Raw Food Explained: Life Science
Today only $37 (discounted from $197)
5. Cigarette Smoking And Chronic Disease
5.1 Lung Cancer
Studies have shown that men who smoke more than one pack per day are about 20 times more at risk Of developing lung cancer than are nonsmokers. Laboratory experiments show that tobacco smoke condensate can produce skin cancer in animals and that animals inhaling cigarette smoke may develop cancer of the larynx or lung.
Based on evaluations of detailed clinical and experimental data accumulated over the last 30 years, cigarette smoking has been clearly identified as a causative factor in lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer increases directly with increasing cigarette smoke exposure as measured by the number of cigarettes smoked per day, total lifetime number of cigarettes smoked, number of years of smoking, age at initiation of smoking, and depth of inhalation. Lung cancer death rates for women are lower than for men but have increased dramatically over the last 15 years, coinciding with the increasing number of women smokers. This increase has occurred in spite of the fact that women smokers use fewer cigarettes per day, more frequently choose cigarettes with filter tips and low tar and nicotine delivery, and tend to inhale less than men.
A person who stops smoking has a decreased risk of developing lung cancer compared to the continuing smoker, but the risk remains greater than the nonsmokers for as long as 10 to 15 years after the person stops smoking. The toxic residues from the cigarette smoke remain in the lungs for a long time but the body will eliminate them as quickly as possible. This depends upon the amount of vital energy that a person has. Elimination can be speeded up if the individual adopts a generally more healthful lifestyle in regard to diet, exercise, sleep and rest, etc. Also of great benefit would be a long fast. This speeds up elimination of toxins most of all, because energy is conserved during this physiological rest and redirected from digestion to healing.
Pipe and cigar smokers experience mortality rates from cancer of the oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus approximately equal to those of cigarette smokers. The risk of developing cancer of the lung is lower than the risk of cigarette smokers, but it is significantly above that of nonsmokers. This is probably due to the fact that pipe, cigar, and cigarette smokers experience similar smoke exposure of the upper respiratory tract, while cigarette smokers (due to their greater tendency to inhale) have a greater exposure of their lungs to smoke than pipe or cigar smokers.
5.2 Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema deaths are also about 20 times more frequent in people who smoke heavily. Both diseases can be produced in animals exposed to cigarette smoke. Pulmonary function tests often show airflow obstruction in the small airways even before chronic expectoration develops.
Toxins accumulate up to a saturation or “tolerance” point and then the body initiates a “housecleaning.” At this point expectoration is seen. This is a sign of bodily healing and should not be suppressed. If you discontinue smoking at this point, the body will heal.
The adverse effect of smoking on mucociliary (hairlike processes on the mucous membrane that function to move excess mucus out of the lungs) clearance and on the normal balance between lung proteases (protein-splitting enzymes) and their inhibitors predisposes smokers to bronchopulmonary disorders and emphysema. As you can see, toxins from cigarette smoke interfere with many physiological activities. This situation always leads to acute, and finally chronic, illnesses.
5.3 Cardiovascular Diseases
Cigarette smoking accelerates atherosclerosis and may double the risk of myocardial infarction. Smoking may precipitate a heart attack. The risk of developing cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, or aortic blood clots is also increased in smokers.
Coronary heart disease is the most frequent cause of death in the United States and is the most important single cause of excess mortality among cigarette smokers.
Cigarette smoking and hypertension and elevated serum cholesterol are the major risk factors for myocardial infarction and death from coronary heart disease. The cause behind hypertension and elevated serum cholesterol would include accumulated toxins due to wrong diet and enervating habits along with cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking acts both independently as a risk factor and synergistically with the other coronary heart disease factors. The magnitude of the risk increases directly with the amount smoked.
The formation of carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke with hemoglobin in the blood to carboxyhemoglobin; release of catecholamines—epinephrine and norepinephrine; creation of an imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand; and increased platelet adhesiveness leading to blood clot formation have all been demonstrated in smokers and are proposed as explanations for the excess coronary heart disease mortality and morbidity among smokers.
5.4 Peptic Ulceration
Peptic ulceration occurs more frequently and has a higher mortality rate in cigarette smokers than in non-smokers. In addition, the rate of ulcer healing is slowed.
When an organism is enervated due to bombardment of toxins from cigarette smoke, it is less capable of healing. Vital energy is so depleted that normal functions slow or are halted completely. Adverse effects will be seen throughout the entire body as all poisons induce systemic responses.
5.5 Premature Deaths From Conditions Caused By Smoking
Number of Deaths | Immediate Cause of Death |
80,000 | Lung Cancer |
22,000 | Other cancers (oral, larynx, esophagus, urinary, bladder, kidney, pancreas) |
225,000 | Cardiovascular disease |
19,000 | Chronic pulmonary disease |
- 1. History
- 2. The Tobacco Plant
- 3. The Dangers Are Realized
- 4. Tobacco Toxins
- 5. Cigarette Smoking And Chronic Disease
- 6. Added Industrial Pollutants
- 7. Tobacco Subsidies
- 8. Effects On Fetus And Children
- 9. Involuntary Smoking
- 10. Live Healthfully
- 11. Eliminating The Smoking Habit
- 12. Questions & Answers
- Article #1: A Small Fire at One End and a Big Fool at the Other By Dr. Keki R. Sidhwa, N.D., D.O.
Raw Food Explained: Life Science
Today only $37 (discounted from $197)