Experts believe that smoking after a meal increases chances of bowel and lung cancer manifold. Scientists second the stand and say that one cigarette after a meal is as dangerous as smoking ten cigarettes.
Smoking after meals: Why the puff after your lunch or dinner can increase your risk of cancer  |  Photo Credit: Getty Images
New Delhi: By now, the fact that smoking is injurious to health is known and understood by all. Smoking is never recommended under normal circ*mstances and has some serious health risks. According to the National Health Centre, United Kingdom, smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK, and the same holds true for all around the world. According to a WHO estimate in 2002, 70% of adult males in India smoke. As of 2015, the number of men who smoked in India was estimated at 108 million and the number has been increasing ever since.
Smoking causes respiratory problems, heart issues, obesity and may also lead to cancer of the lungs, mouth or other organs. All smokers will agree with the fact that they feel the urge to smoke after having a meal. Even people who are trying to quit, find the urge uncontrollable after eating a meal and may end up lighting a cigarette even after controlling it for very long. However, smoking after a meal may be even more dangerous than just regular smoking.
What happens when you eat a meal?
When you eat food, the body has to digest it, which means it has to turn it into a form that can be absorbed by the body. The process of digestion starts as soon as you put food in the mouth. Enzymes from your saliva start the process. The stomach turns the food into a juice-like substance called chyme and it is the small intestines where the process of absorption begins. Food stays in your stomach for about 4 hours and then another 3-4 hour in the small intestine.
What happens when you smoke after your meal?
One thing that is for sure is that if you smoke after your meal, the nutrients from your food are very unlikely to be absorbed in your body. Like mentioned, the process of digestion begins when you start eating, and the process of absorption of nutrients begins in the small intestines. However, the absorption rate in the body is high post a meal, and therefore the body will absorb the nicotine from the cigarettes much faster and in much more quantity than it would otherwise. The digestive system works on the whole body and since after a meal it is very active, the nicotine from the cigarette binds with the oxygen in the blood. The intestines and other internal organs are most likely to get affected due to the outburst of free radical released due to smoking after the meal. Experts believe that smoking after a meal increases chances of bowel and lung cancer manifold. Scientists second the stand and say that one cigarette after a meal is as dangerous as ten cigarettes smoked together!
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.
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