Consequences of Smoking
Harmful Effects of Tobacco Smoking on Health
Recent statistics show that about 5 million people -which is 1 in 10 adults - die each year due to smoking: mostly from heart, lung and respiratory diseases, and cancers.
Smoking is bad for one’s health. This statement cannot be overemphasized. However, there are about 1.3 billion people still smoking today, with a rising number in developing countries.
Why should one stop smoking?
- Tobacco smoke has more than 4,000 harmful chemicals, including at least 50 which have been proven to cause cancer. Among the most dangerous chemicals are :
- Nicotine – a stimulant which can alter the brain chemistry by interfering with the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. It is highly addictive.
- Carbon monoxide – which decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the red blood cells.
- Formaldehyde and arsenic - which can cause cancer.
- Hydrogen cyanide – which prevents the body cells from using oxygen, and therefore particularly harmful to the heart and brain.
- Methanol and acetylene - which are poisonous.
- Smoking produces tar, which is a mixture of these chemicals, that sticks to the lining of the lungs, destroying the lungs’ ability to remove mucus, germs and toxins that harm the lungs. This can lead to lung cancer, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. A small amount of tar is also carried in the bloodstream, that can lead to cancer of the cervix or cancer of the pancreas.
- Smoking increases blood pressure and risk of blood clotting, and causes narrowing of blood vessels. This leads to cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke.
- Smoking is responsible for at least 30% of cancer deaths.
- Smoking can destroy a woman’s reproductive health; it can cause infertility in both men and women, and can cause impotence in men.
- Smoking is related to various other diseases, such as: bone problems, peptic ulcer, eye disease, tooth and gum disease, thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Smoking renders the medications taken for other diseases ineffective as it interacts with the drugs.
- Smoking decreases life expectancy by 10 years.
- Smoking hastens aging and wrinkling of skin. Smokers in their 40’s will show as much facial wrinkling as non-smokers in their 60’s.
- Smoking is costly. As much as 10% of total household expenditure is spent on tobacco.
Withdrawal Symptoms
The symptoms are irritability, depression, anxiety, increased appetite and increased craving for nicotine. These withdrawal symptoms are caused by the dependency to nicotine. Most of the symptoms subside within 3 to 4 weeks. The food-craving and nicotine-craving may persist for months.
How to Quit
- By using nicotine replacement therapy – using nicotine chewing gum, nicotine patch or nicotine inhaler.
- By hypnosis.
- By stopping cold turkey.
Other tips:
- Drink plenty of fluids to remove the toxins in your body.
- Engage in physical activities that will divert your mind from smoking cigarettes.
- Relapse can happen, but do not let this discourage you. Most people have a relapse three or four times before they finally are able to quit for good.
References :
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA)
National Institute on Drug Abuse
