Health benefits

Small measures can have a big impact. By quitting smoking you are significantly increasing your chances of living a longer life; in fact it takes just 20 minutes to make a difference to your health.

There are 4000 chemicals in each cigarette, all of which damage your health.

Whats in a cigarette

The main components of tobacco smoke are nicotine, carbon monoxide, toxic chemicals and tar. These substances all affect the human body and cause diseases.

Tar

A black, sticky substance that contains many poisonous chemicals.  Tar is the main cause of mouth, throat and lung cancer.  Tar also causes the yellowish brown stains on the fingers, teeth, lungs and ceilings of smokers.  Tar also kills cilia (the small hairs which clean the lungs) and this causes the smoker’s cough.

Nicotine

Nicotine is the addictive chemical in tobacco.  It stimulates the nervous system causing the heart rate and blood pressure to increase.  It tightens the small blood vessels under skin and causes wrinkles.

Carbon monoxide

A poisonous gas that stops the blood taking up oxygen from the lungs.  This means that the organs in the body get less oxygen.  This is the element of smoking that is most dangerous to your health.

The amazing thing about the human body is that it takes just 20 minutes to start noticing small health benefits.

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