Smoking and sports: Bodybuilding, the pros and cons of smoking

The effect of cigarettes on the athlete's body

Are smoking and sports compatible? Let's face it - they are not mutually exclusive. An athlete experiences greater physical activity compared to an ordinary person, which means that all metabolic processes occur much faster in him. Blood circulates more intensely, and all substances that enter the body enter the cells at an accelerated pace. But it is worth noting that this can be both beneficial and harmful. When smoking tobacco, many harmful compounds enter the bloodstream, which can affect a person in completely different ways. Basically, people attending training take care of their health and promote smoking cessation. All this is due to the fact that the human body uses its full potential to the maximum during daily training. For example, running and smoking are rather mutually exclusive, because when running the whole body is involved, and if a failure occurs somewhere, then the result will not be achieved.

Consequences

Many people who combine smoking and playing sports, answering the question of whether smoking interferes with their fitness, claim that they do not experience physical discomfort during training and, generally speaking, feel good. This is not self-deception. Sometimes good health allows you to not feel the negative consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle for some time.

We can say about these people that they simply have not yet exhausted the reserve of safety measured out to them by nature, and if their lifestyle does not change, disastrous consequences are inevitable. Unfortunately, physical incompetence begins to be felt only when significant harm has been caused to health, and the consequences of an addiction become irreversible.

Smoking in bodybuilding

Bodybuilding (bodybuilding, athleticism) is a special sport whose goal is to develop

muscles and creating a proportional figure. Athletes exhaust their bodies with training to get the desired results. Bodybuilding also requires proper nutrition and adequate sleep. Taken together, all this gives the desired result - a beautiful and pumped up body. Can smoking and bodybuilding exist side by side? Real professionals will definitely say - never.

• Scientists have proven that nicotine increases the level of the protein myostatin. When it increases, muscle cell growth is blocked.
• Tobacco provokes an increased release of the MAFbx enzyme, which breaks down proteins into amino acids, that is, it actually “burns” muscles.

For full development, muscle mass must be given certain loads. During the recovery process, the body increases the number of muscles so that in the future the body can cope with these loads without problems. With each puff, the hemoglobin in the red blood cells is supplied with carbon monoxide instead of oxygen and gas exchange is disrupted. The task of the circulatory system is to supply the muscles with oxygen for further work and to take away carbon dioxide. The normal reaction for obtaining energy looks like this: carbohydrates, fats + O2 = released energy + water + CO2. Due to a lack of oxygen, a more complex carbohydrate, glycogen, is broken down. This produces energy and lactic acid. An excess of lactic acid forms an acidic environment, and the muscles become clogged faster.

Goalkeeper. Gianluigi Buffon

Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon was caught smoking a cigarette back in the early 2000s: some criticized, while others remained silent, because Buffon still remained one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Although every time he was photographed with a cigarette, he said that this was a one-time incident. By the way, Gigi also loves poker very much - it’s his hobby.

Damage caused by cigarette smoke

Cigarettes are more harmful than tobacco - this is a proven fact. To improve smoking properties, various chemical reagents are added to them. These chemical compounds can give

different taste properties of cigarette smoke, extend the shelf life of tobacco products or accelerate decay. Almost all of them are poisonous and cause irreparable harm to our organs. In cigarette smoke, a large proportion is occupied by nicotine, carbon monoxide and a suspension of liquid tar.

• The effect of nicotine. This alkaloid is a powerful nerve poison. It is also classified as a narcotic substance because it is able to replace endorphin (the hormone of joy). With constant tobacco use, over time the hormone simply stops being produced and addiction occurs. Nicotine affects n-cholinergic receptors, which enter the stage of excitation and change the functioning of the entire body. The vessels of the brain dilate, the peripheral ones, on the contrary, narrow, blood pressure rises, and the heartbeat accelerates. When the level of the narcotic substance decreases, so-called “withdrawal” occurs and vasospasm occurs. The smoker reaches for his “dose” again.
• Action of carbon monoxide. Getting through the lungs into the blood, it forms very strong compounds with hemoglobin. The more such compounds are formed, the less oxygen (and on the reverse route, carbon dioxide) the red blood cell is able to transport. Oxygen starvation sets in, and the cardiovascular system begins to work in accelerated mode to supply all organs with a sufficient amount of O2. An accelerated pace ultimately leads to disruption of the heart.
• Action of liquid resin. It contains many carcinogens that are known to cause cancer and also irritate the tissues of the respiratory tract. Hot cigarette smog contains very small droplets of liquid tar, which, after cooling, form a deposit in the smoker's respiratory tract in the form of ordinary tar. Natural gas exchange processes occur in the alveoli - these are small bubbles at the ends of the pulmonary ducts, which are lined with capillaries. A film of resin covers the surface of these alveoli. In the affected areas, hemoglobin is no longer freed from CO2 and is not saturated with O2.

