Joan Montemayor

June 14, 2007

Essay # 3

Eng. 102 1D1

Prof. Chapman
Cigarettes are Silent Killers

Did you know every year thousands of people die because of lung cancer or other
tobacco related illnesses? According to Dr. Donnica in American Cancer Society, Estimates are
that 4 million people will die of tobacco-related illnesses worldwide this year; by the 2020s, the
death toll will increase to 10 million deaths per year (Donnica 1). Smoking is the number one
leading cause of death, and obesity is rapidly increasing in America. Smoking is hazardous to the
health of all types of individuals. Cigarettes do not seem very harmful to people, but when lit;
they gradually kill people inhaling and breathing the smoke. Cigarette smoke is a slow poison
within a persons body. A cigarette contains a lot of toxic substances to causing cancer in
humans. The following chemicals are in the cigarettes: arsenic, used for rat poison; vinyl
chloride, an ingredient found in garbage bags; methane, sewer gas; methanol, rocket fuel;
nicotine and a lot more. Every time a person puffs or inhales these chemical substances, a person
slowly affects their wellbeing.
Smoking is considered as an addiction to people. People get hooked on smoking at an
early age. According to the American Lung Association (2004), Tobacco use primarily begins in
early adolescence, with one-third of all smokers having their first cigarette by the age of 14, and
ninety percent of all smokers begin before the age of 21. Another study they completed showed
that each day 6,000 children under 18 years of age smoke their first cigarette, and almost 2,000
of them become smokers (Teenagers and Cigarettes). Teenagers are pressured to smoke because
of different aspects they encounter in life. Many teens are exposed to peer-pressure from friends
and family because they want to be accepted, be cool, look mature, and to fit in a particular

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group. Smoking becomes appealing to teenagers because younger generations see beautiful
people, actors, and athletes, in television or movies smoke cigarettes. Smokers can experience
heart problems, cancer, and lung problems all of which can end their life, because of cigarette
smoking.
Smokers are jeopardizing not only their life, but also family members, coworkers, and
others who breathe the smoke called Secondhand Smoke. Non smokers and children who are
exposed to toxic chemicals of cigarettes will also have an equal or greater risk of suffering from
lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, nasal sinus cancer, asthma, and breathing problems. An
example of death caused by secondhand smoke, Dana Reeve, a non smoker exposed to
secondhand smoke in the nightclubs and other public places where she sang, died recently of
lung cancer. Secondhand smoke may well have been a factor in claiming her life. All work places
should be no-smoking to protect lives (Ginzel 1). Due to all these health problems cause by
smoking, people in New Jersey and New York restaurants, and other public places were banned
from smoking. Innocent people are at risk of breathing polluted air. Smokers are also killing the
environment for our future generations because they are polluting the atmosphere.
Pregnant women who smoke will automatically affect their unborn baby in many ways.
In a womans bloodstream all the nutrients, drugs, and chemicals will transfer to the babys body.
The poisons inhale by a pregnant woman will be passed directly into the bloodstream of the
unborn baby, and significantly reduce the amount of oxygen in the babys bloodstream.
Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to deliver babies whose weights are too low for the
babies good health. If all women quit smoking during pregnancy, about 4,000 new babies would
not die each year (Facts About Smoking). A lower birth weight of an infant means higher
possibility of death of a baby. Babies can also encounter serious complications with their

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breathing. There is a chance for growth retardation to occur when the baby is physically smaller
than a normal baby. As the child grows the intellectual academic performances score will
decrease and the behavior development will be affected. Smoking mothers can have greater
chance of miscarriage when they are pregnant. These are the consequence of women facing
pregnancy when they smoke cigarettes, torturing themselves and the baby.
All in all, smoking cigarettes kill people slowly and silently. Adults, children, and babies
are endangering their life because of smoking, inhaling secondhand smoke, and absorbing toxic
smoke in the body. Cigarette companies are becoming richer because a lot of smokers are buying
cigarettes, and every year someone is becoming addicted with smoking. The only answer to
addiction to smoking is to actually quit smoking. Quitting is the number one priority, and best
solution to regain a persons health. Encourage your loved one or friends to stop smoking for
good to have a healthier, longer, and more enjoyable life.
I know people have freedom of choice about their own health; however, smoking
cigarettes will not make your problem go away. Smoking will only kill an individual and pollute
his or her surroundings. For my experience, I have an older sister who smokes cigarettes to calm
her down with her problems. It saddens me how she does not understand the consequence of
smoking cigarettes, and smoking will not benefit her wellbeing. I hated when she said, Im
going to die anyways so, I do not see any problems (Sister). I said and did everything I was
supposed to do to persuade her to quit smoking, but my convincing never worked. I just hope she
realizes how precious and important life is. Maybe, she can change her mind because she is the
only one who can help herself out of the addiction. She has to be fully committed to quitting
smoking first, before anybody can help her quit. I admit I tried to smoke before, but I never liked
how the cigarette tasted and how my health is being jeopardized.