We know that smoking is bad for us. But how bad is it? As May 31 is World No Tobacco Day, here are some lesser-known facts about the harmful effects of smoking.
1. About 7 Singaporeans die prematurely from smoking-related diseases each day.
90 per cent of lung cancer deaths in Singapore occur among smokers; 40 per cent of deaths among those younger than 65 years of age are due to heart disease are related to smoking.
40 per cent of heavy smokers die before reaching 65 years while only 15 per cent of non-smokers do so.
2. Secondhand smoke is more toxic than inhaled cigarette smoke
The smoke breathed in by the passive smoker may contain up to:
3 times more tar
3 times more nicotine
5 times more carbon monoxide
50 times more cancer-causing chemicals than the smoke inhaled by the smoker through the cigarette filter tip
3. Female smokers are 60 per cent more likely than their non-smoking counterparts to be infertile, while smokers who undergo in vitro fertilization are one-third less likely to become pregnant.
Women smokers are up to four times more at risk of cervical cancer and have earlier menopause than non-smokers.
4. Menthol and light cigarettes are equally as damaging as normal cigarettes.
'Light' or 'menthol' cigarettes do not make smoking safer because they contain the same damaging toxins as normal cigarettes.
5. Smoking makes you more stressed.
A smoker experiences fluctuating nicotine levels in between cigarettes and this in turn causes feelings of stress and irritability.
When the smoker starts smoking to satisfy the body's craving for nicotine, the body gives a perceived feeling of 'stress relief'. This feeling of relief is often mistaken as a feeling of relaxation offered by cigarettes.
6. Four hours a day in a smoke-filled environment can add almost 7 years to your age
Studies show that smoking produces free radicals, affecting the gene that causes the breakdown of elastin and collagen. Without sufficient collagen for renewal, the skin gradually loses its elasticity, and becomes dry and wrinkly.
Smokers tend to have wrinkles that extend beyond the area they would normally occur in the normal ageing process.
7. Smoking impedes healing
The more and longer one smokes, the greater the likelihood of impaired wound healing. Even resuming smoking during recovery could lead to adverse effects.
8. Women are 2 times more likely than men to contract bladder cancer
Women who smoked 40 or more cigarettes a day for 40 years or more faced more than twice the risk of contracting bladder cancer than men with the same smoking habit. They also incurred more than 11 times the risk of bladder cancer than a non-smoker. Men incurred approximately five times the risk of a non-smoker.
9. The health benefits of quitting smoking are immediate, even if you have been smoking for many years.
The moment you give up cigarettes, your blood pressure and pulse rate will gradually drop to normal.
After 20 minutes, the risk of a heart attack is reduced.
Within 8 hours, your body will be free of nicotine and after a week, most side-effects from smoking will disappear.
10. You can increase your chances of quitting successfully by four times with a quit smoking consultant
Studies have shown that smokers who seek consultants' advice are four times more likely to quit smoking successfully compared to those who quit on their own. Continuing support from pharmacists, family and friends can also increase the chances of quitting successfully.
