Silent Killer Essay

"Silent Killer"

By: Kristianne Gaile V. Llamera

2 - Regis

          Smoking, what about the action makes it so dangerous? I'm sure everyone's heard that smoking's "bad for one's health" and should be "done in moderation", if not at all. But the question is; why is it smoking so harmful? Smoking is dangerous not only because it cripple's one's health, but also because it's highly addictive and harms those around smoker's as well. Hard to believe smoker's risk so much huh?

          Now, to explain further. First of all, the smoke that smoker's inhale is highly destructive and has some serious effects on the body. For every cigarette smoked, a person's life span is decreased by roughly 11 minutes, and the risk of lung cancer (which is the number one cancer killer of both men and women in the world) is increased. Second, nicotine (a naturally-occurring, odorless, colorless liquid that exudes the pungent scent of tobacco when exposed to air) which is most commonly found in the tobacco plant (and therefore tobacco products) is what makes smoking addictive. It is not the smoke, rather it is the nicotine (and the 4000 or so other chemicals present) in the smoke that gives smoker's the distinctive "kick" or rush that they're looking for. Every time an individual smokes, that person's tolerance level goes up, meaning that the person will have to smoke more just to get the same effects as last time, eventually leading to dependency and addiction. Third, second-hand smoke (which is the stuff smoker's choke out after every puff) is 5 times more dangerous than first-hand smoke, since it has been infused with Carbon Dioxide (a waste product of the body) and is no longer diffused by oxygen. So over-all, smoking really does kill.

          Since it greatly cripple's one's health, is highly addictive, and harms even those who don't smoke, smoking is truly deadly. The smoke is destructive, the nicotine hooks people, and the second-hand smoke is worse than the first. Since no one really does feel like dying any earlier than they have to, don't smoke. But you don't have to listen really. It is a personal choice, after all.