Midfielder. Marco Verratti

On the Internet you can find at least 5 photos where Marco is holding a cigarette in his hands. The last of them was taken by Marquinhos’s wife (PSG football player) and posted the photo on her Instagram. Rumor has it that it was because of this bad habit that Barcelona refused to buy the Italian midfielder. Cigarettes also caused a conflict between the player and the team’s former coach Unai Emery.

Sports and cardiovascular system

The heart and blood vessels represent a kind of transport route. The heart, as the main pump, pumps blood and sends it through the small and large circles of blood circulation (the small one passes through the lungs, and the big one covers the whole body). In a large circle, the flow goes in two directions. First from the heart to the aorta, then through the arteries into arterioles and capillaries. The “passengers” of such a route are oxygen and useful mineral elements. Having disembarked these passengers, red blood cells and lymph recruit new ones - these are CO2 and metabolic products. They move in the second direction - from capillaries to venules, to veins and ends their journey to the heart. The pulmonary circulation has the same pattern, but diametrically opposite. The “drivers of the blood train” are nitric oxide molecules, which control the pressure in the blood vessels and decide where to drop off the first passengers and pick up the second. Tobacco smoke has a bad effect on the circulatory system, so smoking and sports are incompatible. Through the lungs, carbon monoxide enters the blood and takes the place of such a “passenger” as oxygen, and the place of useful elements is taken by combustion products. Having delivered little O2 to the cells, hemoglobin molecules also cannot take up all the carbon dioxide. The traffic becomes more intense, and the heart pump begins to work in increased mode. As a result, the heart wall wears out, the capillary walls become thinner and gas exchange is disrupted. The influence of nicotine in this model can be compared to problems in the work of “machinists”. After smoking, the width of the lumen of the capillaries changes regardless of the need of the organs. All these processes weaken the athlete and worsen his athletic achievements.

What happens to the lungs

The mucous membrane of the lungs and bronchi swells in smokers, which affects their normal functioning. As a result, the breathing process is difficult.

During physical exercise, there is not enough oxygen, which has a bad effect on muscle contractility and endurance levels. The pulse increases, during training you may feel dizzy, shortness of breath and nausea appear.

If you have a long history of smoking, then over time the lung tissue changes and scars form on it. The alveoli, which receive tars and combustion products, poorly conduct oxygen to the heart.

All this not only worsens athletic performance, but also affects health in the future.

Bone and muscle system of smoking athletes

In general, these two systems are called the musculoskeletal system. Tobacco products are clearly opposed to the development and normal functioning of this complex mechanism. Earlier in the article, the effect of cigarettes on muscle tissue was described (slowing the growth of new muscles and destroying existing ones). Let’s now consider how smoking has “annoyed”

us in the bone area. Bones only at first glance seem static. Every year, from 4 to 10 percent of bone tissue is renewed in the body of a healthy individual. Free radicals, which smokers have in abundance, are especially dangerous for her. In the bones, they suppress the production of a certain type of cell responsible for bone regeneration. As a result, bones become fragile, and even a seemingly minor injury can result in a fracture. Hormonal levels that regulate bone tissue renewal are also disrupted. Blood saturated with toxins stops transporting mineral elements and vitamins, which are also necessary for the full functioning of the skeletal system. According to research, smoking athletes often experience diseases such as inflammation of the joint capsules and tendon degeneration. Their recovery from injuries tends to take longer and they are more likely to have complications. All this greatly affects the sport and achievements of the athlete-smoker, since he is almost constantly in a state of injury.

