Smoking exacerbates occupational hazards; a proper diet is essential

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Cigarette smoke not only directly damages the respiratory mucosa, but also, after being absorbed into the blood or dissolved in saliva and swallowed, further exacerbates its harmful effects on the human body. Generally, smoking exacerbates occupational hazards in the following ways: (1) For those exposed to cotton dust, such as textile workers, smoking can accelerate the deterioration of the body’s resistance and the clearance capabilities of the upper respiratory tract, leading to respiratory infections and promoting the development of bronchitis. (2) Exposure to grain dust, cement dust, silica dust, coal dust, and irritating gases such as chlorine and sulfur dioxide can exacerbate diseases such as chronic bronchitis when smoking. (3) When harmful substances identical to those in the workplace are present in the air, the amount of toxins to which the human body is exposed increases accordingly. For example, when there is carbon monoxide in the air, traffic police with smoking habits have a level of carboxyhemoglobin in their blood that is about twice as high as that of non-smoking traffic police, even after work. Similarly, among lung cancer patients exposed to asbestos, the incidence rate among smokers is hundreds of times higher than that among non-smokers; among workers who produce and use carcinogenic aromatic amines such as naphthylamine dyes, smokers have a significantly higher incidence of bladder cancer. (4) In the production facilities of polytetrafluoroethylene (commonly known as \"plastic king\"), harmful substances can contaminate cigarettes. When people smoke such cigarettes, they release highly toxic pyrolysis products such as octafluoroisobutylene, which can lead to pulmonary edema in severe cases. It is evident that smoking can exacerbate occupational hazards; those in such occupations should avoid smoking or quit as soon as possible. How smokers can regulate their diet – Experts’ research shows that frequent smoking tends to reduce the selenium level in the blood, and selenium is an essential trace element for preventing and fighting cancer. Therefore, smokers should regularly consume more foods rich in selenium, such as animal livers, seaweeds, and shrimp. Certain compounds in cigarette smoke that supplement vitamins can significantly reduce the activity of vitamins A, B, C, E, etc., and lead to substantial depletion of these vitamins in the body. Therefore, smokers should regularly consume more foods rich in these vitamins, such as milk, carrots, peanuts, cornmeal, bean sprouts, Chinese cabbage, and vegetable oil. This not only helps to compensate for the vitamin deficiencies caused by smoking but also enhances the body’s immune function. Studies show that smokers who regularly consume milk and carrots have a significantly lower incidence of stomach cancer and lung cancer compared to those who do not consume these foods frequently.