Expert Says Tobacco Smoke Contains Deadly Chemicals

 

Igwe told newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday that many Nigerians have continued to smoke, in spite of the warnings on its negative effect on human health.

“It could be consumed in more than one ways. Some people chew it, others inhale it, but majority smoke it in the form of cigarettes.

“The fact remains that smoking, which is the commonest way of tobacco consumption, is terrible for human health because it has thousands of deadly chemicals.

“Smokers always want to justify their reasons for smoking. The young ones said they smoke to look mature and respected among their peers.

``Others said they smoke to be relieved of their problems and relax their tensed nerves; while some inherited it, especially in a family where you have smokers,” he said.

Igwe explained that over 55 per cent of the chemicals associated with cigarettes could cause different types of cancer.

“Smoking primarily causes cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorder, and harm to reproduction as it lowers fertility in women.

“Smoking has been linked to cancers of the lungs, mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus, pancreas, kidney and bladder.

“Smoking can also lead to cancer of the stomach and cancer of the blood”.

According to Igwe, many cases of strokes originated from smoking because it can harden and narrow the arteries which may lead to strokes.

``It also causes asthma, cataracts, pneumonia, airway infections and gum infection that can cause pain and tooth loss in adults,” he said.

The physician said that non-smokers were also affected innocently through secondary or passive smoking as some quantity of nicotine in the smoke they inhale could damage some organs or cause sickness to them.

``When you smoke near people who do not smoke, you are also putting their health at risk, especially the children whose organs and immune systems are still developing,” the expert said.

Igwe noted that the continued campaign against smoking was the only way of telling smokers that the habit “hurts, causes illness, disability and death”.