Bench

• Wojciech Szczesny . Rumor has it that Arsene Wenger deprived him of his place in the team because of his addiction to cigarettes. Szczesny smokes much more than Buffon and is number 1 in his club. But in this case, we chose the player based on stardom;
• Mesut Ozil. He was caught by paparazzi several times with a cigarette in his hands. Here Mesut could not disappear, as he often does in important matches;
• Wesley Sneijder . The Dutchman began smoking openly after moving to Galatasaray. There are no strict smoking bans in Turkey, so in the local championship you can almost go to matches with a cigarette in your mouth;
• Tyson. No, this is not “Iron Mike”, but a Brazilian football player from Shakhtar Donetsk. In 2022, a photograph appeared on his Instagram page of a football player posing with a rolled-up cigarette. By some signs it was clear that it was far from tobacco;
• Federico Maqueda . Yes, the reinforcements to the team are weak, but among the current players it is difficult to find anyone who is an open smoker. Yes, it was hard for Sir Alex, because how many Manchester United players smoked: Maqueda, Rooney, Barthez, Berbatov.

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Disadvantages of smoking in sports

Playing sports requires a person to be in excellent health. A person who has such a physical and psychological addiction as smoking cannot, a priori, be ideally healthy. From what can be seen with the naked eye:

• training will not be as effective as possible (endurance decreases, muscle mass does not increase);
• shortness of breath (most often occurs after running or strenuous exercise);
• headaches and dizziness (due to vasospasm and hypoxia);
• frequent injuries and long recovery process;
• cardiopalmus.

If you look deeper, you need to consider the diseases associated with this addiction.

Injuries, poor training, side effects - consequences of smoking

Long-term and regular smoking has a significant impact on the functioning of the thyroid gland and larynx and, consequently, disruption of hormonal activity. Thyroid hormones have an anabolic effect. Cigarette smoke worsens the relationship between parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. This means a decrease in the absorption of calcium ions in the body, which is already a direct path to osteoporosis, training injuries and more serious injuries.

Smoking cigarettes disrupts the functioning of the pancreas and impairs digestive enzymes. They are also responsible for building muscle. Physical effort increases the need for nutrients and improper digestion will prevent you from achieving results.

The training of athletes who smoke is often interrupted by shortness of breath or cough. Long and intense training becomes impossible. Moreover, impaired transport of oxygen and nutrients and their absorption have an impact on the loss of muscle mass or strength.

pros

The benefits of frequent smoking breaks have not been proven, but some athletes who smoke justify themselves with the following:

• the use of tobacco products and even hashish relieves stress and relaxes (it should be noted that this does not last long and when the effect ends, a new dose is required);
• nicotine prevents the formation of a fat layer (relevant during cutting for bodybuilders);
• tobacco speeds up metabolism (however, it also saturates all cells with harmful compounds).

If you wish, you can find advantages in anything, but you should always remember that these are just excuses for your own weakness and nothing more.

Right back. Sergio Ramos

We sent Sergio to the right flank of defense, since we didn’t find any of the modern right-backs who like to smoke, and Ramos at one time played part of his career in this position. In 2012, Sergio was spotted in the company of friends and with a hookah in his hands. It is impossible to classify him as a heavy smoker, but the photographic fact remains a fact.

Smoking-related diseases

The consequences of long-term smoking can be very diverse. They catch up with some earlier, while others are given more time to stay healthy. The most common diseases of smokers and athletes in particular include:

1. oncological diseases (a large number of free radicals can directly cause cancer; the larynx, oral cavity, and lungs most often suffer from cigarette smoke);
2. cardiovascular diseases (tachycardia, hypertension, angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack, thrombosis, in advanced cases of gangrene);
3. diseases of the musculoskeletal system (osteoporosis, brusitis, tendonitis, artiritis, back pain, increased susceptibility to injury - femurs and shoulder girdle are especially susceptible to fractures)
4. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) - includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
5. Impotence and infertility are also common consequences for those who like to “tar.”

A healthy lifestyle is a great alternative to bad habits. As a rule, people who begin to actively and seriously train begin to feel the harmful effects of tobacco smoke on the body more acutely and they themselves give up cigarettes.

Head coach. Maurizio Sarri

Both Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi could apply for this position. But even if these Italian coaches smoke, they are no longer caught doing so by camera lenses. Sarri, when he was Napoli coach, could smoke a whole pack of cigarettes, or even more, in a day. As Chelsea manager, he tried to abstain from the habit and chewed cigarette filters, as England is tough on smokers in stadiums.