SMOKING AS A HEART DISEASE FACTOR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

SMOKING AS A HEART DISEASE FACTOR - Essay Example A direct link has been identified between lung cancer and tobacco smoking, as well as other links to respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and emphysema, and to coronary heart diseases (Pocket Dictionary of Biology 1999.) Several clinical trials support these findings as well (Kunz1, Pechlaner, Ho, & Pfister 2005). Smoking increases the risk of developing heart disease and is the leading cause of premature and preventable deaths in the United States alone (Cohen 1999). Smoking is a major risk factor for developing heart disease as it indirectly affects how the heart works and creates an imbalance in the cardiovascular system. For example, smoking causes emphysema, where the lungs lose their elasticity and the individual is often left short of breath. One of the heart's functions is to deliver oxygen, so the reduced surface area in the lungs results in an increased demand for oxygen by the lungs and other muscular organs and tissue. As a result of this increased demand, the heart has to work harder to compensate for this imbalance. If this happens over a long period of time, the heart muscles will weaken and/or change (e.g. heart enlargement, hardening of arteries, fatty deposits) and combined with other risk factors, will lead to heart disease. N The following points summarise the ways in which smoking affects the cardiovascular system. Smoking increases the levels of carbon monoxide which is a poisonous gas. In the long term this gas contributes to the damaged lining of blood vessels and artery hardening (Black 1992). Smoking raises blood levels of fibrinogen which is a clotting agent that causes blood platelets to stick together, increasing the risk of blood clots and blockages in the vascular system (Black 1992). Nicotine raises blood pressure and the heart rate which results in the heart working harder. It also constricts the coronary arteries which results in less supply of blood and oxygen to the heart (Black 1992). However, it is important to be aware of the nature of the various forms of heart disease, as this will increase our understanding of how smoking directly affects the working of the heart and the cardiovascular system. Heart Disease Heart disease consists of a variety of diseases that directly affect the workings of the heart. Arteriosclerotic disease is a result of the occurrence of fatty deposits inside the coronary arteries and blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle. When the blood supply from these vessels is slowed down or ceases, the individual will most probably experience angina or a heart attack. High blood pressure occurs when the heart encounters a higher resistance in the blood vessels outside the heart. This results in the enlargement of the heart and thickening of the heart muscle. (Cohen 1992) These factors contribute to reduced efficiency in the cardiovascular system as the heart now requires more oxygen to function and strains its muscle. It also speeds up the process of atherosclerosis by driving blood fat and cholesterol into the blood vessel walls increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Heart failure occurs when the heart becomes excessively stiff or fatigued from worki ng too hard, either because it must pump against too strong a resistance or because there has been a loss of heart

Solving assignment Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Solving assignment - Term Paper Example (Apology, Plato) He thought that people who examined their lives were more virtuous than people who did not. Here he makes a convincing argument that if one did not know the rationale behind one’s actions one will not know whether the actions are right and justified and whether these actions can be repeated. Socrates also believed that a virtuous life meant examining the views of society on what is right. A man desirous of leading a virtuous life must examine views other than his own. According to Socrates a virtuous life meant focusing on the way things should be or could be and not on the way things are. If one had the knowledge of what is good he will not make mistakes. Lack of knowledge often makes men to consider bad things as good. One should exercise reason to understand what is good. To Socrates virtuous acts came from knowledge. He always associated virtue with wisdom Socrates views on death can be found in Apology and Crito (Plato). Socrates believed that fear of death should not act as a factor in decision making. One’s decisions must be based on examining one’s live and determining what is good and just. Our aim in life must be to place goodness and justice above everything else. If some acts are performed because of fear of death it means one is trying to preserve life and this according to Aristotle is not our primary concern. Our concern is to examine what is right and act virtuously without fearing death. Here too his argument is convincing. According to him no one knows exactly what happens after death whereas it is known that death results in a better condition for the human being as it means a complete loss of consciousness and a dreamless sleep. Hence there was no need to fear death. Many are of the opinion that where there is fear there is shame.. Here Socrates disagrees. In Euthyphro (Plato) Socrates explains that we fear many things like poverty and disease. But this does