There are thousands of chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least some of which have a negative effect on health, especially on the condition and efficiency of the lungs. Some of these substances are officially considered carcinogenic. In the smoke, apart from nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, there is also carbon monoxide, sulfur compounds, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. They are irritating and toxic substances that are particularly harmful to the epithelium lining the respiratory system.
Tobacco smoke and lung cancer
There is a scientifically proven relationship between cigarette smoking and the risk of lung cancer. People who smoke large amounts of cigarettes (a pack or more per day) are 100 times more likely to develop this type of cancer than non-smokers. Moreover, even irregular smoking or smoking of lighter versions of cigarettes is still dangerous to your health and significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer. This increased risk of lung cancer also applies to passive smokers, i.e. people who do not smoke themselves, but stay in rooms where others smoke. In Poland, about 30,000 people develop lung cancer each year. people, the vast majority of whom are smokers.
It is also worth remembering that smoking not only increases the risk of lung cancer, but also other cancers, including cancer of the larynx and bladder. Smoking cigarettes also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.