3 Major Toxic Substances in Cigarette and Its Impact on Health

(SPEECH)


Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

How are you today? I hope God's grace always accompany our steps. Ladies and gentlemen, do you ever felt so angry with the behavior of others, and want to shout their ears to stop the behavior? If yes, then now you have the same feelings I felt. But the reason I want to shout their ears, not because they have been mocking me, or because they have stolen my property, but because they have been indifferent to the survival of others. Ladies and gentlemen, do you know who I mean? They are the smokers.

The fact of the WHO said that every year an estimated 17 million people in various countries die from cardiovascular disease. Disease caused by blockage of blood vessels induced by smoking. And the causes of sudden infant death syndrome/SIDS. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS, no matter whether exposure during pregnancy or at birth. Secondhand smoke also contributes to various health problems, such as asthma, bronchitis and cancer.

Of so many health problems that started from a cigarette, then on this occasion, I would like to tell you about 3 major toxic substances found in cigarettes, there are nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar and how the impact to our health. 

Ladies and gentlemen.

The first major toxic substance is nicotine. Nicotine is the alkaloid group of organic chemical compounds produced naturally in various plants such as tobacco in cigarettes. Nicotine is a neurotoxin that causes addiction, similar to the dependence on narcotic drugs since nicotine is able to change some of the functions of the brain. And according to research findings in the journal "Peduli Kesehatan", published by Permata Hati Foundation saying that, "The effect of nicotine causes the excitation of cathekolamin hormones (adrenaline), which is stimulate the heart and blood pressure. Heart was not given a chance to rest and blood pressure will be more elevated, resulting in the onset of hypertension".

The second major toxic substance is carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless, is produced by incomplete combustion of carbon element. Carbon monoxide is a substance that binds to hemoglobin in the blood, making blood is not able to bind oxygen, which causes constriction of blood vessels. Prof. Hembing Wijayakusuma, which is an herbal expert from Indonesia and also a professor of traditional medicine, in Wongkwang University, South Korea, saying that, “In critical circumstances, the blood vessels can be blocked at all that caused the heart attack, stroke, myocardial infarction, high blood pressure (hypertension) and other serious complications”.

The third major toxic substance is Tar. Tar in solid form is a kind of thick liquid dark brown or black. If the only source of nicotine is tobacco, tar is the source of tobacco, clove, cigarette paper, and other organic materials are burned. As was said by Dr. Drh. Mangku Sitepoe, which is a doctor with experience in animals and humans in his book entitled "Kekhususan Rokok Indonesia", tar is only found in a burning cigarette. Tar in cigarette will cause the teeth to change color and in the long run will cause disease in the mouth. Tar that sticks to the lungs will result in the emergence of bronchitis disease and damage the cells that fight tumors. And cause breathing problems known as emphysema, which gradually makes the lung tissue damage.

Ladies and gentlemen.

In summary from my speech, there are 3 major toxic substances in cigarette; there are nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar. As I said in my speech before, the 3 major toxic substances have many bad impacts for our health and cause many serious complications. People closest to me say that, "If you want to die, try drugs. Before you try drugs then first try a cigarette". These words do not mean to suggest us to smoking but to show that excessive consumption of cigarettes equal to the consumption of drugs that cause damage our organs, to result in death. So, it's better if we do not try to smoke and campaign to stop smoking. That's all my speech. Thank you very much for your attention.