Tobacco Hazard : Stop Smoking Today!!!

Increasing your child’s future risk of heart attack? There’s never been a better reason to quit

2011-09-10T16:19:00.000-07:00

If you're a smoker and you're pregnant - there's never been a more important time for you to quit your habit.

That's because a new Australian study has found women who smoke in pregnancy are putting their child at increased risk of heart attack or stroke later in life.

The study, published online in the European Heart Journal today, showed children born to smokers had a lower level of a certain type of cholesterol in their blood, which protects against heart disease.

The researchers estimate children born to women who smoked while pregnant face a 10-15% increased risk of developing heart disease later in life.

Quit Executive Director Fiona Sharkie said the study shows a woman's smoking habit during pregnancy doesn't only affect her baby when it's young - it continues to affect her child as it grows up into adulthood.

"Women who smoke and who are pregnant need to seriously think whether they want to pass on a lifetime of increased health risk to their unborn child. The best thing they can do for their own health, and that of their unborn child, is to quit smoking today."

This latest study showed only one of the risks caused by smoking during pregnancy.

Prior research has already shown that smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, miscarriage, having a low-weight baby and a baby with weaker lungs.

But any positive changes you make to your smoking habits now can reduce these risks and give your baby the best chance of a healthy start in life.

Women who quit before or during their pregnancy reduce the risk of all complications, preterm delivery and low birth weight.

In Australia: Set your quit date today and ring the Quitline on 13 7848.

Passive smoking 'kills 600,000' worldwide

2011-03-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

The first global study into the effects of passive smoking has found it causes 600,000 deaths every year.

"Exposure to secondhand smoke may have certain harmful - possibly even fatal - health effects such as lung cancer and heart disease."(American Lung Association, 2001)

"We found that passive smoking poses a significant threat to public health, particularly childhood respiratory health, lung cancer, and that the evidence in relation to heart disease is growing all the time. And there was no dispute about that." (Associate Professor Konrad Jamrozik of the University of Western Australia on Radio National, Australia, 06Oct1997)

One-third of those killed are children, often exposed to smoke at home, the World Health Organization (WHO) found.

The study, in 192 countries, found that passive smoking is particularly dangerous for children, said to be at higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome, pneumonia and asthma.

Passive smoking causes heart disease, respiratory illness and lung cancer.

"This helps us understand the real toll of tobacco," said Armando Peruga, of the WHO's Tobacco-Free Initiative, who led the study.

'Deadly combination'

The study used estimates of the incidence of specific diseases and of the number of people exposed to second-hand smoke in particular areas.

The global health body said it was particularly concerned about the estimated 165,000 children who die of smoke-related respiratory infections, mostly in South East Asia and in Africa.

It said that this group was more exposed to passive smoking than any other group, principally in their own homes.

"The mix of infectious diseases and second-hand smoke is a deadly combination," Mr Peruga said.

s well as being at increased risk of a series of respiratory conditions, the lungs of children who breathe in passive smoke may also develop more slowly than children who grow up in smoke-free homes.

Worldwide, as many as 40% of children, 33% of non-smoking men and 35% non-smoking women were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2004, researchers found.

This exposure was estimated to have caused 379,000 deaths from heart disease, 165,000 from lower respiratory infections, 36,900 from asthma and 21,400 from lung cancer.

According to the study, the highest numbers of people exposed to second-hand smoke are in Europe and Asia and the lowest rates of exposure were in the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa.

The research also revealed that passive smoking had a large impact on women, killing about 281,000 worldwide. This is due to the fact that in many parts of the world, the study suggests, women are at least 50% more likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke than men.

However, the researchers said were limitations to the study, including uncertainties about the underlying health data and gaps in the data relating to exposure to second-hand smoke.

Writing in the Lancet, Dr Heather Wipfli of the University of Southern California and colleagues, said: "There are well acknowledged uncertainties in estimates of disease burden.

"However, there can be no question that the 1.2bn smokers in the world are exposing billions of non-smokers to second-hand smoke, a disease-causing indoor air pollutant."

1997 California EPA report on ETS: Health effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

Effects causally associated:

Lung cancer
Nasal sinus cancer
Heart disease mortality
Acute and chronic coronary heart disease morbidity
Fetal growth: low birthweight or small for gestational age
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Acute lower respiratory tract infections in children (e.g. bronchitis and pneumonia)
Asthma induction and exacerbation in children
Chronic respiratory symptoms in children
Eye and nasal irritation in children
Middle ear infections in children

Effects with suggestive evidence of a causal association:

Spontaneous abortion
Adverse impact on cognition and behavior
Exacerbation of cystic fibrosis
Decreased pulmonary function
Cervical cancer

"An education programme to help people understand the dangers they cause to these children would be a starting point.”

Passive smoking increases stillbirth risk, says study

2011-03-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

Fathers-to-be should stop smoking to protect their unborn child from the risk of stillbirth or birth defects, scientists say.

University of Nottingham researchers found that pregnant women exposed to smoke at work or home increased their risk of stillbirth by 23% and of having a baby with defects by 13%.

They looked at 19 previous studies from around the world.

A UK expert said it was "vital" women knew the risks of second-hand smoke.

The studies used to pull this research together were carried out in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.

All the studies focused on pregnant women who did not smoke themselves but were passive smokers due to their proximity to a partner who smoked or work colleagues who smoked.

The combined data from the studies suggests that being exposed to more than 10 cigarettes a day is enough for the risks to be increased.

However, the University of Nottingham study did not find an increased risk of miscarriage or newborn death from second-hand smoke - only an increased risk of still birth and birth defects.

