Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is cigarette smoking addictive?Yes. Nicotine, a drug naturally present in tobacco, causes addiction to tobacco products. Once the smoke is inhaled, nicotine is quickly absorbed in the bloodstream, and reaches the brain within 10 seconds and causes addiction similar to drugs like heroin and cocaine.
2. Does giving up smoking lower the risk of cancer?
Yes. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing cancer. However, it takes several years after quitting for the cancer risk to start declining. For people who already have cancer, giving up smoking reduces the risk of developing a second cancer.
3. Can the use of filters reduce the risk of cancer?
A filter makes very little difference to the levels of chemicals in smoke. Filters may stop smokers from inhaling some of the solid particles, but they do not block out the many toxic gases (hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and carbon monoxide) in inhaled smoke. Filters are also of no use to reduce the ill effects of side stream smoke (smoke from the burning end of the cigarette).
