CIGARETTE AND IT'S EFFECT

A cigarette is a product consumed via smoking and manufactured out of cured and finely cut tobacco leaves, which are combined with other additives, then rolled or stuffed into a paper-wrapped cylinder (generally less than 120 mm in length and 10 mm in diameter). The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder for the purpose of inhalation of its smoke from the other (usually filtered) end, which is usually inserted in the mouth. They are sometimes smoked with a cigarette holder. The term cigarette, as commonly used, refers to a tobacco cigarette but can apply to similar devices containing other herbs, such as cannabis. They are colloquially known as "cigs", "ciggies", "smokes", "cancer sticks", "death sticks", "coffin nails", "squares", and "fags".

Cigarettes are proven to be highly addictive, as well as a cause of multiple types of cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, circulatory disease and birth defects.[1][2]

A cigarette is distinguished from a cigar by its smaller size, use of processed leaf, and white paper wrapping. Cigars are typically composed entirely of whole leaf tobacco.


Acute and chronic effects of cigarette smoking on exhaled nitric oxide
SA Kharitonov, RA Robbins, D Yates, V Keatings and PJ Barnes
Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, United Kingdom.

Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of respiratory tract infections, chronic airway disease, and cardiovascular diseases, all of which may be modulated by endogenous nitric oxide (NO). We have investigated whether cigarette smoking reduces the production of endogenous NO. We compared exhalations of 41 current cigarette smokers with normal lung function and 73 age-matched non-smoking controls. Peak exhaled NO levels were measured by a modified chemiluminescence analyzer. The effects of inhaling a single cigarette in smokers were also measured. In control subjects we also measured the effects of inhalation of NO itself and carbon monoxide, both constituents of tobacco smoke. Peak exhaled NO concentrations were significantly reduced in smokers (42 +/- 3.9 compared with 88 +/- 2.7 parts per billion in nonsmokers, p < 0.01), with a significant relation between the exhaled NO and cigarette consumption (r = 0.77, p < 0.001). Smoking a single cigarette also significantly (p < 0.02), but transiently, reduced exhaled NO. Inhalation of carbon monoxide and NO had no effect on exhaled NO in normal subjects. Cigarette smoking decreased exhaled NO, suggesting that it may inhibit the enzyme NO synthase. Since endogenous NO is important in defending the respiratory tract against infection, in counteracting bronchoconstriction and vasoconstriction, and in inhibiting platelet aggregation, this effect may contribute to the increased risks of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease in cigarette smokers.