The results did not point to a link with any specific congenital birth defect.

Impact on sperm development
The researchers say fathers who smoke should be more aware of the danger they pose to their unborn child.

Previous research has shown that women who smoke during their pregnancy create serious health risks for their unborn baby, including low birth weight, premature birth and a range of serious birth defects such as cleft palate, club foot and heart problems.

Dr Jo Leonardi-Bee, lead researcher of the study and associate professor in medical statistics at the University of Nottingham, said they still did not know when the effects of the second-hand smoke begin.

"What we still don't know is whether it is the effect of sidestream smoke that the woman inhales that increases these particular risks or whether it is the direct effect of mainstream smoke that the father inhales during smoking that affects sperm development, or possibly both.

"More research is needed into this issue although we already know that smoking does have an impact on sperm development, so it is very important that men quit smoking before trying for a baby."

Dr Leonardi-Bee added: "The risks are related to the amount of cigarettes that are smoked so it is therefore very important for men to cut down.

"Ultimately though, in the interests of their partner and their unborn child, the best option would be to give up completely."

Andrew Shennan, professor of obstetrics at St. Thomas' Hospital in London and spokesperson for baby charity Tommy's, said: "It is vital that women are made aware of the possible risks associated with second-hand smoke and alert those around them of the impact it could potentially have on the health of their unborn baby.

"The chemicals in cigarettes are known to significantly increase the risk of serious pregnancy complications."

Butt out, smoking workers told

2010-07-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

SMOKERS are under pressure to kick the habit at work with employers concerned about cigarette breaks causing disharmony among employees.

There was also anecdotal evidence of some companies hiring non-smokers over smokers, workplace relations and safety lawyer Brad Petley said.

"There's a developing trend amongst some employers to hire a non-smoker over a smoker, if possible, because of a perception that a non-smoker is a more productive employee," he said.

His comments follow an American company's decision to hire only non-smokers from next month, while Lord Mayor Campbell Newman is moving to ban or restrict smoking in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall.

Cancer Council Queensland tobacco programs team leader Emma Dalglish said research showed smokers were 1.4 times more likely to be absent from work, costing businesses about $800 million a year.

Studies also showed the average smoker lost up to 30 minutes' productivity each day from lighting up during work hours, taking an average of six minutes to smoke each cigarette.

With laws forcing smokers more than 4m away from the entrance of non-residential buildings, Mr Petley said the amount of time needed for a "ciggie break" was adding up.

"Unfortunately at many workplaces, smoke breaks can turn into an unproductive social get-together where groups of employees take pre-arranged smoke breaks, favourite coffee mug in hand, and usually get involved in a gossip fest about the latest workplace goings-on," he said.

"Many non-smoking employees are likely to say 'Why should I work hard when the smokers can walk outside for a break any time they want?' "

Queensland general manager of Hamilton James Bruce recruitment, Steve Brown, agreed that smoking caused rifts between workers but said the same could be said for caffeine addicts.

He said employers need to take a commonsense approach and allow some flexibility.

"If you choose to go for a cigarette break outside of your regular break times, you need to make sure that time comes off your lunch hour," he said.

By Jill Eckersley

From:The Sunday Telegraph

November 14, 2009

Smoking: why women are at great risk

2010-07-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

We all know that smoking is bad for us, but women are more vulnerable than men when it comes to some of the potential nasty outcomes.

If you are serious about your health, fitness and general wellbeing, you simply can't afford to smoke. That isn't a new message, of course.

It has been known for 40 years or more that smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease and strokes. In fact, it is estimated that smoking is associated with more than 50 different diseases or disorders.

Recently, further scientific evidence has emerged to suggest that women may be at particular risk from smoking.

This year, a Norwegian study of almost 2000 women showed that women were at a higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at a younger age, and after smoking less heavily, than men.

COPD is an umbrella term that incorporates emphysema and chronic bronchitis. There are four stages of the condition, which are ranked in terms of their severity.

"We estimate that 2.1 million people in Australia have some form of COPD, and half of them don't know it," says Heather Allan, director of the COPD National Program at the Australian Lung Foundation.

COPD is characterised by shortness of breath and repetitive coughing with mucous, usually in the mornings. It gradually worsens if you don't do anything about it. "Simple daily activities become almost impossible," says Allan. "Eventually, you can't walk from the living room to the kitchen without stopping twice along the way to catch your breath."

"Many people believe that a few cigarettes a day represent a minimal risk," says one of the Norwegian researchers. "Our findings show that there is no safe level of exposure to cigarette smoke, and this is particularly true for female smokers."

The female factor

This isn't the first study that suggests that women may be more at risk from smoking than men. A 2005 Monash University found that women were more susceptible to exposure to smoke than men. Allan says researchers believe this could be because women have narrower and more sensitive airways than men.

A report by the British Lung Foundation in 2005 suggested it may be because women's lung capacity is smaller, and population studies have also suggested that there may be a genetic element involved.

This is why health campaigners are so concerned that more young women in their teens and 20s are starting and continuing to smoke than men.

COPD usually appears in people between the ages of 35 and 40, though Allan says increasingly, younger people are being diagnosed. "Before, it was an older person's disease.

Now we're seeing people in their early 30s with COPD." She says the incidence of COPD in Australia is starting to plateau in men, but it is rising in women.

"People don't take their lung health seriously," she says. "Women are very aware of their heart and their breasts, but not so much their lungs."

She says at a recent focus group she conducted in Melbourne with smokers and ex-smokers, all the participants said their health was fine, but none had climbed the flight of stairs to get to the meeting. "They had all started to adjust their lifestyles," she says. "COPD creeps up gradually without you even realising it."

