Smoking is a practice wherein a substance such as tobacco or cannabis is burned and the smoke is inhaled for recreational use. The inhaled substances trigger chemical reactions in the brain being similar to natural substances such as dopamine and endorphin which gives a sensation of pleasure usually referred to as “high.” This can be cause by nicotine which can give a mild stimulus to the intense euphoria brought about by heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines. On the other hand, inhaling smoke into the lungs has devastating effects on one’s health. The incomplete combustion produced by burning plant material generates carbon monoxide which affects the ability of the blood to carry oxygen when inhaled into the lungs. In fact, cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds, 200 of which are known to be poisonous and a fraction identified as carcinogens thus resulting to a multitude of diseases that can lead to disability or death. Examples of diseases due to smoking are stroke, macular degeneration, cataracts, thyroid problems, premature aging and wrinkles, plaque and gingivitis, Cancer of lung, oral mucosa, kidney, bladder and liver, peripheral vascular disease, osteoporosis; the lists are endless.

The American Heart Association believes smoking as the most preventable cause of premature death in the United States accounting for more than 440,000 casualties a year. Cigarette smoking have higher risk for developing cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fatty buildups in the arteries which is the chief contributor to the high mortality from smoking. Studies reveal that cigarette smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease leading to heart attack. Our world today despite its technological advancements is lagging when it comes to our health. Our body is slowly deteriorating, without knowing, in response to accessible instant food. We may wake up one day and notice that our health is already compromised. There are six major independent risk factors that contribute to the development of coronary heart disease that are modifiable or can be controlled. These are cigarette and tobacco smoke, high blood cholesterol consumed from fatty delicacies, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle or physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes.