by Christien Harris

While writing my term project, I examined the negative health effects of tobacco consumption, and possible influences. Using data from the Metro Vancouver area, I looked at socioeconomic factors in relation to tobacco consumption. Data from My Health My Community is consistent with studies from the Centers For Disease And Control Prevention.

In Metro Vancouver, we see a correlation between low socioeconomic status / education levels, and tobacco consumption (with the exception of Port Coquitlam). New Westminster reported the lowest levels of education, low income, and the highest rate of tobacco consumption. West Vancouver reported one of the lowest tobacco consumption rates, with very high income, and education levels.

Another link to tobacco consumption is low education rates. People with just a highschool education consume tobacco for about twice as long as those with a bachelor’s degree or higher (Centers For Disease And Control Prevention 2019). Due to the workplace environment, blue collar workers are more likely to engage in tobacco consumption. Blue collar workers are also more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke, opposed to white collar workers with higher levels of education. Blue collar workers are also more likely to engage in tobacco consumption at a younger age (Centers For Disease And Control Prevention 2019). Smoking is often accepted as normal in blue collar workplace environments.

Smoking tobacco has many negative health effects. Smoking tobacco can put you at risk for diseases such as; Chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Cardiovascular disease, Alzhiemers disease and various forms of cancer. Smoking contributes to secondary aging. There are many reasons why someone shouldn’t smoke, yet adults in Metro Vancouver seem to ignore said reasons.

Tobacco smoke greatly contributes to secondary aging. Cigarette smoke influences secondary aging by causing wrinkles and potential skin conditions. Cigarette smokers experience wrinkles around the lips and mouth, eyes and eyebrows (Basaraba 2021). Nasolabial folds have also been found to be notably deeper in smokers, opposed to non-smokers (Basaraba 2021). It has also been noted that tobacco limits the amount of oxygen your skin receives by narrowing blood vessels. Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke reduce levels of vitamin A in the skin and increase production of free radicals. Smokers have less collagen fibers and reduced amounts of elastin (Basaraba 2021). These factors all play a role in secondary, premature aging.

Tobacco consumption also causes other skin related concerns. Such concerns include; Uneven pigmentation, dark spots on the face, yellowing fingertips, and saggy / baggy skin near the jawline and under the eyes (Basaraba 2021). Tobacco smoke causes inflammation to the skin and decreases blood flow, which increases the risk of infection. These factors cause the skin to not heal properly from cuts, which may create scars. Smoking may also worsen existing skin conditions (Basaraba 2021). Tobacco smoke has also been linked to eczema. Both hand eczema and atopic dermatitis are risk factors due to smoking (Basaraba 2021).

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths and diseases in the United States. Over 36 million Americans reported themselves as smokers (Popova et al. 2018). Cigarettes are a carcinogen, meaning they are scientifically proven to cause cancer. Cancer risk factors include many types, such as; stomach, pancreas, colon, bladder, kidney, liver, mouth, esophagus, throat, voice box, lung, cervix, rectum, and acute myeloid leukemia (National Cancer Institute 2017). Tobacco is a leading cause of cancer. Even small amounts of tobacco are harmful and no consumption is safe.

There are various reasons as to why one may start smoking. Each year the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars advertising their products to potential consumers. Tobacco is consumed in movies, TV shows, video games, and marketed on social media (American Cancer Society 2020). Studies conducted by the American Cancer Society show that smokers are most likely to start during their teen years. About 9 in 10 American adults began their smoking habits before the age of 18 (American Cancer Society 2020).

American studies from the Centers For Disease And Control Prevention are consistent with tobacco consumption in the Metro Vancouver area. Factors such as low income, lower education rates, and workplace environment all contribute to frequent tobacco consumption. Less opportunities as a result of low socioeconomic factors are a threat to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Smoking results in secondary aging, along with serious skin problems. Each year tobacco consumption results in serious diseases and deaths caused by such factors. No amounts of tobacco are safe to consume, and are best left untouched.

References

L, Popova et al. 2018. Affect, risk perception, and the use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes: a population of study of U.S. adults. Pdfviewer

2017. Cancer Causes And Prevention. Tobacco. National Institute Of Cancer https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco

S, Basaraba. 2021. How smoking causes early aging and premature wrinkles https://www.verywellmind.com/how-smoking-ages-skin-2223424

2019. American Cancer Society. Why people start smoking and why it’s hard to stop. https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/why-people-start-using-tobacco.html