THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL HAZARDS OF SMOKING
HOW DOES SMOKING AFFECT A PERSON'S HEALTH?
Smoking affects a person's health in many serious ways, having both immediate and long term ill effects on your quality of life. It is a very serious addiction, caused by the drug nicotine. Once inhaled, nicotine from smoking reaches the brain almost immediately (within seven seconds). Milligram for milligram, the nicotine contained in all cigarette smoke is more potent than heroin.
Whenever you light a cigarette, the nicotine in its tobacco causes an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure, and the air passages in your lungs constrict, making it more difficult for you to breathe. This is dangerous to even the healthiest person, and can be disastrous to anyone with a medical illness. As small blood vessels constrict, your skin temperature may also decrease, causing your fingers, toes and skin to feel cold. Smoking dulls more than your social appeal, it decreases your senses, particularly your sense of smell and taste ( that's why you can't smell the stink you carry around with you, if you smoke). Finally, carcinogens, or cancer causing agents, and toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide, enter your blood. This can cause chest pain and disturbance of your heart rhythm during physical activity or exercise. The long term effects of smoking are extremely dangerous. Smoking contributes to various respiratory diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or a shortness of breath and eventual chronic cough leading to extreme breathing difficulty and gasping for air, and Lung infections, including frequent colds, flu and pneumonia are much more common and severe in smokers.
In addition, smoking leads to cardiovascular illnesses such as high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease (clogged arteries). As arteries constrict, there is also a greater risk of stroke, which results in a disruption of the flow of blood carrying oxygen to the brain. In fact, studies show that smokers are two to three times more likely to have a stroke or heart attack than non-smokers, and the risk of cardiovascular disease is highest for smokers with high blood pressure and relatively high for women who smoke and use oral contraceptives.
In addition to causing lung cancer, smoking has been linked to other forms of cancer, including cancer of the throat (or voice box); cancer of the mouth, larynx and esophagus; and cancer of the kidneys, pancreas, stomach and bladder.
Pregnant women who smoke have a greater chance of giving birth to stillborn, low-birth weight or premature babies, or of having a miscarriage .
Recent studies have also linked smoking to looking old for your age. Researchers have found that smoking more than triples the average person's chance of premature facial wrinkling, and that the severity of wrinkling increases with the number of pack years, doubling and in some cases quadrupling depending on the number of packs smoked per day over a long period of time.
Smoking also stains your fingers and teeth, and leaves a stale smell on your hair, breath and clothes.
WHY SHOULD I QUIT? Most importantly: you will reduce your risk of heart attack, cancer and stroke, as well as add years to your life. You will breathe more easily, your lungs and heart will work better, your sense of smell and taste will improve, your home, car, clothes and hair will look and smell fresher; you'll have more energy and save money.
HOW DO I QUIT?Various methods are available to those who need help in kicking the habit, including behavior modification; medical treatment, such as the use of prescription products approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as smoking cessation aids; counseling; and hypnosis.
If you decide to quit cold turkey, set a target date. When it arrives, throw out your cigarettes, lighters, matches and ashtrays. Find someone to quit with you. To reinforce your decision, have your teeth cleaned; begin an exercise program; estimate how much money you will save.
If you want to cut down on your smoking gradually, try to: switch brands to one you find distasteful; smoke only half of each cigarette; smoke without inhaling; buy cigarettes by the pack, not the carton; hide your cigarettes in an inconvenient place; keep a smoking "record" of when you smoke and why, and try to eliminate the least important cigarettes.
Once you've started to cut down, set a daily quota and reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day; increase your exercise; postpone your cigarette until you can go all day without one; smoke only in uncomfortable places; spend time where smoking is prohibited; do things that occupy your hands.
If you use smoking cessation devices, such as a nicotine patch, remember that your chances of kicking the habit greatly improve when used in combination with a comprehensive behavioral smoking cessation program.
WHAT ABOUT WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS?If you experience withdrawal symptoms, try to think of them as signs of recovery; your body is cleaning itself out! Here are some typical withdrawal symptoms and advice about how to manage them.
Coughing: Don't be alarmed if you initially cough more after quitting; your lungs are clearing out. Cough drops might help.
Lack of concentration: Rest, exercise and time will overcome this problem.
Tiredness: Get an extra hour or so of sleep. Brisk exercise during the day may help you sleep more soundly.
Nervousness: Drink lots of water to flush the nicotine out of your system. Also, try to cut down on your caffeine intake. Sore throat: Drinking liquids may help.
Headache: Get plenty of rest and exercise. If this persists, see your doctor.
Constipation: Include more whole-grain foods and fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. Again, exercise.
Sleeplessness: Exercise regularly. You may also experience irritability or depression.
To avoid gaining weight, try to keep a variety of low calorie snacks available, such as carrots, celery, fruit juice and sugarless gum. The physical withdrawal of nicotine from the body takes approximately 2-3 weeks. After that time period, cravings are more psychological in origin.
WHAT ABOUT SECOND-HAND SMOKE?Studies indicate that breathing second-hand smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETC), can also pose certain risks. The poisons in second-hand smoke can burn the eyes, nose and throat, and cause coughing; increase the heart rate; raise blood pressure; cause headaches; and upset the stomach. Over time, breathing second-hand smoke can increase the risk of lung problems, cancer, heart attacks, and strokes.
Those with health problems are at greater risk, particularly those with heart problems, allergies, or breathing problems, such as asthma.
Infants and young children may also be seriously affected by second-hand smoke. Studies indicate that children of smokers are more likely to have coughs, colds, lung problems including asthma, ear infections, behavior problems, heart disease and cancer later in life.