The reasons for women's increased risk of lung disease have not yet been fully researched. According to NHS Direct in the UK, a gene that speeds up the growth of lung tumours is known to be more active in women.

The female hormone oestrogen is also known to affect the development of such tumours.

A conference on thoracic oncology in Switzerland earlier this year also found that women were more susceptible to tobacco carcinogens (cancer-causing substances), and a Spanish expert spoke of the growing awareness that smoking was, indeed, riskier for women.

It is sometimes said that more women have an "addictive" gene that makes it harder for them to give up smoking, and also that, while men tend to become physically addicted to nicotine, one of the most addictive substances, women tend to be more psychologically addicted.

Giving up

The good news is that though COPD is not curable, you can stop the progress of the condition if you catch it early, so it's important that it gets diagnosed. See your GP if you have any of the symptoms.

Allan says that simply by quitting smoking, at any age, and exercising, you can halt the decline of COPD. She says immunisation from disease and influenza is also important as any infection can easily spread to the lungs.

There is plenty of help out there for quitting smoking, from your local GP to Quit Now. There's always nicotine-replacement therapy too, which comes in the form of patches, tablets, gum or dummy cigarettes. Alternatively, you could try the complementary therapy approach with herbal cigarettes or hypnotherapy.

Drugs such as Champix and Zyban are also available, but on authority prescription only - your doctor has to call for approval as there are various conditions which need to be met, such as ensuring the patient is enrolled in a support program.

Where to get help

For the cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia, the Quitline provides advice and assistance to smokers who want to quit.

The Quitline can help smokers plan their attempt and give advice on different techniques. You can also access a free copy of the Quit Pack and download the free self-help book, the Quit Booklet. Call 13 18 48 or 13 78 48 or visit www.quitnow.info.au

The Australian Lung Foundation has launched a free online Lung Health Checklist this month to encourage early diagnosis of lung disease. Visit
www.lungfoundation.com.au

Why non-smoking women are healthier
1 Women who don't smoke are far less likely to develop lung, mouth, throat, pancreatic, bladder or cervical cancer.

2 Non-smokers' risk of coronary heart disease and strokes is much reduced.

3 Non-smokers' risk of these conditions when taking the contraceptive pill is also reduced.

4 Non-smokers reach the menopause two years later than smokers.

5 Non-smokers have fewer fertility problems and a lower risk of miscarriage and pregnancy complications than smokers.

6 Non-smokers' babies are bigger and healthier at birth, with a lower risk of stillbirth or neonatal death (when a baby dies in the first 28 days of its life).

7 Non-smokers tend to store body fat around their hips rather than their waists, lessening their risk of diabetes
and heart disease.

8 Non-smokers have lower cholesterol than smokers.

9 Non-smokers are less likely to lose their teeth, have gum disease, become incontinent or suffer from eye damage.

10 Non-smokers have stronger bones and a lower risk of osteoporosis.

Source; The Sunday Telegraph by Jill Eckersley

Research shows Cigarettes may contain Pig blood

2010-03-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

Cigarettes may contain blood - research
"Insight into world of cigarette manufacture"
Likely to raise concerns for Muslims, Jews

CIGARETTES may contain traces of pigs' blood, an Australian academic says with a warning that religious groups could find its undisclosed presence "very offensive".

University of Sydney Professor in Public Health Simon Chapman points to recent Dutch research which identified 185 different industrial uses of a pig - including the use of its haemoglobin in cigarette filters.

Prof Chapman said the research offered an insight into the otherwise secretive world of cigarette manufacture, and it was likely to raise concerns for devout Muslims and Jews.

Religious texts at the core of both of these faiths specifically ban the consumption of pork.

"I think that there would be some particularly devout groups who would find the idea that there were pig products in cigarettes to be very offensive," Prof Chapman said today.

"The Jewish community certainly takes these matters extremely seriously and the Islamic community certainly do as well, as would many vegetarians.

"It just puts into hard relief the problem that the tobacco industry is not required to declare the ingredients of cigarettes ... they say 'that's our business' and a trade secret."

The Dutch research found pig haemoglobin - a blood protein - was being used to make cigarette filters more effective at trapping harmful chemicals before they could enter a smoker's lungs.

Prof Chapman said while tobacco companies had moved voluntarily list the contents of their products on their websites, they also noted undisclosed "processing aids ... that are not significantly present in, and do not functionally affect, the finished product".

This catch-all term hid from public view an array of chemicals and other substances used in the making of tobacco products, he said.

At least one cigarette brand sold in Greece was confirmed as using pig haemoglobin in its processes, Prof Chapman said, and the status of smokes sold was unknown.

"If you're a smoker and you're of Islamic or Jewish faith then you'd probably would want to know and there is no way of finding out," Prof Chapman said.

The Sydney office of British American Tobacco Australia was contacted by AAP.

A spokeswoman said a comment would be provided although it was not immediately available.

References: AAP

Link

Research shows nicotine-free cigs can help quitters

2010-02-15T23:17:00.000-08:00

According to a 2007 Boynton Health Service study, 25 percent of students reported tobacco use in the past 30 days.

A recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center concluded that nicotine-free cigarettes are effective in hindering prolonged cigarette use among smokers.

The study, which was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, included 165 middle-aged men and women who had smoked for an average of 15 years. Researchers compared results among three groups that used nicotine-free cigarettes, low-nicotine cigarettes and nicotine lozenges.

According to a 2007 Boynton Health Service study, 25 percent of students reported tobacco use in the past 30 days. The study also stated that of those students, 38.9 percent reported making at least one attempt to quit over the past 12 months.

