke

Smoking a cigarette may be a style statement or a stress-buster to the 10.5% adult cigarette smokers in Kerala. But little do they seem to care about the toxic anatomy of cigarette and smoke away in mirth!

As can be seen from the inset image, the cigarette smoke produces a complex nature of chemicals.

A powerful insecticide, nicotine is poisonous for the nervous system. It leads to contracting and hardening of the arteries: the heart pumps more but receives less blood resulting in coronary attacks. Nicotine increases the consumption of lipids and induces temporary hyperglycaemia.

Carbon monoxide of the cigarette smoke leads to many cardiovascular complaints including narrowing of arteries, blood clots, arteritis, gangrene, heart attack etc. Tar causes the respiratory tract and lungs to turn black and is responsible for 95% of lung cancers.

Though cigarette manufactures claim that the amount of nicotine is much less than the unprocessed tobacco leaf, cigarette is an undoubted health hazard and killer.

Smokers, learn what you are getting into before you take the lethal puff!

Image courtesy: http://www.knowledgebase-script.com/demo/article-393.html