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This post is an entry for the ProWritersHub contest

Introduction

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Smoking is usually tied to cigarettes, but there are other substances that people smoke. Our primary focus would be on cigarettes.

For centuries the main element of a stick of cigarettes, Tobacco, has been in existence, but the knowledge about health implications of smoking cigarettes is relatively new.

An example is that those who smoke have the tendency to die 10 years earlier than those who don't smoke. Having this knowledge alone would help you decide if smoking is a right choice for you.

What is Smoking?

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Smoking is an act where someone begins to burn a substance and takes in the smoke that emanates from the burning substance as a way of thirsting it, which then gets absorbed to your bloodstream.

The most common substance that is used for smoking is the dried leaf of the tobacco plant is rolled with a paper to form a Cigarette. It is often seen as recreational drug use because as the dried leaf gets burned, it vaporizes then transports the active tobacco substances into the lungs where they get absorbed into the bloodstream rapidly and touch other bodily tissues.

Of the most common form of using drugs recreationally, smoking tobacco is the most popular form. Other forms includes smoking crack cocaine and cannabis respectively.

Other implements that can be used to smoke are pipes, cigars, bongs, bidis, and hookah.

How common is it in your area?

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In the area where I stay, smoking is not common. I say this because I have gone to different places around my area and I rarely see people smoking.

Starting from my street, there are less people that smoke. The truth is I haven't seen anyone smoke on my street, but I feel there are less people that smoke. Why I feel there are less people is because, there would one or two persons that smoke, but I have particularly seen them.

Even when I go to the cafe everyday, I rarely see or meet people smoke. The one time I saw someone smoking was when I was in the cafe and I realized that a car was in front of the cafe getting worked on. That time I was outside stretching, so while stretching a man who happens to own the car, came cigarettes and was taking a sip from time to time.

Even when I go to the market, I rarely see people smoking. It's safe to say my area is smoke free environment.

Which group of people mostly smoke?

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Smoking has come to be accepted by different cultures and it comes in different forms, and has grown to exhibit distinct meanings that are sometimes conflicting and mutually exclusive depending on time, place, and the people smoking.

There is no 'group' of people that smoke. However, when you see the personalities of those who smoke you can see that it is different from the regular people.

What make people to start smoking?

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People who smoke claims that they do so for many reasons—like relieving stress, for pleasure, or in situations that are social. It is a feeling that people get once they start smoking.

There are reasons why people smoke, but we shall be looking at three primary reasons.

Addiction

When you begin to smoke, you start taking nicotine which is the main addictive substance in cigarettes and every form of tobacco. By taking it regularly, nicotine starts to affect part of your body, including your brain. Most of the people who smoke are addicted to nicotine.

Upon intake, it reaches your brain within 10 seconds. After that it makes the brain to release adrenaline which brings about sudden pleasure and energy. After a while this suddenness fades. Then you begin to feel tired and down, thus making you want that sudden feeling again.

Due to this, your body begins to build a high tolerance for nicotine which then means you will have to smoke more to feel that sudden pleasure. This then creates a cycle of up and down feeling which leads to addiction.

It can lead to withdrawal symptoms if you don't smoke because your body would have to get used to not taking in nicotine.

Patterns

When you smoke continually it can end up becoming a day-to-day activity like watching TV, going out, making a phone call, etc. This way it becomes a part of your routine or pattern.

Emotions

As people who have had some damning experiences, people smoke because it helps them cope with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, bad mood, and stress of daily life.

What are the health implications of smoking?

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Smoking harms every organ in your body because of tobacco and smoke. It introduces nicotine and more than 5,000 chemicals, especially numerous carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals), into your lungs, blood and organs.

In addition to the risks of developing cancer, smoking can cause other chronic (long-term) health problems that need you to be performing ongoing care.

Some problems that arise due to smoking includes:

• A decrease in HDL (good) cholesterol and an increase in blood pressure, which is a recipe for an increase in the risks of heart attack and stroke.

• Developing an erectile dysfunction.

• Reduction of oxygen to the heart and other tissues in the body thus increasing the risks for coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and diabetes.

• Experiencing routine illnesses like colds frequently, and this is found more in children living with smokers.

• Reduction in the efficiency of the lungs especially in it's ability to get enough oxygen, therefore bringing about COPD, asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema.

Tell us at least 3 reasons why you do not smoke

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Indulging in the act of smoking can damage your body system which in turn can shorten your lifespan significantly.

As a woman it can affect my system negatively especially my womb, which can affect my unborn child.

As stated previously, it can cause cancer to my body as smoking (cigarettes) have a lot of cancer induced substances that can be transferred to my system.

It brings a bad precedence to you as people around you would be skeptical about having to relate with you because of the mere fact that you smoke.

Conclusion

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We have seen what smoking is about and how it affects our body. It is not good as humans to take in smoke for whatever reasons. For instance, smoke coming our of a car's engine due to combustion.

Now imagine taking in smoke intentionally. It is very wrong as you risk your body to numerous health challenges.