Participants in the study, which was published in the February edition of the journal Addiction, used the products for six weeks and were then administered lung and urine tests.

Of the 53 subjects given nicotine-free cigarettes, 19 remained smoke free, while only 7 of the 52 low-nicotine users were able to quit smoking following the trial period.

According to Dr. Dorothy Hatsukami, the study’s principal investigator, researchers discovered that nicotine-free cigarettes were as effective as nicotine lozenges at getting smokers to quit.

“What we found was the rates of cessation were pretty equivalent,” Hatsukami said.

Hatsukami noted that nicotine-free cigarettes are currently not available for sale in stores in the United States but can be found online.

While most cigarettes contain little more than a milligram of nicotine, nicotine-free cigarettes contain .05 milligrams and low-nicotine cigarettes contain .3 milligrams.

Hatsukami said the simple act of smoking seemed to be enough to suppress withdrawal symptoms among the subjects.

After a while, just inhaling smoke became rewarding, Hatsukami said, and low-nicotine cigarette users “had a tougher time.”

Bill Ryan, a sophomore physics major, said he has attempted to quit smoking several times.

“I’ve tried to use nicotine patches … but they didn’t really have an effect on me,” Ryan said.

After receiving federal stimulus funds, researchers will be conducting a similar experiment with the addition of a nicotine patch.

The experiment will include a group using both nicotine-free cigarettes with a patch versus two other groups using the products separately.

“We hypothesized that the patch and the nicotine-free cigarettes combined would be better for quitting smoking,” Hatsukami said.

PUBLISHED: 02/15/2010

BY RAGHAV MEHTA in MNDAILY

Passive smoking also bad for baby: study

2010-02-13T00:20:00.000-08:00

AAP

Inhaling other people's tobacco smoke can have a serious impact on a developing baby, scientists have confirmed, sounding a new alarm for mums-to-be.

Passive smoking during pregnancy carries many of the risks associated with active smoking, a major review of the scientific literature has found.

The Canadian study found women exposed to environmental tobacco smoke had "increased risks of (having) infants with lower birth weight, congenital anomalies, longer lengths, and trends towards smaller head circumferences".

Lobby group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia said it was further evidence of the impact of passive smoking, and of the need to continue to roll out legislated smoke-free spaces for people who don't have the bad habit.

"This new study shows babies are not just at risk if their mother smokes, but also if she's exposed to the smoke of others at work, home or public places," ASH chief executive Anne Jones said in a statement on Friday.

"Pregnant women are most at risk in licensed and entertainment venues, such as pubs, clubs and casinos and any other workplaces where legal requirements for safe, smoke-free workplaces are ignored."

Australia's major casinos continue to operate smoking-allowed "high-roller" rooms with government approval.

"Some governments, including NSW, are still granting exemptions that allow staff and patrons including pregnant women to be exposed to tobacco smoke on a regular basis," Mrs Jones said.

"Other high-risk public places include crowded outdoor dining and drinking areas, building entrances and transport waiting areas."

Canadian scientists pooled the results of 76 independent studies, conducted around the world, which had sought to probe different aspects of the impact of passive smoking on a developing child.

It totalled to a sample group of 48,500 women who had been exposed to environmental tobacco smoke during their pregnancy and a comparable group of almost 91,000 women who had not.

Smoking-related changes were evident across key indicators of the childrens' overall health, though duration of gestation and the number of pre-term deliveries were roughly the same.

Click here to read more

Smoking and U...Some Facts

2007-11-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

Smoking facts show that smoking kills. It is the leading cause of lung cancer today. Smoking all began with the import of tobacco from Europe to the New World, at the end of the 15th century. Smoking spread quickly,
and the habit became wildly popular. It was actually being promoted as the cool thing to do. They had posters everywhere, and everyone started to smoke. It wasn't until after World War II, that the dangers and other smoking facts were published. It wasn't until 1950, that evidence of a link between smoking and lung cancer became apparent. In 1965, the Surgeon General, added a warning labels to cigarettes. In that same year, the UK government banned all cigarette advertisements from being aired on television. In 1970, the United States of America banned these advertisements too. Shortly after, the cigarette advertisements were banned from the radio air waves also.

With all of the smoking facts available, why would someone still smoke? Personally speaking, it's been a hard habit to break. Nicotine is very addicting. For just these reasons, there have been several cancer patients that have filed lawsuits against the tobacco companies. Some are taking the smoking facts available and making the big companies pay. It's a hard fight to win, but there have been several lawsuits won.

What methods are available to aide in your stopping smoking? They have taken the smoking facts available 30 years ago, and they have tried to create products to help with the nicotine cravings. One of the most popular methods is the nicotine patch. These will help reduce the cravings that one has for cigarettes. Another option would be a pill, taken once a day. This can only be prescribed by a licensed physician. They also have nicotine gum, that is sold over the counter at any drug store. With all the smoking facts available, it is up to each individual smoker to make the decision to quit on their own.

References:
http://www.knownfacts.info/smoking-facts .php

Why is tobacco a public health priority?

2007-11-09T20:14:00.000-08:00

Why is tobacco a public health priority?

Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide (about 5 million deaths each year). If current smoking patterns continue, it will cause some 10 million deaths each year by 2020. Half the people that smoke today -that is about 650 million people- will eventually be killed by tobacco.

Tobacco is the fourth most common risk factor for disease worldwide. The economic costs of tobacco use are equally devastating. In addition to the high public health costs of treating tobacco-caused diseases, tobacco kills people at the height of their productivity, depriving families of breadwinners and nations of a healthy workforce. Tobacco users are also less productive while they are alive due to increased sickness. A 1994 report estimated that the use of tobacco resulted in an annual global net loss of US$ 200 thousand million, a third of this loss being in developing countries.

