In Canada, smoking tobacco is most common with teens than adults. There has been large number of smokers among native Canadians, people with low income, gay population, and gamblers. Second hand smoke, however; is acquired at home, vehicles, and patios. The sad thing is that, health effects of smoking do not choose any age. People involved in such situations are actually at risk with a wide variety of dangerous diseases; some may cause death.
The following are possible health effects to first hand smokers and second hand smokers. It should be noted that smokers are 23 times at risk with these disease than those involved in passive exposure.
| Respiratory – problems in the respiratory may occur as nicotine clogs air passages and settles in some parts of the lungs, destroying the alveoli. |
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| Cancer- tobacco smoke contains 4000 chemicals, 40 of which are carcinogens that destroy healthy cells in the body |
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| Cardiovascular disease – smoking decrease the High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) in the body, thus; decreasing the oxygen that goes up to the heart while increasing blood pressure and heart rate.
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| Pregnancy – smoke affects women fertility, as well as the growth and development of the baby during pregnancy |
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| Other conditions |
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