Health

What is the JOY in Smoking

Posted on December 22, 2010

Quit Smoking 4 300x214 What is the JOY in SmokingSmoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. It’s one of the most common forms of recreational drug use. Cigarette smoking is today by far the most popular form of smoking and is practiced by over one billion people.

Many smokers begin smoking in social settings. The offering and sharing of cigarettes is often an important rite of initiation or simply a good excuse to start a conversation with strangers in many settings; in bars, night clubs or at work.

People start smoking for a variety of different reasons. Some think it looks cool. Others start because their family members or friends smoke. Statistics show that about 9 out of 10 tobacco users start before they’re 18 years old. Most adults who started smoking in their teens never expected to become addicted.

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Worldwide, about 1.35 billion people smoke. The world population statistic in 2009 stood at 6.8 billion meaning almost 20% of the world’s population smokes. Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. The body and mind quickly become so used to the nicotine in tobacco that a person needs to have it just to feel normal.

The nicotine in cigarette smoke causes the release of a chemical in the brain called dopamine. When the level of dopamine in the brain is increased, a person experiences feelings of extreme pleasure and contentment. In order to sustain these feelings, the level of nicotine in the body must remain constant; a smoker becomes dependent on the good feelings caused by the release of dopamine and thus becomes addicted to nicotine.

Quit Smoking 1 254x300 What is the JOY in SmokingEffects of Smoking

The effects of smoking on human health are serious and in many cases, deadly. There are approximately 4.000 chemicals in cigarettes, hundreds of which are toxic. Your smoke is also bad for other people -  secondhand smokers can get many of the same health problems as smokers do.

Tobacco smoke is one of the leading causes of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in the world. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema.

Smoking also contributes to a number of cancer diseases. These include lung, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, stomach, cervix, kidney and pancreas, and acute myeloid leukemia.

Women who smoke have a greater chance of certain pregnancy problems or having a baby die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Components of a Cigarette

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  • Aminobiphenyl – a human carcinogen
  • Arsenic – inorganic arsenic can cause you to experience a sore throat, irritated lungs, nausea, vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels and a sensation of pins and needles in hands and feet
  • Benzene – breathing benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, unconsciousness, harm to bone marrow and a decrease in the production of red blood cells
  • Chromium – a human carcinogen
  • 2-Naphthylamine – a human carcinogen
  • Nickel – can cause asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis, and reduced lung function
  • Vinyl chloride – dizziness and sleepiness
  • N-Nitrosodiethylamine – a human carcinogen
  • N-Nitrosopyrrolidine – a human carcinogen
  • N-Nitrosodiethanolamine – a human carcinogen
  • Cadmium – possibly a human carcinogen
  • Benzo[a]pyrene – can damage red blood cells
  • Ammonia – can cause coughing and irritation to the nose and throat
  • Acrolein – can cause irritation and damage to the lungs
  • Pyridine – can cause headache, giddiness, drowsiness, increased heart rate and rapid breathing
  • Catechol – can cause cough, burning sensation, and labored breathing
  • Formaldehyde – can cause irritation to your nose, eyes, skin and throat
  • Acetone – can irritate your nose, lungs, throat and eyes
  • Hydrogen cyanide – can cause headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting
  • Nicotine – an addictive drug
  • Carbon monoxide – enters the lungs and displaces oxygen from the bloodstream
  • Toluene – can cause drowsiness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, hearing loss and color vision loss
  • Hydroquinone – can cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory system
  • Carbon disulfide – can change breathing patterns and induce chest pains
  • Lead – can cause weakness in your fingers, wrists and ankles and mind, can negatively affect your memory, can affect blood cell production and disrupt the male reproductive system
  • Phenol – can lead to liver damage, diarrhea, dark urine and hemolytic anemia.

    • Today is the day to stop before it’s too late. If you quit smoking TODAY, your body will naturally start to heal itself and expel all those dangerous chemicals in your system. Don’t put our lives into an early grave. Think twice before lighting your next cigarette!

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