SMOKING AND ITS HEALTH RISKS

Contents of Cigarette Smoke

• More than 4000 substances in cigarette smoke. Mainly,

• Carcinogens- Tar

• Co-carcinogens-Phenols

• Addicting agent-Nicotine

• Other-Carbonmonoxide

Passive Smoking

• Also known as second hand smoking, involuntary smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

• Occurs when smoke from one person's burning tobacco product is inhaled by others.

• Passive smoking increases risk of cancers, CAD, respiratory illnesses and death.

Pharmacology of Smoke

• Nicotine is the main toxic substance producing acute effects as well as dependence.

• Inhalation of nicotine produces:

• Increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

• Increase in heart rate.

• Inhalation of carbon monoxide leads to CNS impairment.

• Carcinogens increase the occurrence of several cancers.

• Smoking impairs ciliary movement in respiratory tract, inhibits function of alveolar macrophages and produces hyperplasia and hypertrophy of mucus secreting glands.

Health Effects of Chronic Smoking

• Cancers- 1- Lung 2- Oral cavity 3- Larynx 4- Oesophagus 5- Stomach 6- Urinary bladder 7- Kidney

8- Colon 9- Cervix

• Coronary artery disease

• Strokes

• Chronic obstructive lung disease

• Aortic aneurysm

• Peripheral vascular disease

• Periodontitis

• Infertility

 

• All forms of tobacco smoking including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, bidis and hookahs can produce ill health effects and addiction.

• Cigar and pipe smokers tend to inhale less smoke than cigarette smokers, so their risk of lung cancer is lower but is still several times higher than the risk for non-smokers.

• Occurrence of carcinoma of oral cavity, larynx and oesophagus is same with cigar, pipe and cigarette.

• There is no evidence that "low-tar" cigarettes produce less ill-effect in humans.

 

Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease

• Major risk factors for CAD include smoking, hypertension and hypercholesterolaernia. Presence of all three risk factors increases risk of CAD eight folds.

• Deaths due to CAD are 60% higher in smokers compared to non-smokers.

• People under 40 are five times more likely to have a heart attack if they smoke.

• Sudden death is two to four times more common in smokers.

• Females who smoke are also predisposed to CAD.

• Cerebrovascular accidents more common in smokers.

• Peripheral vascular diseases more common in smokers.

Smoking and Respiratory Diseases

• Abnormalities in pulmonary function tests include elastic recoil and small airway functions.

• Chronic obstructive lung disease is about 10-20 times greater in smokers.

• Male smokers have 4-25-folds higher mortality due to chronic obstructive lung disease than non-smokers.

• Increased incidence of influenza infection in smokers.

• Cancers of larynx and lung common in smokers.

Smoking and Gastrointestinal Tract

• Smoking produces discolouration of teeth, and reduced taste and smell.

• Peptic ulcers (both gastric and duodenal) are more common. Also impairs ulcer healing.

• Increased prevalence of cancers of oral cavity, oesophagus, stomach, colon and pancreas.

Smoking and Pregnancy

• Smoking reduces chances of conception.

• Smoking during pregnancy produces intrauterine growth retardation leading to reduced weight of newborn.

• Rates of spontaneous abortion, intrauterine foetal death and sudden infant death higher in smokers.

 

Nicotine Withdrawal

• Withdrawal symptoms in chronic users begin to appear approximately 30 minutes after every dose.

• Features include confusion, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, depression, feelings of frustration and anger, nightmares, poor concentration, headache and increased appetite.

Smoking Cessation

• Nicotine replacement therapy.

• Use of nicotine patches, nicotine gums, lozenges and nasal sprays.

• Method of gum use:

-Chew slowly until a strong taste or tingling sensation felt.

-Stop chewing and place the gum between cheek and gums.

-Chew again when intensity of tingling decreases.

-Repeat this cycle of "park and chew" for about 30 minutes, or until tingling sensation subsides.

 

 

 

TREATMENT AT DR. SOHAN LAL CLINIC

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