Anna Simbirtseva, general physician of the Fomin Clinic network, told Gazeta.ru that every 1 cigarette cut shortens a man's life by 17 minutes, and a woman's life by 22 minutes.
"According to a study by Oxford scientists, one of which followed 30,000 smokers and the other evaluated the health status of more than one million female smokers. The life expectancy of non-smokers was 10 years shorter than expected for men and 11 years for women based on the data and the average number of cigarettes smoked per day (15.8 for men, 13.6 for women), scientists assumed that every smoked cigarette shortens a man's life by 17 minutes, and a woman by 22 minutes," said the doctor.
The danger of smoking is not only in the exposure to nicotine, but also in the tar and combustion products. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals, including more than 70 that can cause cancer.
"After inhaling cigarette smoke, the nicotine contained in it is quickly absorbed into the blood and affects the brain within 10 seconds, temporarily increasing the feeling of pleasure and concentration. The direct effect of cigarette smoke is manifested in the circulatory system (increased heart rate, narrowing of blood vessels, increased blood pressure) , in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, paranasal sinuses, respiratory tract (irritation, dryness, burn, disorder), local immune system, special cells that normally help remove microscopic foreign particles, including viruses and bacteria.
"In the long term, nicotine affects all organs and systems," said the doctor.
