Smoking is one of the most common bad habits in the world. People have been smoking since time immemorial. Historians claim that smoking mixtures and accessories are found among things in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs who lived more than a thousand years BC. Why is this habit attractive, which has survived to our times and is still very popular among people of different ages, cultures and nationalities? In general, what are the pros and cons of such a habit as smoking?
Pros of smoking
So, smokers highlight the following benefits of smoking:
- an occasion to have fun with friends, to support those who also like to smoke;
- an opportunity to show your "coolness" and "solidity";
- a way to escape from intense thoughts, relieve stress, forget for a while.
Cons of smoking
The following are the disadvantages of smoking:
- Absolutely all types of smoking are addictive, and if there is no opportunity to smoke in a stressful situation, a person becomes even worse.
- Smoking greatly impairs he alth, leading to diseases such as cancer, bronchitis, osteoporosis, coronary diseaseheart disease, cancer, asthma. Smoking exacerbates all chronic diseases.
- Buying smoking accessories is not cheap.
- A smoker's appearance changes for the worse, teeth, skin, nails and eyes turn yellow, hair falls out, an unpleasant repulsive smell from the mouth and body appears, the skin flakes and mucous membranes dry out.
- Smoking, a person, in addition to himself, harms others, his family suffers first of all.
Nowadays, there is a wide choice of ways to smoke. Let's take a closer look at what smoking can be, the pros and cons of each of its types.
Cigarettes
A cigarette is a cylindrical paper stick with shredded tobacco inside. This shape and small size fits comfortably in your pocket or purse, making it possible to carry cigarettes with you and smoke anytime, anywhere.
Pros and cons of smoking cigarettes:
+ A smoker always has the opportunity to take a break at work by taking a smoke break. This is normally perceived by employees and often by the authorities themselves.
+ Nicotine is able to destroy up to a dozen types of harmful microbes.
+ Cigarettes help relieve stress.
- Often, quitting smoking cigarettes, people begin to experience a strong feeling of hunger, which leads to rapid weight gain.- Smoking in general or cigarettes in particular leads to what was already mentioned above: problems with he alth, appearance and others.
Cigars
A cigar is the same tobacco, but the roll itself is not made of paper, but of whole tobacco leaves. The cigars are bigger, more expensive and look more solid.
Smoking cigars has pros and cons:
+ in the manufacture of cigars, tobacco leaves go through a special long process called fermentation, which reduces the nicotine content in products;
+ since there is no paper in the cigar, there are no combustion products that are very dangerous to inhale;
+ when smoking a cigar, you do not need to inhale heavily, which is less detrimental to the condition of the lungs;
+ do not smoke cigars during the day, at work, on the street, etc. - this is a kind of a ritual that is not performed as often as the habit of smoking cigarettes;
- when smoking a cigar, a lot of smoke is produced, which is even more harmful to others who unwittingly become "passive smokers"; unfortunately, often these can be children;
- despite the long fermentation process, a fairly large amount of nicotine is still retained in the cigar; its combustion products are also very toxic;- cigar smoker puts himself at risk of developing respiratory and gastrointestinal cancers.
E-smoking
An electronic cigarette is a device very similar to a regular cigarette that simulates the process of smoking. It consists of a housing in which a battery and a small steam generator are installed. This device is positioned as an effective way to quit smoking or make smokingless harmful.
Electronic smoking has the following pros and cons:
+ E-smoking does not cause such changes in appearance as usual. Using an electronic cigarette, a person protects himself from an unpleasant smell, yellowness of the teeth, shortness of breath, dry skin.
+ Since there is no combustion, resins and products of this process are not emitted. Therefore, these substances do not enter the body.
+ E-smoking does not harm others;
- An electronic cigarette is a device that is not subject to certification and has not been particularly thoroughly tested. The quality of filters and other components lies on the conscience of manufacturers and is not controlled by anyone.
- Switching from regular smoking to electronic does not kill the habit itself. It is a well-recognized fact that when people started smoking e-cigarettes, many smoked not less (not to mention quit altogether), but even more, as the supposed safety convinces people that now they are not risking their he alth. - The vapor inhaled by a smoker from such a cigarette contains harmful substances, such as propylene glycol, which causes respiratory diseases.
Grass
Smoking weed most often refers to smoking a plant such as cannabis (hemp). Hashish, anasha, marijuana, etc. are different parts of the same plant prepared in different ways. In the Middle Ages, the plant was used as a medicine. Now in a number of countries it continues to be used for medical purposes. Some usecannabis as a smoking substance.
Pros and cons of smoking weed:
+ a natural product that does not contain chemicals;
+ helps to relax, feel relaxed;
- overshadows the mind and motor abilities of the body;
- scatters attention and impairs memory;
- when used regularly causes mental disorders;- makes you want to try harder drugs to feel more euphoric.
To smoke or not to smoke
Of course, any reasonable person will see the enormous disadvantages of smoking and the negligible advantages of this habit. It is obvious that the dangers in it are much greater than the advantages. After examining the topic: "Smoking: pros and cons", we can conclude that those points that are "for" do not go to any comparison with those that are "against".
Yes, nicotine kills harmful microbes, but at the same time destroys those that the body needs, settles on the lungs, clogging the alveoli and creating a film that interferes with the normal breathing process. You can fight pathogens in other ways, it is not necessary to smoke for this.
Undoubtedly, smoking helps to relax, relieve stress. But there are many other ways to do this without harming your he alth and the he alth of others. For example, take a bath, go for a run and get some fresh air, meet friends, drink tea, read a book, sleep, etc. There can be something different for everyone, depending on the nature andpreferences. But an alternative to rest with smoking can always be found.
It's a myth that smoking can get you out of trouble. In fact, the problems remain unresolved. When difficulties arise, it is better to find ways to solve them in a sober mind.
The man in the picture, holding a cigarette, may look solid and respectable. But in real life, smokers are far from presentable and are always surrounded by an unpleasant smell.
How many parents harm their babies by forcing them to inhale this caustic smoke! Is a five-minute pleasure worth more than a baby's he alth?To summarize the pros and cons of smoking, we can confidently say that there are a huge number of disadvantages, but no advantages, because what seems to be pluses, in fact, is not.
