Greetings! In today’s class we shall look into the effects of tobacco on the blood pressure, digestion, liver and more!

“The question is asked, Have I not a right to do as I please with my own body? No; you have no moral right, because you are violating the laws of life and health which God has given you. You are the Lord’s property—His by creation and His by redemption. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” [Leviticus 19:18.] The law of self-respect for the property of the Lord is here brought to view. And this will lead to respect for the obligations which every human being is under to preserve the living machinery that is so fearfully and wonderfully made. This living machinery is to be understood. Every part of its wonderful mechanism is to be carefully studied. Self-preservation is to be practiced…As you look upon your body, you should remember that you are every moment sustained by the Creator of all things, the Preserver of life, the Giver of happiness and peace and grace in obeying His requirements.” Ms 49,1897

Arteries-Blood Pressure:It is very popular today to have hard arteries and high blood pressure. Tobacco is one of the leading causes of both. It immediately constricts the blood vessels throughout the body and so requires the heart to put harder to send the blood around its circuit. Then when the arteries become degenerated the walls thicken and this keeps the heart overworking till the end of life. A common way for life to terminate is with apoplexy.

When the arteries are constricted, the circulation of the blood is slowed and then the temperature of the extremities lowers a few degrees. This restricted circulation hampers the blood in carrying fresh oxygen and nutriment to the cells in the extremities and carrying away their wastes, and consequently many heavy smokers after a time suffer with dying tissue on hands or feet-Berger’s disease.

Digestion: It irritates the salivary glands and tonsils. It is a common cause of hyperacidity, which is a forerunner of ulcer, which may become a cancer.

The Liver: One of the dozen functions of the liver is to detoxicate the blood poisons when they pass through it. Such strong poisons as those in tobacco overwork the liver, lessen its efficiency, and may damage its structure.

The Throat: The throat, larynx, esophagus, and bronchi all are irritated. Smokers’ sore throat, hoarseness, cough, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, and catarrh are among the conditions to which tobacco contributes more or less.

The Lungs: The lungs provide an absorbing surface of one thousand square feet through which oxygen passes into the blood and wastes pass out of the blood to be exhaled. The smoke which lodges on this membrane hinders these two vital processes. Besides, its cells become less resistant to disease so that the smoker doubles his danger from tuberculosis. Then if he gets tuberculosis, his change of recovery is cut in half.

Cancer: One of the most alarming diseases today is cancer. It is increasing rapidly. Many authorities contend that tobacco is one of the causes of cancer, particularly of the lip, tongue, mouth, esophagus, larynx, and lungs.

The Kidneys: The function of the kidneys has already been explained and how such poisons as tobacco injure their cells and contribute to Bright’s disease.

Physical Efficiency: There is a temporary loss of muscular power from one smoke of from 10 percent to 75 percent. This in one reason why first class athletes ban its use. The athlete must consider the well-being of his entire body and mind as well as his muscular power. Can you gather a spiritual lesson from this?

Longevity: Professor Raymond Pearl, of Johns Hopkins University, has shown that the death rate of heavy smoking men between ages thirty and sixty is double the death rate of non-smokers of those ages. Much information could here be given from life insurance statistics and other sources, but the above will suffice.

A Race Poison: Many times the parent does not realize any injury in his body, but he passes it on to his posterity. When fathers smoke more babies are born dead or die in the first few years. The tobacco-using father violates the highest law of human existence–that we shall give our posterity our best without handicap. The injury to the future child is much greater when the mother smokes. Many babies born of cigarette smoking mothers have degenerated organs at birth.

Mothers: Women are the mothers of the race; they mould the character, shape life, and largely determine their destiny. When the world has needed a prophet or a prophetess, a Moses, Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist, or the MASTER among men, first a mother was prepared to bear, cherish, and train that life for its great mission. Man has ever looked to womankind to hold to the ideals of purity, honor and nobility.

A Quote to Note: “Notwithstanding all the light shining forth from the Scriptures on this subject; notwithstanding the lessons given in the history of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; notwithstanding the result of plain healthful diet, there is little regard for the lessons penned by men inspired by God. The dietetic habits of the people generally are neglected; there is an increase of tobacco using, liquor drinking, and subsisting on flesh meats. I see young boys here in this locality, bright-looking, intelligent youth, from ten to twelve years of age, following the example of their fathers. His habits and practices are educating his children to do as he does.” Ms 49,1897

Grab a friend and share the wealth, from what you’ve learned in the School of Health! In next week’s class, we shall look into how tobacco effects the morals, some tips on how to stop smoking, and more! Until then. God bless!

Tell us what you learned from today’s class, in the comment section below!

Previous Classes From This Segment: Part 1