Tobacco and poverty are inextricably linked. Many studies have shown that in the poorest households in some low-income countries as much as 10% of total household expenditure is on tobacco. This means that these families have less money to spend on basic items such as food, education and health care. In addition to its direct health effects, tobacco leads to malnutrition, increased health care costs and premature death. It also contributes to a higher illiteracy rate, since money that could have been used for education is spent on tobacco instead. Tobacco's role in exacerbating poverty has been largely ignored by researchers in both fields.

Experience has shown that there are many cost-effective tobacco control measures that can be used in different settings and that can have a significant impact on tobacco consumption. The most cost-effective strategies are population-wide public policies, like bans on direct and indirect tobacco advertising, tobacco tax and price increases, smoke-free environments in all public and workplaces, and large clear graphic health messages on tobacco packaging. All these measures are discussed on the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Contact Information

Tobacco Free Initiative
WHO/Noncommunicable Disease and Mental Health
20 Avenue Appia
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Telephone: +41 22 791 2126
Fax: + 41 22 791 4832
E-mail: tfi@who.int

Meaning of Cigarette

2007-11-09T20:06:00.000-08:00

A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end & a fool at the other

Disease caused by smoking - 2

2007-11-09T19:59:00.001-08:00

Frances Downes who lost fingers
as a result of the same problem

Disease caused by smoking - 1

2007-11-09T19:58:00.001-08:00

Gangrene from peripheral vascular

Smoking & DiseaseS

2007-11-09T19:57:00.001-08:00

Smoking & Disease

Although everybody is aware of the health dangers of smoking, these dangers are frequently underestimated. The truth is shocking to most people.
Smoking as a cause of death and disability

* Smoking-related disease is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the world.
* Smoking-related disease will cause the death of one in every two life-long smokers.
* Smoking kills more than 19.000 Australians per year or around 50 people per day - this equates to one Australian every thirty minutes!!
* Smoking is the single largest cause of lung cancer and is an important factor in at least seven other cancers.
* Smoking causes around 82% of deaths from lung cancer.
* Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and several other causes of death. Smokers in their 30’s and 40’s are five times more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers.
* About half of all people killed by tobacco-related diseases die in middle age, with an average loss of about 20–25 years of life expectancy.
* Diseases associated with smoking can cause pain, distress and disability for many years before death.

Smoking and cancer

Cancer is the best-known risk associated with smoking. In Western Europe, North America and parts of Asia, it has been estimated that smoking accounts for approximately 30% of all cancer deaths.

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Smoking and the heart and blood vessels

Smoking increases the risk of death caused by arterial disease. The arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. During normal ageing the lining of the arteries becomes less flexible, fatty deposits are laid down in the walls of the artery and the diameter of the artery narrows. This process is known as atherosclerosis. This narrowing reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the rest of the body. This lack of oxygen can result in angina (crushing, cramp-like pain in the chest) when the arteries supplying the heart are affected. It can also lead to heart attack and stroke. Smoking can accelerate the process of atherosclerosis and therefore increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Smokers who die from smoking in their 30’s and 40’s die mainly from heart attacks. Risk of death from heart attacks in this age group of smokers is five times higher than that of non-smokers. It is estimated that tobacco is responsible for up to 80% of all heart attack deaths in smokers under 50 years of age.

Although death from stroke is less common than death from heart attack, risk is increased in people who smoke. In the USA, death from stroke and other diseases involving the blood vessels in the brain is increased in people aged 35–64 years who smoke.

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Diseases of the lung

There are other diseases of the lung that can be caused by smoking aside from cancer. Smoking also increases the risk of chronic obstructive lung disease and consequent infection of the airways. This disease is due to three processes:

* Persistent cough and phlegm production caused by production of excess mucus (commonly referred to as the ‘smoker’s cough’)
* Thickening and narrowing of the airways in the lung
* Emphysema (expansion and damage of the smallest air chambers in the lung) 3⁄4 smoking causes 90% of deaths from this condition.

Other diseases

Smoking may also increase the risk and possibly the severity of a variety of disorders other than those mentioned above. These include:

* Stomach ulcers
* Impotence
* Female infertility
* Tooth/gum disease

Women smokers are also at greater risk of hip fracture from osteoporosis than corresponding non-smokers.
Smoking and pregnancy

It is well known that smoking during pregnancy can damage the baby and even cause a miscarriage. Compared with non-smokers, smoking during pregnancy can cause:

* Reduced birth weight
* Increased risk of the baby dying just before or just after birth

4 Steps to Defeating the Urge to Smoke

2007-11-09T19:56:00.001-08:00

4 Steps to Defeating the Urge to Smoke

Memorize H.A.L.T.
Quitting tobacco is a process. It doesn't happen overnight, but compared to the amount of time most of us spent smoking, recovery can be very quick, indeed.

Years of smoking taught us to react to literally everything by lighting a cigarette. When we were happy, we'd celebrate by lighting up. When we got angry, smoking would calm us down, or so we thought. Tired? Smoke a cigarette to stay awake. Hungry? Feed yourself a smoke. This list goes on. Between the physical addiction to nicotine, and the mental associations that tie what seems like all of our activities to cigarettes, it can feel as though we're chained to the habit with links of steel.

Successful recovery from this addiction includes learning how to hear the message behind the urge to smoke and respond with more appropriate choices, such as a nap or a meal, for instance.

Have patience with yourself! This new skill takes some time to hone, but you'll get better at it. Eventually, cigarettes will fade as a trigger, and you'll make choices based on what you really need without thinking twice about it.

