Cause and Effect Essay on Smoking Introduction Smoking is considered a lifestyle behavior Many people engage in the practice without the awareness of the health risks it is associated with Smoking is one of the most addictive lifestyle behaviors and has life-changing implications It has been termed as one of the most significant health challenges that health organizations are facing today According to reports by the World Health Organization, there were more than billion smokers all over the world in 2014 To understand the social and health implications of smoking, it is essential to look into some of its causes and effects Causes Peer pressure is the most prevalent cause of smoking During adolescence and in the early twenties, most people are infatuated with friendships At this stage in life, friends hold great value and meaning in individuals Most young people particularly those at the college and high school levels engage in various dangerous and lifeharming activities, one of which is smoking Often, their intent is not to become smokers but to enjoy the experience of being young and feel a celebrated status over their peers If one belongs to a group whose members are smokers, then they too will likely start smoking Later in life, such people try to drop the smoking behavior, but it becomes challenging due to withdrawal effects Parenting style is another factor that may determine whether or not one will become a smoker The manner in which a child is raised contributes significantly to their behavior as adults Most children look up to their parents and will adopt most of the lifestyle behaviors portrayed by the parents There are parents who have the habit of smoking in the presence of their children, a behavior which is utterly irresponsible Children get the idea that smoking is not unhealthy if their parents it in their presence Once such children grow up, they develop a liking for tobacco smoking without knowing that it is an unhealthy lifestyle behavior There is also a misconception that smoking acts as a strain reliever This delusion blinds most people that smoking helps one relieve stress Many people therefore find themselves engaging in the habit as a stress management strategy Noteworthy, continued smoking leads to addiction, thereby making it very difficult for one to away with the habit once they start it Research has shown that smoking does not relieve stress, instead it increases it The level of stress in smokers is twice as high as that in non-smokers Effects Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in the world, according to research The practice is likely to cause lung cancer both in active and passive smokers Passive smokers are people who not smoke but are exposed to cigarette smoke According to medics, smoking damages the lining of one’s lungs thus causing lung cancer When one inhales cigarette smoke, which consists of cancer-causing carcinogens, lung tissues start changing immediately If one smokes for a small period then quits, the lung tissues will repair themselves thus reducing the chances of contracting lung cancer However, continued smoking leads to permanent damage of the lung tissues to the extent that they become irreparable These damages accelerate the development of lung cancer Smoking also causes loss of sight According to medical research, cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in the world Cataract is the blurring of the eyes standard lens Studies reveal that smokers are twice at the risk of developing cataracts than non-smokers Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) has an impact on the retina, which is the part of the eye that is responsible for the sharp vision that people use while driving and reading AMD has been termed as the leading cause of permanent blindness in people aged 65 years and above Research shows that smokers are three times more likely to develop AMD than non-smokers However, if one quits smoking at an early stage, the damage caused to the eyes is repairable, but prolonged smoking leads to increased destruction of the eyes that in turn translates to permanent blindness Further, smoking is one of the major causes of type-2 diabetes Research shows that 40% of smokers are likely to develop type-2 diabetes Diabetic people who smoke are likely to experience difficulties in managing insulin levels in their bodies even with prescribed medications Since increased smoking leads to increased chances of developing type-2 diabetes, diabetic smokers make it hard to control the disease’s progress and insulin levels thus increasing their chances of dying from it Diabetic smokers are also likely to suffer from other health complications linked to diabetes such as heart failure, kidney problems, high blood pressure, retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy For a diabetic person, quitting smoking can help control insulin levels in the body Even more disheartening is the fact that even though preventable, cigarette smoking is the number one cause of death in the US among all the causes of deaths that are preventable The same applies to the United Kingdom In the US alone, 480,000 deaths are caused by cigarette smoking each year, translating to 20% of the total yearly deaths The total deaths resulting from a combination of the following causes every year is less than the number of deaths caused by cigarette smoking: firearmrelated accidents, motor vehicle injuries, alcohol use, illegal drug use, and HIV This further shows the seriousness of the effects of smoking on human health Conclusion Smoking is a general lifestyle behavior among young and older people alike People engage in the practice as a way of having fun Peer pressure is one of the leading factors that drive people to smoke Parenting style also contributes to the chances of one becoming a smoker Many people underestimate the health risks associated with smoking Lung cancer, blindness, and type-2 diabetes are some of the health effects associated with this habit References Choi, 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M B., … & Sarpong, D F (2017) Clinical effects of cigarette smoking: epidemiologic impact and review of pharmacotherapy options International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,