Introduction to smoking & homeostasis
Cigarette smoking is perhaps one of the most common and significant health issues in Australia. With approximately 13.3% of Australians aged 18 years and over smoking daily (Health, 2015), almost 15,000 lives each year are claimed due to smoking-related health issues. Contained within cigarettes is over 4000 chemicals and substances, including nicotine and carbon-monoxide. 69 of these chemicals are known carcinogens (oxygen.org.au, 2014) which are ingested multiple times throughout the day. Even so, any form of smoking, whether it be occasional or regular, poses a significant risk to the smoker’s health.
The human body, in order to function normally, must maintain a constant internal environment known as Homeostasis. Cigarette smoking affects the majority of the body’s systems, disrupting this dynamic equilibrium. Although most systems are affected, three systems in particular are affected within a short period of time following a cigarette. These include the central nervous system, the respiratory system, and the cardiovascular system. Each of these systems is affected directly, and these effects, in turn, affect other systems within the body both in the long term and short term.