Memorize the meaning of this acronym: H.A.L.T.(Hungry,Angry,Lonely,Tired), and you'll have a powerful checklist to help you decode the urges you experience. Nine times out of ten, a craving can be traced to one of these four things:

Hungry

Have a snack or a meal. If you are hungry, food is the answer, not a cigarette! If you're concerned about weight gain, try drinking water to help control between meal eating. Have healthy snacks on hand also. Celery sticks, raw baby carrots and frozen grapes make good low calorie snacks.

Normal weight gain due to quitting is 5-8 pounds. Metabolism does slow a bit, so getting some daily exercise is a good idea. Take a look at Weight Gain FAQ's for answers to weight gain questions. Also read Maia's Six Month Milestone for a first-hand perspective on this issue from someone with six months smoke free under her belt.

The bottom line is this: don't be too hard on yourself. Try to eat in moderation, but until you get your quit program under solid control, don't fret if you gain a few pounds. Quitting tobacco should be in the top slot of your priority list for as long as it takes. Weight can always be lost later

Defeat Triggers with Knowledge
Angry

This is a big trigger for most of us. Find healthy outlets for your feelings of frustration - if at all possible, try to deal with the situation that is bothering you head on, and be done with it. Talk to friends and family about your feelings or write in your journal. The important thing is not to let anger simmer and get the upper hand. Reaching for a cigarette can seem like a quick fix, but it's always a false fix. Smoking will put you back to square one and you'll be disappointed in yourself as well.

We may not always be able to choose the events that happen around us, but we will always have the choice of how we let external situations affect us emotionally. This is important! If you're mad, you have the power to change that negative feeling in an instant. Instant Stress Busters provides some great tips to help you improve your mood.

Positive self-talk is another way to pull yourself out of the doldrums. Use affirmations to help you create the reality you want for yourself. We have a way of taking actions which are in line with our beliefs, so what you tell yourself matters - a lot. Make affirmations empowering and keep them in the here and now. Instead of saying: "I will be a healthy nonsmoker", say it this way: "I AM a healthy nonsmoker." Rather than saying "I have to quit smoking", tell yourself, "I get to quit smoking". Minor shifts in attitude can make a world of difference.

Education is also a powerful ally - the more you learn about the effects of tobacco, the less value cigarettes will have for you. Learn to hate the habit, and you'll have leverage to help you become smoke free and stay that way for good.

Lonely

Another word to describe this could be bored. Take a look at 101 Things to Do Instead of Smoking. This list comes from forum members who are all in the process of quitting themselves. Early on in cessation, distraction is a useful tool. If you're bored, try redirecting your attention, and see if it helps.

Depression also falls under this category, and can affect anyone. People quitting tobacco are especially susceptible, at least early on, because leaving cigarettes behind can feel like the loss of a friend. My Darling... was one quitter's way of saying goodbye to the habit that was killing her. Ten Healthy Actions to get Yourself out of a Funk is a great article from About Guide to Holistic Healing, Phylameana lila Deasy. If you feel yourself slipping into a depressed state, take action. Change your environment and it will usually change your attitude.

Tired

Fatigue can be a huge trigger. Instead of lighting up, give yourself time to slow down and relax a little, or even go to bed early if you need to. Sounds so simple, yet people often push themselves too far with all of the demands of life these days. Be aware. Don't let yourself get rundown. Protect your quit by protecting your health, both physically, and mentally.

It may feel like you'll never be free of cigarettes and thoughts of smoking will always plague you, but have some faith in yourself, and please be patient. We taught ourselves to smoke, and we can teach ourselves to forget it too. Give yourself time to retrain and get some practice at living your life smoke free. Soon enough, it will seem the most natural thing in the world. You'll get to the point where you'll wonder why you didn't quit sooner, because life without cigarettes has become so easy for you. In the meantime, remember H.A.L.T.

References: About.Com

0 Things To Avoid When You Quit Smoking : From Terry Martin

2007-11-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

The Proper Care and Feeding of A Healthy Quit Program

We all want this quit to be the quit - the one that lasts us a lifetime. We're looking for permanent freedom from nicotine addiction. Let's take a look at some of the things you should avoid when quitting tobacco. Build a strong quit program by educating yourself about the process!
Don't Be Impatient
The natural tendency is to quit smoking and expect to be done with it within a month. Smoking cessation doesn't work that way, however. When you quit smoking, you are letting go of a habit that you've had for many years, if not all of your adult life. It's only fair to expect that breaking all of the old associations that tied you to smoking will take some time. Sit back, relax, and put some time between you and that last smoke you had. Have patience with yourself, and with the process.

Don't Worry About Forever
It can be overwhelming to think you'll never smoke another cigarette, so don't.
Don't focus on forever, focus on the day you have in front of you. This is where your power is, and always will be. You can't do a thing about yesterday or tomorrow, but you sure can control today. If you find your mind wandering ahead or back, pull yourself out of it by focusing on the present.

Don't be Negative
It's been said that the average person has approximately 66,000 thoughts in a given day, and that two-thirds of them are negative. We can be so hard on ourselves! Don't beat yourself up for things you can't change, such as the years you spent smoking. And don't look at past quit attempts as failures. Learn from the experiences you've had and move on. Think about all of the positive changes you're creating in your life by quitting tobacco.

Successful long-term cessation always starts in the mind. Keep your eye on the prize and develop an attitude of gratitude. We have a way of believing what we tell ourselves over and over, so don't feed yourself negatives. Affirm the changes you are working to create in your life, and action will follow more easily.

