| Evidence of the health risks of cigarette smoking go | | | | released a report noting that toxic chemicals released |
| back to the 1950s. However, the percentage of | | | | from cigarettes stay in the air and are inhaled by |
| cigarette smokers was at its peak in 1964, when the | | | | unsuspecting victims. Thus, the concern over cigarette |
| US surgeon general first issued an official warning that | | | | smoking shifted from a private-health issue to a |
| smoking cigarettes was hazardous to one's health. | | | | public-health issue. |
| Following the surgeon general's formal warning about | | | | For pregnant women, the negative effects of cigarette |
| cigarette smoking, many reports were released on the | | | | smoking and second hand smoke raises even more |
| link between cigarette smoking and heart disease, lung | | | | issues. Cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke |
| disease, and cancer of the mouth. However, the | | | | increases the chances of low birth-weight and even |
| cigarette smoking habit continued, particularly with | | | | miscarriage. And, children less than a year old are |
| young smokers who were most likely smoking as a | | | | twice as likely to have lung infections if their mothers |
| sign of rebellion and/or independence. | | | | smoke cigarettes compared to counterparts whose |
| For adults, though, smoking cigarettes marked an | | | | mothers do not smoke cigarettes. Likewise, children |
| addiction to nicotine - the key ingredient that makes | | | | who already have asthma, allergies or other |
| cigarette smoking both pleasurable and addictive. This | | | | respiratory ailments can worsen their conditions if their |
| addiction to nicotine led to another warning from the | | | | parents smoke cigarettes. |
| surgeon general in 1988, which put nicotine addiction on | | | | Over the years some cigarette smokers have |
| the same level as addictions to cocaine and heroin. | | | | gradually quit smoking cigarettes, while non-smokers |
| The danger in cigarette smoking comes from the | | | | have become the focus of more protection as the |
| chemical substances released either as a gas or as a | | | | government has worked on policies and legislation to |
| particulate. Nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide and | | | | curb cigarette smoking. |
| most especially carbon monoxide are gaseous | | | | In the 1990s, class action suits started to bombard |
| emissions from cigarette smoke that threaten to | | | | state and federal courts, claiming that cigarette |
| poison the body. | | | | manufacturers employed deceptive marketing tactics |
| Nicotine is one of several hazardous particulates | | | | to keep consumers from knowing that nicotine was |
| emitted from smoking cigarettes. These particulates | | | | addictive and worked on ways keep cigarette |
| damage the cilia - the little hairs lining the lungs that help | | | | smokers hooked on their product. |
| transport mucus out of the lungs. When the cilia | | | | More recent suits against the cigarette and tobacco |
| malfunction, pollutants remain in the lungs and the | | | | industry charge manufacturers of also misleading |
| likelihood of influenza and bronchitis, emphysema and | | | | consumers into thinking that "lights" and similar cigarette |
| other diseases increases. | | | | products were healthier alternatives to regular |
| Unfortunately, cigarette smoking has been cited as the | | | | cigarettes. These more recent cases later led to the |
| cause of over 400,000 deaths in the US every year. | | | | multi-billion dollar settlement between the US |
| However, government agencies, scientists and health | | | | government and the cigarette and tobacco industry in |
| officials have also established that passive smoking, or | | | | the late 1990s. |
| second-hand smoke, also has negative effects on the | | | | These lawsuits and the consistency of health lobbyists |
| human body. The National Center for Chronic Disease | | | | and persuasive government programs have helped pull |
| Prevention and Health Promotion has reported that | | | | down US cigarette smoking rates on a consistent |
| over 4,000 chemicals are generated by second-hand | | | | basis over the last four decades. With the health risks |
| smoke, with more than 50 of those believed to be | | | | of cigarette smoking so abundantly clear, it is likely that |
| cancer-causing agents. | | | | these cigarette smoking rates in the US will continue to |
| In fact, in 1975, the Centers for Disease Control | | | | decrease. |