Smoker

Smoker refers to an individual who inhales and exhales the smoke of tobacco or other substances. The act of smoking is primarily practiced as a route of administration for recreational drug use. The most common method of smoking today is through cigarettes, primarily industrially manufactured but also hand-rolled from loose tobacco and rolling paper.

Health effects

Smoking has serious health effects. It is the leading cause of preventable death globally. In the United States, it is responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths annually. Lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease are just some of the diseases caused by smoking.

History

The history of smoking dates back to as early as 5000 BC in the Americas in shamanistic rituals. With the arrival of the Europeans in the 16th century, tobacco began to be grown commercially for trade. In the 19th century, cigarette smoking became a widespread habit due to the invention of the cigarette-making machine.

Smoking cessation

Smoking cessation is the process of discontinuing tobacco smoking. The health benefits of quitting smoking are immediate and substantial. They include reduced risk for diseases caused by smoking and improved health in general.

See also

• Tobacco smoking
• Health effects of tobacco
• Nicotine withdrawal
• Tobacco industry

Smoker Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.