What are the harms of tobacco and alcohol to the human body

Some of our bad living habits and eating habits may cause some diseases in our body. Therefore, it is very important to develop good living habits and eating habits. If we fail to develop this habit well, our bodies may develop some serious diseases. So what are the harms of tobacco and alcohol to the human body? Let us introduce it to you below.

Smoking can cause high blood pressure. Studies have shown that after smoking a cigarette, the heart rate increases by 5-20 beats per minute and the systolic blood pressure increases by 10-25 mmHg. Why is this? Because tobacco leaves contain nicotine (nicotinic acid), which excites the central nervous system and sympathetic nerves, increasing the heart rate. It also prompts the adrenal glands to release large amounts of catecholamines, causing the arterioles to constrict, leading to increased blood pressure. Nicotine also stimulates chemical receptors in blood vessels, reflexively causing an increase in blood pressure.

Long-term and heavy smoking can also promote atherosclerosis of the large arteries, gradually thicken the intima of the small arteries, and gradually harden the entire blood vessel. At the same time, due to the increase in the carbon monoxide hemoglobin content in the blood of smokers, the oxygen content of the blood is reduced, causing hypoxia in the arterial intima and increased oxygen content in the fat in the arterial wall, accelerating the formation of atherosclerosis. Therefore, people without hypertension can prevent the occurrence of hypertension by quitting smoking, and people with hypertension should quit smoking even more.

Compared with smoking, the pros and cons of drinking on the body are controversial. Various reports appear from time to time, some saying that drinking a small amount of alcohol is beneficial, some saying that it is harmful, but one thing is certain: drinking a lot of alcohol is definitely harmful. High concentrations of alcohol can cause arteriosclerosis and aggravate high blood pressure.

The above introduction is the harm of tobacco and alcohol to the human body. Drinking some alcohol in moderation can help promote blood circulation in the body, but smoking has no benefits at all. If you smoke or drink a lot for a long time, it will be very bad for your liver and lungs, and may cause more serious physical illnesses.