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Mar 21

Smoking's Deadly Role: Revealing the Link to Cancer's Rise

By Bonjoon Koo


(Photo by Andres Siimon on Unsplash)


Introduction

There is a habit responsible for 20% of all cancer cases worldwide. This deadly habit affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, and its consequences extend far beyond the individual smoker. This habit would be called smoking. Smoking is a serious issue that harms human health, and people need to be educated on the dangers it poses. In this article, we will explore the alarming connection between smoking and cancer, delve into the health issues it causes, and discuss strategies for smoking cessation. 


Smoking Prevalence

While the information might be overwhelming, it's no surprise that smoking-related illnesses and fatalities are so prevalent all over the world. In 2020, 22.3% of the population smoked. Even so, the majority of adults smoke 6-10 cigarettes every day. With so many people smoking cigarettes worldwide,it's reasonable to see how millions of people die from smoking every year.


Connections Between Smoking and Cancer

Given this prevalence, it is critical to educate general populations on the biological links between cancer and smoking to spread awareness about the dangers of smoking. To begin, your body comprises cells, each of which has a nucleus. The nucleus is a component of the cell that houses chromosomes of DNA, and the genes in your DNA are constantly replicated by your body. Mutations that cause cancer can occur when your genes are duplicated or when they are repaired from genetic harm. While the majority of mutations are easily repaired, three types of gene alterations cause cancer: TSG, oncogene, and suicide switch mutations (Canadian Cancer Society, 2023). When these mutations occur, your cell is unable to repair the errors in its gene, it is unable to kill itself, and it begins to replicate at an alarming rate. This is how a cancer cell develops. So, how does all of this connect to smoking? Well, smoking causes genetic harm, resulting in the cells needing to repair themselves and duplicate. While most genetic damage occurs over time, smoking can contribute to additional genetic damage in the body (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, 2023).


Health Issues Arising From Smoking

Aside from cancer, smoking can cause a variety of other illnesses and ailments. People who smoke regularly are more likely to get heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and lung disease. Additional disorders such as tuberculosis, eye disease, immune system insufficiency, and various kinds of arthritis create numerous external health issues in the present and future. However, smoking is not just a personal health concern; it has a worldwide influence on civilians' lives. Smoking is a big issue because people suffer as a result of others' addictions. Nobody would dare suggest that smoking cessation awareness should not be increased when innocent people die each year as a result of secondhand smoke and tons of greenhouse gases and cancer-causing toxins being emitted into the environment. 


Smoking Cessation

Despite the addictiveness of smoking, there are several options for someone to quit smoking. This, such as gradually cutting off or using treatment, can all be helpful. However, no matter what you do, you will achieve positive outcomes. Someone once stated, "Quitting smoking is not a loss; it's a gain for a healthier, smoke-free life." Everyone should endeavor to quit smoking to make their lives and the lives of others less stressful and more liberal. Using nicotine replacement treatment, postponing tobacco use, exercising more frequently, and attempting to apply relaxation methods are some advice for those who want to quit smoking. These seemingly insignificant details might easily be the difference between life and death for you and others around you.


Someone once stated, "Quitting smoking is not a loss; it's a gain for a healthier, smoke-free life." Everyone should endeavor to quit smoking to make their lives and the lives of others less stressful and more liberal.

Conclusion

Overall, I hope you understand the dangers of smoking to one's health and the well-being of society. Quitting smoking is not a side quest; it is a critical activity that might help you live a much longer life. Thousands of scientists are currently working on cancer research and smoking cessation across the world. However, it is up to us to continue our efforts until the research is fully developed. Once the research is completed, people worldwide will be able to enjoy a cancer-free society. But until then, it’s up to you to save the ones you love. The next time you see your family members smoking, educate them on the issues of smoking, and politely rip the cigarette out of their hands and carefully discard it. Cigarette smoking is and will always be harmful, and it must be addressed.



 

References

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (2019). Quitting Methods. Health.gov.au. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/smoking-and-tobacco/how-to-quit-smoking/quitting-methods

Cancer survival rates. (2018, October 25). The Nuffield Trust. https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/cancer-survival-rates

CDC. (2020, April 28). Health Effects of Smoking and Tobacco Use. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/index.htm#:~:text=Smoking%20causes%20cancer%2C%20heart%20disease

Harvard Health Publishing. What a Drag: The Dangers of a Daily Cigarette. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/what-a-drag-the-dangers-of-a-daily-cigarette

Roser, M., & Ritchie, H. (2022, January). Smoking. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/smoking

Tan, G. P. P., et al. (2022, June 11). Residential Secondhand Smoke in a Densely Populated Urban Setting: A Qualitative Exploration of Psychosocial Impacts, Views and Experiences. BMC Public Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13561-7







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