Smoking affects a person's health in many serious ways, having both immediate and long term ill effects on your quality of life. It is a very serious addiction, caused by the drug nicotine. Once inhaled, nicotine from smoking reaches the brain almost immediately (within seven seconds). Milligram for milligram, the nicotine contained in all cigarette smoke is more potent than heroin.
Whenever you light a cigarette, the nicotine in its tobacco causes an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure, and the air passages in your lungs constrict, making it more difficult for you to breathe. This is dangerous to even the healthiest person, and can be disastrous to anyone with a medical illness. As small blood vessels constrict, your skin temperature may also decrease, causing your fingers, toes and skin to feel cold. Smoking dulls more than your social appeal, it decreases your senses, particularly your sense of smell and taste ( that's why you can't smell the stink you carry around with you, if you smoke). Finally, carcinogens, or cancer causing agents, and toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide, enter your blood. This can cause chest pain and disturbance of your heart rhythm during physical activity or exercise. The long term effects of smoking are extremely dangerous. Smoking contributes to various respiratory diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or a shortness of breath and eventual chronic cough leading to extreme breathing difficulty and gasping for air, and Lung infections, including frequent colds, flu and pneumonia are much more common and severe in smokers.
In addition, smoking leads to cardiovascular illnesses such as high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease (clogged arteries). As arteries constrict, there is also a greater risk of stroke, which results in a disruption of the flow of blood carrying oxygen to the brain. In fact, studies show that smokers are two to three times more likely to have a stroke or heart attack than non-smokers, and the risk of cardiovascular disease is highest for smokers with high blood pressure and relatively high for women who smoke and use oral contraceptives.
In addition to causing lung cancer, smoking has been linked to other forms of cancer, including cancer of the throat (or voice box); cancer of the mouth, larynx and esophagus; and cancer of the kidneys, pancreas, stomach and bladder.
Pregnant women who smoke have a greater chance of giving birth to stillborn, low-birth weight or premature babies, or of having a miscarriage .
Recent studies have also linked smoking to looking old for your age. Researchers have found that smoking more than triples the average person's chance of premature facial wrinkling, and that the severity of wrinkling increases with the number of pack years, doubling and in some cases quadrupling depending on the number of packs smoked per day over a long period of time.
Smoking also stains your fingers and teeth, and leaves a stale smell on your hair, breath and clothes.
WHY SHOULD I QUIT? Most importantly: you will reduce your risk of heart attack, cancer and stroke, as well as add years to your life. You will breathe more easily, your lungs and heart will work better, your sense of smell and taste will improve, your home, car, clothes and hair will look and smell fresher; you'll have more energy and save money.
HOW DO I QUIT?Various methods are available to those who need help in kicking the habit, including behavior modification; medical treatment, such as the use of prescription products approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as smoking cessation aids; counseling; and hypnosis.
If you decide to quit cold turkey, set a target date. When it arrives, throw out your cigarettes, lighters, matches and ashtrays. Find someone to quit with you. To reinforce your decision, have your teeth cleaned; begin an exercise program; estimate how much money you will save.
If you want to cut down on your smoking gradually, try to: switch brands to one you find distasteful; smoke only half of each cigarette; smoke without inhaling; buy cigarettes by the pack, not the carton; hide your cigarettes in an inconvenient place; keep a smoking "record" of when you smoke and why, and try to eliminate the least important cigarettes.
Once you've started to cut down, set a daily quota and reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day; increase your exercise; postpone your cigarette until you can go all day without one; smoke only in uncomfortable places; spend time where smoking is prohibited; do things that occupy your hands.
If you use smoking cessation devices, such as a nicotine patch, remember that your chances of kicking the habit greatly improve when used in combination with a comprehensive behavioral smoking cessation program.
WHAT ABOUT WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS?If you experience withdrawal symptoms, try to think of them as signs of recovery; your body is cleaning itself out! Here are some typical withdrawal symptoms and advice about how to manage them.
Coughing: Don't be alarmed if you initially cough more after quitting; your lungs are clearing out. Cough drops might help.
Lack of concentration: Rest, exercise and time will overcome this problem.
Tiredness: Get an extra hour or so of sleep. Brisk exercise during the day may help you sleep more soundly.
Nervousness: Drink lots of water to flush the nicotine out of your system. Also, try to cut down on your caffeine intake. Sore throat: Drinking liquids may help.
Headache: Get plenty of rest and exercise. If this persists, see your doctor.
Constipation: Include more whole-grain foods and fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. Again, exercise.
Sleeplessness: Exercise regularly. You may also experience irritability or depression.
To avoid gaining weight, try to keep a variety of low calorie snacks available, such as carrots, celery, fruit juice and sugarless gum. The physical withdrawal of nicotine from the body takes approximately 2-3 weeks. After that time period, cravings are more psychological in origin.
WHAT ABOUT SECOND-HAND SMOKE?Studies indicate that breathing second-hand smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETC), can also pose certain risks. The poisons in second-hand smoke can burn the eyes, nose and throat, and cause coughing; increase the heart rate; raise blood pressure; cause headaches; and upset the stomach. Over time, breathing second-hand smoke can increase the risk of lung problems, cancer, heart attacks, and strokes.
Those with health problems are at greater risk, particularly those with heart problems, allergies, or breathing problems, such as asthma.
Infants and young children may also be seriously affected by second-hand smoke. Studies indicate that children of smokers are more likely to have coughs, colds, lung problems including asthma, ear infections, behavior problems, heart disease and cancer later in life.
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