Don't Neglect Yourself
This is a time when you should be taking extra care to make sure all of your needs are being met. The following guidelines will help you weather withdrawal more comfortably:

* Eat a well-balanced diet. Your body needs good quality fuel now more than ever as it works to flush the toxins out of your system.

* Get more rest. Chances are you'll feel extra fatigue for a few weeks. Don't fight it. Sleep more if you can.

* Drink water. Water is a great quit aid. It helps you detox more quickly, works well as a craving-buster, and by keeping yourself hydrated, you'll feel better overall.

* Exercise daily. Walking is a wonderful way to get exercise. It's a good, low impact aerobic workout, and it works well to keep cravings in check. Take a few 15-minute walks every day and see if it improves your spirits.

* Take a daily multi-vitamin. Your body can use the extra boost a vitamin provides for the duration of withdrawal from nicotine. Cigarettes deplete so many nutrients. A daily multi-vitamin may help you regain your energy more quickly.

Withdrawal isn't a pain-free experience, but it is survivable, and it is certainly short-lived. Always keep in mind the fact that withdrawal from nicotine is a temporary condition

Alcohol and tobacco go hand-in-hand...
Don't Drink
I probably don't need to tell you that alcohol and tobacco go hand-in-hand. New quitters are tender. Putting yourself into a social setting where you're tempted to drink too soon after quitting can be dangerous. Don't rush it. The time will come when you can have a drink without it triggering the urge to smoke, but don't expect that to be within the first month, or perhaps even the first few months.

We're all a little different in how we go through recovery, so defining a specific time frame isn't realistic. Just be aware of your own situation. If you have an engagement coming up that involves drinking and you feel nervous about that, it might be best to postpone until you're feeling stronger. If that's not an option, have a plan in place for how you'll manage the event smoke free

Will you be able to excuse yourself to step our for some fresh air? Can you request that people don't smoke around you?

However you decide to handle the situation, don't be shy about it. This is your life we're talking about here, and quitting tobacco has to be a top priority for awhile. Whatever you need to do to maintain your quit, you should do. Period! Remember, life won't always be this way - it will return to normal eventually.
Don't Overdo
We've talked about taking care not to neglect your physical health. Your emotional well-being is every bit as important. Stress can build if you're not careful, and before you know it, you're fighting a strong urge to smoke. Early cessation creates its own tension, let alone all of the other stresses that come and go in our busy daily lives. Make sure you don't let yourself get run down to the point of exhaustion, and that you take time every single day to destress with an activity that you enjoy. Whether it's time alone with a good book, a hot bath, or working on a hobby, make sure you incorporate some time just for you.

Fatigue and stress are big triggers to smoke, and it can be a quick jump to feeling that you need a cigarette to cope. Plan ahead of time how you'll keep yourself out of those danger zones.
Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously
You will have bad days. Expect and accept that. Such is cessation, and such is life. On those off days, make a vow to put yourself on ignore! Sometimes the best thing we can do is to get out of our own way. Our minds can make a small issue big, and make a drama out of every little thing if our moods are out of whack. When you have a bad day, use it as an excuse to pamper yourself excessively. Be good to yourself and put your thoughts on hold. Decide to wait and see what tomorrow will bring. Nine times out of ten you'll wake up feeling 100 percent better the next day. And when you do, you'll be grateful to still be smoke free.
Don't be Afraid to Ask for Help
Statistics show that people who quit with a healthy support system in place have a much higher rate of success over time. If you don't have people around you who are supportive, and even if you do, add some online support to your quit program. Our smoking cessation forum here at About.com offers some of the best support the Internet has to offer. There is nothing better than bending the ear of a person who knows exactly what you are going through. Getting help from people who have 'been there and done that' is worth its weight in gold.
Don't Believe That You Can Have "Just One"
There is no such thing. It doesn't work with Lays potato chips, and it sure doesn't work with cigarettes. Smoke one cigarette, and you run a very high risk of being back to a pack a day quicker than you can imagine. Don't fall for faulty thinking. A relapse always begins in the mind. If you recognize unhealthy thoughts of smoking cropping up, it's time to renew your resolve.

Don't forget. You quit smoking for a reason. Probably several. Don't let time and distance from the habit cloud your thinking. Keep your memory green by reviewing your reasons often. They will never be less true as time goes by, but they can feel less critical if you're not careful.

Cessation is a journey. Take it one simple day at a time, and you'll find that what started out as a difficult task soon enough becomes an enjoyable challenge.

References: About.Com

A Pic of a Smoker

2007-11-09T19:51:00.001-08:00

References:

http://www.who.int/tobacco/research/smokers_body/en/
(issued by World Health Organisation)

Some Thoughts Some Facts

2007-11-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

Smoking oriented subjects can show people the reality that how dangerous is smoking..................and what really this shit thing is made up of..........

One thousand Americans stop smoking every day - by dying.

~Author Unknown

***

What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.

Abraham H. Maslow

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“Oscar Wilde: 'Do you mind if I smoke?' Sarah Bernhardt: 'I don't care if you burn'”

Sarah Bernhardt quotes

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“Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life.”

Brooke Shields

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The best way to stop smoking is to just stop - no ifs, ands or butts.”

Edith Zittler

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“Everybody smokes! Models, actresses, everyone! Don't they realize that it's gross? I understand it's an addiction, but it still pains me to see my friends do it.”

Kirsten Dunst

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“Do you mind if I don't smoke ?”

Groucho Marx

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Andrew Weil, MD, quotes about Smoking:

In Europe, when tobacco was first introduced, it was immediately banned. In Turkey, if you got caught with tobacco, you had your nose slit. China and Russia imposed the death penalty for possession of tobacco!

