Cigarette smoking and oxidative stress

Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of more than 6000 chemical compounds, including high concentrations of free radicals and other oxidants. Cigarette smoke is also a source of free radicals. It is known that free radicals and lipid peroxidation have roles in pathogenesis of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease such as coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in Poland and constitutes a major risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease. It is believed that smoking causes increased oxidative stress because of several mechanisms, including direct damage by radicals. Moreover, numerous studies have indicated greater levels of oxidative stress in cigarette smokers, which is most likely attributable to the high concentration of reactive oxygen species in cigarette smoke. Homeostasis of an organism and its proper functioning are determined by the oxidative-antioxidant balance. Its disorder is most often associated with overproduction of reactive oxygen species that cause oxidative stress. It is a condition where an imbalance exists between the production of reactive oxygen species and the body’s ability to neutralize these intermediates, resulting in cellular damage. Cigarette smoke is known to be both a source and an inducer of cellular oxidative stress, which is a factor in many smoking-related diseases, and this oxidative stress initiates a variety of pathological processes which contribute to disease development. According to the World Health Organization, active smoking is one of the leading causes of death among people in the world through diseases caused by the toxic components of tobacco smoke.