Information on Smoking
According to the Center for Disease Control, "Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and affecting the health of smokers in general." While smoking tobacco cigarettes, you are inhaling nicotine, which is a psychoactive drug that is very addicting. Smoking cigarettes is the most common chemical addiction in the United States. When you quit smoking, there will be immediate and long-term health benefits to you.
Health Risks
Smoking is bad for your health. Smoking is the cause of 90 percent of all lung cancer cases. Smoking increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Smoking causes cancer of the esophagus, larynx, throat and mouth. Smoking while pregnant increases the risk of miscarriage, delivering the baby too early and Sudden Infant Death syndrome. Smokers get emphysema, bronchitis, pneumonia and other illnesses more frequently. Smoking increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Smoking decreases your sense of taste and smell. People living in your household have an increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer because of your second-hand smoke.
Addiction
According to the Center for Disease Control, "Research suggests that nicotine is as addictive as heroin, cocaine or alcohol." The nicotine in cigarettes release dopamine into the brain, which is a "key chemical mediating the desire to consume drugs."
Electronic Cigarettes
A new type of cigarette, called the electronic or e-cigarette, is concerning the Food and Drug Administration. The e-cigarette is a battery-operated device that creates smoke from nicotine and other chemicals that are known carcinogens. The e-cigarette also adds flavors such as chocolate and mint so that young people are attracted to them. At this time the FDA is detaining all shipments of e-cigarettes at the border and trying to keep them out of the country.
Health Benefits of Quitting
Quitting smoking can reduce your health risks in all areas. The sooner you quit, the greater the benefit. The National Institutes of Health state, "Soon after you quit, your circulation begins to improve, your blood pressure starts to return to normal. Your sense of smell and taste return. Giving up tobacco can help you live longer. Your risk of getting cancer decreases with each year you stay smoke-free."
Quit
Quitting smoking is difficult and will usually require more than one attempt until you are successful. There are various methods of quitting smoking. Nicotine Replacement Therapies such as nicotine gum and nicotine patches are shown to be effective. These two nicotine replacement therapies work because they slowly lower the amount of nicotine released into your system, until you are down to nothing. This helps to relieve the withdrawal symptoms and to wean you off of cigarettes slowly. Along with replacement therapies, a smoker should employ behavioral therapy. Recognizing the times and places you smoke and substituting different behaviors that distract you from wanting to smoke during those times is very important.
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