Do you smoke too? (Smoking) Shall we talk about this in detail?

Have you ever thought about this small, but very important organ in our body, the heart ? It is like a small engine in our body, the size of your fist. It works non-stop throughout the day, even when we are sleeping. So, today we will talk about this amazing organ, how it works, the diseases that come with it and what we can do to keep it healthy.

What is smoking?

Simply put, smoking is the act of wrapping a piece of plant, usually tobacco, in a leaf (which we call a cigarette), lighting one end of it, drawing the smoke into your mouth from the other end, and then exhaling it. When you inhale this smoke, it travels down your respiratory tract , into your lungs, and from there into your bloodstream, where it travels to your brain and all your other organs.

Although we will mostly talk about tobacco cigarettes in this article, people also use things like cigars, pipes, marijuana (marijuana/weed/pot), or cigarettes made from certain herbs.

What's in a cigarette?

The main ingredients in a typical cigarette we buy from the store are:

• Plant parts: In the case of a tobacco cigarette, this is the dried, seasoned leaves and stem parts of the tobacco plant (`Nicotiana tabacum`).
• Rolling paper wrapper: This is the paper that the plant parts are wrapped in.
• Filter/cigarette butt: When you inhale, this filter stops some of the larger pieces of burning tobacco from entering your mouth. But the smoke passes through it.

Why do people turn to smoking?

People actually smoke because they think it will give them some pleasure and enjoyment. Also, once they start, it is difficult to stop, even though they know how much damage it does to the body. The main reason for this is the strong desire for nicotine in our brain. When you don't get nicotine, you feel uncomfortable and bad.

When nicotine reaches the brain, it releases chemicals that make you feel good. When you smoke, you may feel:

• A sense of lightness and calm.
• Stimulation and inspiration.
• Pay more attention to something.

Smoking is a social act for some, a part of their daily routine, like drinking coffee in the morning. You may smoke to have fun, to calm yourself down before going out in public, or to help you focus at work. Some people like the taste, or others just like the feel of a cigarette in their hand.

What does smoking do to your body?

Smoking affects everything from the appearance of your skin and nails to the way your tissues, organs, and ultimately your DNA work . The effects of smoking on your body begin the moment you light up a cigarette. The thousands of chemicals released by burning tobacco begin their harmful journey before you even take a single puff.

When you light a cigarette and put it in your mouth...

When you light a cigarette, the heat releases nicotine, and tar, a tobacco residue . When you put the cigarette to your lips, this tar stains your nails. The smoke dries out your skin, causing it to become inflamed, leading to deeper wrinkles . If you inhale the smoke through your nose, it damages the nerve endings. Over time, this can reduce your sense of smell .

When you inhale cigarette smoke...

When you take a puff on a cigarette, the smoke passes through a filter. This stops most of the larger particles from getting in, but tar, nicotine, and other chemicals still get in. Tar stains your teeth, coats your gums, and coats your tongue . It damages your tooth enamel, makes you more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease , and reduces your ability to taste the foods you love.

When smoke passes through your airways...

As the smoke travels to your lungs, the tar coats your throat and vocal cords. This can make you cough . As it travels through your airways, the tar and hydrogen cyanide (a poisonous gas) inactivate tiny hairs called cilia . Like the bristles of a broom, these cilia are responsible for catching germs and other harmful particles and sweeping them out of your lungs. When these are damaged, you are more likely to get respiratory infections .

When smoke enters the lungs and mixes with the blood...

When smoke gets into your lungs, it damages the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. This can lead to a condition called emphysema , which is a type of lung disease called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). From your air sacs (alveoli), carbon monoxide from the smoke enters your bloodstream . It takes oxygen away from your red blood cells, depriving your cells and tissues of oxygen. This lack of oxygen can make you feel short of breath . Your cells are telling your body to get more oxygen, but this causes inflammation and mucus to build up, making it harder to breathe.

As it travels through your blood vessels, nicotine damages the lining of your blood vessels. This causes them to thicken and narrow , and blood cells to stick to them. This increases your risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes . In men, reduced blood flow can cause erectile dysfunction .

When chemicals travel throughout the body through the blood...

Once the chemicals in cigarette smoke enter your bloodstream, they travel throughout your body. This can damage these parts of your body:

• Bones: Nicotine reduces calcium absorption and the production of bone-building cells. This makes your bones thinner and more fragile .
• Eyes: The chemicals in cigarettes and the lack of oxygen damage your eyes. This can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration, and even vision loss .
• Immune system : Smoking causes constant inflammation , which weakens your immune system. This makes you more susceptible to illness and can even lead to autoimmune diseases .
• Hormones: Nicotine can cause changes in hormones, which can affect your fertility .
• DNA: Things like arsenic, nickel, and radioactive polonium can damage your DNA, and block the things your body uses to repair it. DNA damage can lead to cancer and can cause fertility problems by damaging sperm .

When nicotine reaches the brain...

Nicotine travels directly from the bloodstream to your brain. There, it activates certain receptors in the brain , releasing 'feel-good' chemicals like dopamine, adrenaline, endorphins, and serotonin. This is where the nicotine 'buzz' comes in. It's like a nicotine patch that makes you feel relaxed, happy, or refreshed. You take that first puff and it's only a matter of seconds.

When you get a withdrawal...

Your liver processes nicotine, and within a few hours of smoking a cigarette, you excrete it in your urine. Your body loses that 'buzz' and craves more, which encourages you to smoke another one. If you don't, you will experience withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, and insomnia . Over time, your body becomes accustomed to nicotine (a 'tolerance'), and you need more nicotine to feel good. This leads to nicotine dependence .

If you are pregnant, this can also affect the fetus...

The narrowing of the blood vessels in the placenta and umbilical cord limits the amount of blood that reaches the fetus . The blood that passes through the placenta contains carbon monoxide, nicotine, and other harmful chemicals. This can deprive the fetus of oxygen and damage its DNA . Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have miscarriages . Babies born to smokers can have low birth weight, heart and lung problems, and developmental delays .

What are the health effects of smoking?

Although many people associate smoking only with lung cancer, smoking can cause or increase the risk of many health conditions affecting almost every part of your body .

Do lungs recover after quitting smoking?

Yes, your lungs and airways can begin to heal to some extent when you quit smoking. Within a few weeks of quitting, inflammation and mucus production will decrease, and within a few months, cilia will regrow. In fact, many systems in your body will begin to heal after you quit smoking. Some damage may never be completely repaired (such as COPD), but your risk for many diseases will decrease significantly over time.

How do I stop smoking?

There are many ways to help you quit smoking. You may have to try a few different methods to find the one that works for you.