Why men should kick the butt

Eisha Sarkar

Posted on Hello Wellness on Aug 28 2010 7:48PM
The boss winks at you as he walks past your desk. You follow him towards the fire exit, casually brushing aside the resolution to quit smoking you made only yesterday. You know cigarettes are injurious to your health. But can you really resist sharing a smoke with your boss? This is where you bond, not as a supervisor and subordinate, but as two men who share conversation and nicotine. This is critical for your survival at work and may even boost your career at a later stage.

Men smoke to buy time, to contemplate, to comply and for company. Institutional and public bans aside, men who smoke don't seem to want to kick the butt too soon. So what do they stand to lose?

Their lungs: The main health risks in tobacco smoking pertain to diseases of the respiratory tract - lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, etc. Cancer may develop from the accumulative effects of more than one of those carcinogens cigarettes contain. Tar from cigarettes causes specific DNA damage to the lungs, making it particularly difficult for cells to repair.

Their hearts: The effects of cigarette smoking on the cardiovascular system are multifold: Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol), even in adolescents. Smoking deteriorates the elastic properties of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body, which increases the risk for developing blood clots. Smoking increases the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, putting additional stress on the system that regulates the heart and blood vessels.

Their immunity: A person's increased risk of contracting disease is directly proportional to the length of time that a person continues to smoke as well as the amount smoked. However, if someone stops smoking, then these chances steadily although gradually decrease as the damage to their body is repaired.

Their strength: Smoking has many negative effects on bones and joints since it impairs formation of new bone. Smokers are also more disposed to developing degenerative disorders and injuries in the spine. People who smoke usually can't compete with non-smoking peers because the physical effects of smoking - like rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath - impair sports performance. Smoking affects the body's ability to produce collagen, so common sports injuries, such as damage to tendons and ligaments will heal more slowly in smokers than non-smokers.

Their sleep: Nicotine, present in cigarette smoke, acts as a stimulant which keeps smokers alert and awake. This is fine in the day but not at night when they are trying to get to sleep.

Their minds: Research has suggested that there may be something in cigarette smoke that has anti-depressant properties, which explains why cigarette smoking is much more common among depressed patients. Addicted smokers are characterised by preoccupation with smoking, abnormal attachment to cigarettes and anticipation of brain reward from the drugs in cigarette smoke. Attempts to quit smoking often lead to a decreased level of pleasure and undesirable mood swings. Thus, once the brain has adapted to the daily dose of the drug, it seems abnormal to the brain if the user attempts to abstain.

Their virility: A US study has confirmed that smoking can reduce a man's virility and thus hamper the chain of reproduction. Researchers studied sperms of 18 men who had smoked at least four cigarettes a day for more than two years. They compared the sperm function of the smokers with that of non-smokers and found that sperms from almost two-third of the smokers failed the test in terms of reduced sperm function. Men who smoke more than a packet of cigarettes have about 60 per cent higher chance of suffering from erectile dysfunction. This ultimately affects their sex life and virility.

Besides the above, smoking also increases acid secretion, reduces prostaglandin and bicarbonate production and decreases mucosal blood flow—which can cause peptic ulcers. Heavy smokers are also at risk of developing cataracts, and macular degeneration, an age-related eye disorder.  People smoke for pleasure but find much pain. So no matter how hard it is, quit the habit and embrace life!