Are You Still Using Tobacco?
There is no greater public risk to mankind than the use of tobacco products. In my Family Practice I am obligated to educate my patients about the consequences of tobacco use and encourage them to quit, but ultimately the decision is up to them.
Smoking is the cause of one in five deaths in the United States. Because smoking is an acquired behavior, it is the most preventable cause of premature death in our society. That is a powerful message, yet people of all ages continue to light up. I can’t say this strongly enough: THERE IS NO GREATER LIFYSTYLE CHANGE THAT WILL YEILD BETTER HEALTH AND A BETTER OF QUALITY OF LIFE THAN GIVING UP TOBACCO PRODUCTS!
If you do the math, quitting smoking is a great way to save money and the health benefits you will gain are far greater than the thousands of dollars you will save over a lifetime. There is conclusive evidence that smoking accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths of the lung, larynx, mouth, throat, bladder, esophagus, pancreas, cervix, kidney, stomach, and some leukemias. Smoking is also a major cause of heart disease, aneurysms, bronchitis, emphysema, and stroke, and it makes pneumonia and asthma worse. If you smoke long enough you are almost guaranteed to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive illness that permanently damages the lungs. COPD alone has accounted for over one million working-age people to become too sick to work and costs billions of dollars a year in medical bills and lost productivity. And if you are a man, there is yet another good reason to quit. In a recent study of 8,000+ men, researchers reported that smoking increased the likelihood of impotence by 27 percent and concluded it was “significantly associated with erectile dysfunction.” They also discovered that the more a man smoked, the more likely it was that he would suffer from erectile dysfunction. Enough said about that… for now.
As a reformed smoker, I know first-hand the addictive nature nicotine has. Some compare nicotine addition to be as strong as addiction to cocaine or heroin. The pleasurable effects of smoking are considerable, and they affect the mind as well as the body. One of the main reasons that people become addicted to nicotine is because it activates the pleasure center of their brain. The average smoker takes about 10 puffs per cigarette, and nicotine levels in the brain peak within 10 seconds of inhaling. Since the satisfaction gained from smoking lasts only a few minutes, smokers soon crave another cigarette so it is easy to see how the addiction cycle is quickly developed.
When you smoke, others around you are affected by your secondhand smoke, including children and pregnant women. Nicotine exposure from secondhand smoke can affect a baby’s heart, lungs, digestive system and even central nervous system. Infants and toddlers exposed to secondhand smoke have more frequent lower respiratory tract problems, such as coughs, pneumonia, bronchitis and croup. Secondhand smoke contains the same 4,000 chemicals that are inhaled by a smoker, including arsenic, carbon monoxide, methane and formaldehyde. About 50 of these chemicals are associated with, or are known to cause cancer.
What happens to your body if you quit smoking right now?
* In 20 minutes: Your blood pressure and heart rate will return to normal.
* In 8 hours: The carbon monoxide levels in your blood will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to a normal level.
* In 48 hours: Your chance of having a heart attack will begin its decline. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
* In 72 hours: Your bronchial tubes will relax, and your over-all energy level will rise.
* In 3-9 months: Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%
* In 1 year: Your risk of a heart attack will now have dropped in half.
* In 5 years: Your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
*In 10 years: Your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
* In 15 years: Your risk of a heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker
By now I hope you’re convinced that you need to stop smoking. The good news is there are many ways to go about it. You could try the “cold turkey” method where you just stop smoking abruptly while using relying on your willpower and self-determination. Here are some recommended tips that may help:
• Understand that withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, tiredness and more, may be fairly intense, but they will lessen after just a few days.
• Drink lots of water to help your body flush itself out quickly.
• Keep a straw or other cigarette substitute handy to keep your hands and mouth busy.
• When cravings hit, close your eyes and count down from 10 to 0, very slowly. Breathe deeply with each count.
• Call a friend when you feel like reaching for a smoke. Divert your attention.
• Take a quick walk, even if it is just to the bathroom or mailbox.
Many insurance plans will now cover formal smoking cessation classes or sessions with a healthcare provider. There are patches, medications, and alternative methods such as hypnosis and acupuncture. The Office of the Surgeon General’s website for Tobacco Cessation is an excellent source of information: www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/
I wish you the best in your efforts for you to quit the use of tobacco products. With help from your healthcare provider you can give up the use of tobacco.
