Quitting tobacco is difficult for an addict. But to stay away from all the risk factors, it is important to quit smoking. Friends and family members should encourage quitting smoking. Take advice from a doctor for medications and also for nicotine replacement therapy.
What is tobacco?
Tobacco is a green, leafy plant. Tobacco is prepared from the leaves. It is dried and then used in different ways — smoked in a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, and can be chewed or sniffed.
What does tobacco contain?
Tobacco contains nicotine. Nicotine makes tobacco addictive because of which it becomes a habit for a person. It causes physical and psychological dependency. When a person smokes, chews or sniffs tobacco, nicotine goes into bloodstream, which is why the body craves more of it. It is a drug. Nicotine raises blood pressure and also makes our heart beat fast.
Risk factors
Tobacco affects the heart, liver and lungs. Smoking brings many risk factors with it. Heart attacks, COPD, strokes, hypertension and peripheral vascular disease are major risk factors. All these factors depend on the number of years a person has been smoking and how many cigarettes a person smokes in a day. Also, many people start smoking at a young age.
Dangers of tobacco
1. Central nervous system stimulant: Nicotine is a central nervous system stimulant. It makes you feel energetic and once the effect subsides, you feel tired and low
2. Smoking increases macular degeneration, poor eyesight and cataract.
3. Corticosterone (stress hormone) lowers the effect of nicotine. That is why when people are stressed, they smoke a lot.
4. It impairs your cognitive functioning which makes you feel irritated.
5. High risk of cold, flu and respiratory infections. Long term smoking causes lung cancer. Do not smoke in front of your child, as children tend to have ear infections, asthma attacks, higher rates of pneumonia and bronchitis.
6. Stroke: Blood clots in brain.
7. Coronary artery disease which includes heart attack and angina.
8. High blood pressure.
9. Poor blood supply to legs.
10. Erection problem as there will be decreased blood flow to the penis.
11. Skin changes are seen. Tobacco smoking causes skin discolouration and also premature ageing. There is yellow staining on fingers. Teeth usually develop yellow or brown stains.
12. Cancer of the lung, mouth, larynx, esophagus, kidney, bladder, pancreatic and cervix.
13. Wound healing becomes poor.
14. Problems during pregnancy are seen such as: low birth weight of the baby, premature baby, miscarriage, cleft lip and problem with the placenta.
15. Infertility.
16. Tooth problems like tooth decay, tooth loss and bad breath. Tobacco can cause gum infection.
17. Smoking develops insulin resistance because of which smokers are prone for type 2 diabetes.
18. Your appetite is reduced. You will not be able to get proper nutrition which is needed by the body.
19. Women who smoke may have the possibility of getting menopause early. Cervical cancer risk is increased.
20. People who are exposed to smoke, like if their parents or friends smoke or are surrounded by smoke, then they are also at high health risk.
21. They are at risk of getting heart disease, reactions involving eye, nose, throat and lower respiratory tract.
Kicking the butt
Quitting tobacco is difficult for an addict. But to stay away from all the risk factors, it is important to quit smoking. Friends and family members should encourage quitting smoking. Take advice from a doctor for medications and also for nicotine replacement therapy.
—Content has been provided by Oxygen Media. To know more visit, www.oxygenliving.com and www.lifespanindia.com; also visit, dnaindia.com
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