***

Smoking is related to practically every terrible thing that can happen to you or to people around you.

Loni Anderson

What is Cigarette All About

2007-11-09T19:42:00.001-08:00

Just making you aware about what is Cigarette in a nutshell

Smoking And Sex

2007-11-09T19:41:00.000-08:00

Recent Canadian government research has shown that cigarette smoking not only impairs sexual ability, it actually causes shrinkage of the male sexual "equipment."

Wow! If that is true, we need to get the word out ASAP! Maybe the warning on the cigarette packs should be updated to reflect this new information. How about something like this:

* Warning!: These cigarettes are king size — how about you?

* Warning!: Smoking sections in restaurants aren't the only things getting smaller.

* Warning!: If you don't reduce your smoking, your smoking will reduce you.

* Warning!: Smoking may lead to ridicule on your honeymoon.

* Warning!: Smoke rises, but you may not.

* Warning!: Second-hand smoke can be harmful to children — That is… if you're capable of conceiving any.

* Warning!: Cigarettes get shorter the more you puff — so do you.

* Warning!: How can you enjoy a smoke afterwards, if there's no before?

* Warning!: The only thing left after a smoke is a dead stub.

* Warning!: Don't throw lit cigarettes in the urinal — you might not have the range to put them out.
SO FOLKS STOP SMOKING .....

20 Quick Tips to Help You Quit Smoking

2007-11-05T23:12:00.001-08:00

Believe in yourself. Believe that you can quit. Think about
some of the most difficult things you have done in your life and realize that you have the guts and determination to quit smoking. It's up to you.

After reading this list, sit down and write your own list,
customized to your personality and way of doing things. Create you own plan for quitting.

Write down why you want to quit (the benefits of quitting): live longer, feel better, for your family, save money, smell better, find a mate more easily, etc. You know what's bad about smoking and you know what you'll get by quitting. Put it on paper and read it daily.

Ask your family and friends to support your decision to quit. Ask them to be completely supportive and non-judgmental. Let them know ahead of time that you will probably be irritable and even irrational while you withdraw from your smoking habit.

Set a quit date. Decide what day you will extinguish your
cigarettes forever. Write it down. Plan for it. Prepare your
mind for the "first day of the rest of your life". You might
even hold a small ceremony when you smoke you last cigarette, or on the morning of the quit date.

Talk with your doctor about quitting. Support and guidance from a physician is a proven way to better your chances to quit.

Begin an exercise program. Exercise is simply incompatible
with smoking. Exercise relieves stress and helps your body
recover from years of damage from cigarettes. If necessary, start slow, with a short walk once or twice per day. Build up to 30 to 40 minutes of rigorous activity, 3 or 4 times per week. Consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.

Do some deep breathing each day for 3 to 5 minutes. Breathe in through your nose very slowly, hold the breath for a few seconds, and exhale very slowly through your mouth. Try doing your breathing with your eyes closed and go to step 9.

Visualize your way to becoming a non-smoker. While doing your deep breathing in step 8, you can close your eyes and begin to imagine yourself as a non-smoker. See yourself enjoying your exercise in step 7. See yourself turning down a cigarette that someone offers you. See yourself throwing all your cigarettes away, and winning a gold medal for doing so. Develop your own creative visualizations. Visualization works.

Cut back on cigarettes gradually (if you cut back gradually, be sure to set a quit date on which you WILL quit). Ways to cut back gradually include: plan how many cigarettes you will smoke each day until your quit date, making the number you smoke smaller each day; buy only one pack at a time; change brands so you don't enjoy smoking as much; give your cigarettes to someone else, so that you have to ask for them each time you want to smoke.

Quit smoking "cold turkey". Many smokers find that the only way they can truly quit once and for all is to just quit abruptly without trying to slowly taper off. Find the method that works best for you: gradually quitting or cold turkey. If one way doesn't work do the other.

Find another smoker who is trying to quit, and help each
other with positive words and by lending an ear when quitting becomes difficult. Visit this Bulletin Board and this Chat Room to find a "quit buddy."

Have your teeth cleaned. Enjoy the way your teeth look and feel and plan to keep them that way.

After you quit, plan to celebrate the milestones in your
journey to becoming a non-smoker. After two weeks of being smoke-free, see a movie. After a month, go to a fancy restaurant (be sure to sit in the non-smoking section). After three months, go for a long weekend to a favorite get-away. After six months, buy yourself something frivolous. After a year, have a party for yourself. Invite your family and friends to your "birthday" party and celebrate your new chance at a long, healthy life.

Drink lots of water. Water is good for you anyway, and most people don't get enough. It will help flush the nicotine and other chemicals out of your body, plus it can help reduce cravings by fulfilling the "oral desires" that you may have.

Learn what triggers your desire for a cigarette, such as
stress, the end of a meal, arrival at work, entering a bar, etc. Avoid these triggers or if that's impossible, plan alternative ways to deal with the triggers.

Find something to hold in your hand and mouth, to replace
cigarettes. Consider drinking straws or you might try an artificial cigarette called E-Z Quit found here:
http://www.quitsmoking.com/ezquit.htm

Write yourself an inspirational song or poem about quitting, cigarettes, and what it means to you to quit. Read it daily.

Keep a picture of your family or someone very important to you with you at all times. On a piece of paper, write the words "I'm quitting for myself and for you (or "them")". Tape your written message to the picture. Whenever you have the urge to smoke, look at the picture and read the message.

Whenever you have a craving for a cigarette, instead of
lighting up, write down your feelings or whatever is on your mind. Keep this "journal" with you at all times.

Good luck in your efforts to quit smoking. It's worth it!