Harmful effects of smoking on mental health

It is a matter of concern that the number of smokers is increasing rapidly in India, Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia, including Pakistan. One person is embracing death, so six million people worldwide die every year from smoking. Of these, more than 600,000 are non-smokers who are exposed to the hazardous smoke of being in a non-smoking environment.

Sniffing tobacco such as cigarettes, pipes, cigars, haqqa, glass, etc. and eating tobacco such as betel, challah, gatka etc. are all very dangerous and extremely harmful to health. The nicotine in cigarettes gets on a person's nerves in such a way that he can't live without smoking.

The nicotine in tobacco increases the levels of chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine and endorphins, which can lead to addiction. These chemicals arouse feelings of pleasure or amusement, which triggers the body to crave tobacco products. It is very difficult for any person to give up these habits because lack of nicotine in the body leads to anxiety, restlessness, depression and lack of mental focus. Smoking slowly begins to damage various parts of the body and the affected person is unaware of the damage done to them for many years, and by the time these harms begin to become apparent, the body is completely addicted to tobacco, and has become accustomed to it and it becomes very difficult to get rid of it.

According to research, tobacco and its fumes contain about 4,000 chemicals, of which about 250 are found to be extremely harmful to human health, and contain more than 50 chemicals that can cause cancer.

The smoker suffers from respiratory diseases, most notably bronchitis (COPD) and emphysema. These chemicals come to the lungs, which can lead to severe breathing difficulties and the risk of infection, ie pneumonia.

In this condition, the lung tissue is permanently damaged, causing the patient to develop severe cough and asthma symptoms. Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart attack. Smokers have twice the risk of heart disease than the average person.

Tobacco smoke hardens the blood vessels, thus stopping the blood supply to the heart muscle which leads to heart attack. Smoking also reduces the blood supply to the brain and increases the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke in which the blood vessels in the brain rupture.

The most serious and dangerous cause of lungs disease is smoking. About 90% of people with lung diseases are current or former smokers. The more cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk of developing lung cancer.

Women who smoke are also more likely to get breast cancer. Similarly, smoking causes cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, liver, bladder, pancreas and kidney. Like smokers, their homes and co-workers are at increased risk for these diseases due to cigarette smoke.

Efforts are being made to tackle the menace of smoking in Pakistan. But anti-smoking laws need to be seriously enforced. Smoking is not a cause of pride, it is a health hazard, but despite being aware of its implications, there are a large number of educated smokers such as lawyers, doctors, journalists, police officers And people from professions such as engineers, who are also becoming a means of making more people smokers.

Cigarettes are a poison that can be made by human hands, which can be absorbed into the fingers and blow away all the potentials and abilities. While man is precious, he has no idea of ​​its value. To live a healthy life we ​​must pledge to always refuse the offer of cigarettes and smokers, and make serious efforts to get rid of the smoking and smoking habits of smokers so that they can lead a happy and healthy life. ۔