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While it's very well known that cigarettes are extremely bad for you, a shocking amount of people still do it. As of 2022, a staggering 49.2 million American adults (nearly one in five) reported tobacco product use, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the US. Smoking just one cigarette can take around 20 minutes off a person's life, research has suggested. This means that a typical pack of 20 cigarettes can shorten a person’s life by nearly seven hours. The analysis by researchers at University College London went on to conclude that if a smoker on 10 cigarettes a day quits on January 1, they could prevent the loss of a full day of life by January 8. Now, if that's not enough to make you think twice about lighting your next cigarette, maybe this simulation showing what it does to your body will instead. In the video posted on BioMotion 3D's YouTube channel, it explains that when you inhale a cigarette, it isn't just smoke you inhale but 'over 7,000 chemicals each finding its way into your body'. It goes on to say that these chemicals and smoke then travel to your lungs and 'coats your airways, burning the soft tissues and leaving a trail of toxins behind'. "Inside the lungs, once clean and pink, begin to till with sticky tar," it goes on. "They struggle to take in oxygen and every breath becomes a little harder than before." When nicotine enters your bloodstream, your heart will start racing within seconds. The simulation says: "Blood pressure tightens, pressure builds, forcing your heart to work harder even while it grows weaker." The nicotine rush will also go to your brain and produce dopamine, but this is a 'false calm' and the effect will fade quickly. It's likely you'll then feel fatigue and anxiety, leading to you taking another drag of your cigarette. The video goes on to note that it's also those around you will suffer with second-hand smoke and their lungs and hearts in particular can be affected. If you need support and advice about quitting smoking, go to the American Lung Association's 'Freedom from Smoking' website where you can access resources and speak to professionals.
