Fumo: Come sono i polmoni di un fumatore? Cosa c’è dentro una sigaretta? Quali danni causa?

How many substances are found in a single cigarette? How much damage does cigarette smoke cause to the lungs, and what harm does it cause? How are the lungs of a smoker compared to a nonsmoker? Marco Martinelli, Il Giallino, explains. On the packets of any brand, by law, three are listed: nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar. Let's not be fooled: during combustion, over 8,000 compounds are released from each cigarette, 80 of which are carcinogenic, meaning capable of causing cancer in humans. Another 250 are harmful to health in other ways or are "merely" irritants. The 8,000 substances are divided into volatile and semi-volatile/non-volatile agents that make up particulate matter. Finally, it's worth remembering that the main harmful substances are known, but not all of them, because the composition of each individual cigarette is covered by industrial secrecy. Tobacco addiction must be considered a disease in its own right, a condition that is now well-established as having serious health consequences. More than a third of all cancers are caused by smoking: not only lung cancer (9 out of 10 lung cancers are linked to smoking), but also cancers of the esophagus, larynx, vocal cords, bladder, pancreas, kidney, colon, stomach, and blood (myeloid leukemia). When we light a cigarette, the body is stimulated by nicotine, causing a sensation that provides immediate pleasure but serious long-term damage. Quitting smoking is not easy, but it is a winnable battle. And the benefits to the body are truly significant, both short- and long-term. When you put out your last cigarette, the risk of developing many tobacco-related diseases decreases. After 20 minutes, blood pressure and heart rate return to normal. After 8-12 hours, blood carbon monoxide levels return to normal. After 24 hours, the risk of acute myocardial infarction begins to decrease. After 48 hours, the perception of smells and tastes begins to improve. Two weeks to three months later, breathing and circulation improve. One to nine months later, shortness of breath and fatigue decrease significantly. After one year, the risk of coronary heart disease halves. After two to five years, the risk of heart attack is equivalent to that of a non-smoker. After ten years, the risk of lung, oral cavity, esophageal, and bladder cancer decreases by half. The risk of cervical cancer becomes equal to that of a never-smoker. After fifteen years, the risk of smoking-related diseases returns to normal, equal to that of a never-smoker.