Saying NO! To Tobacco Tobacco use is the use of any nicotine- containing tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco. Nicotine is a colorless, odorless drug in tobacco that stimulates the nervous system and is highly addictive. Nicotine dulls the taste buds, constricts the blood vessels, and increases heart rate and blood pressure. Nicotine produces a tolerance- over time, more and more is needed to produce the desired effect.

Saying NO! To Tobacco (cont.) Physical dependence develops when the body becomes used to the effects nicotine produces. Withdrawal symptoms include nervousness, insomnia, and headaches. Psychological dependence develops when people feel the need to smoke at certain times or for certain reasons. Psychological dependence is hard to break. People have to change their daily routines and find substitutes for smoking.

Saying NO! To Tobacco WARNING: The probability of becoming addicted to nicotine after one exposure is higher than for other addictive substances including heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. The Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health, 1994.

Saying NO! To Tobacco FACT: The majority of smokers wish they had never started! FACT: Most smokers who try to quit resume regular smoking within one year. FACT: 3 out of 4 teens who smoke have made at least one serious, yet unsuccessful, effort to quit. Centers for Disease Control, 1992.

Smoking & The CV System Smoking places a major strain on the CV system, raising HR as much as 20 beats/minute. This places extra wear and tear on the heart. Cigarettes contain carbon monoxide (a colorless, odorless poisonous gas), which replaces oxygen in the bloodstream. This also has the effect of making the heart work extra hard. The combination of nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke is responsible for the large number of smokers that develop CV disease.

Smoking and the CV System (cont.) Studies show that smoking also has harmful effects on blood vessels. Smoking speeds the development of fat deposits inside the arteries. Fat deposits reduce the space in the artery through which blood can flow. The risk of developing blood clots increases. A stroke is a condition caused by a blocked or broken blood vessel in the brain. When someone has a stroke, body parts can become paralyzed. Death can result.

Smoking & The Respiratory System When a person smokes, tar lines the lungs and the air passages. Tar is a thick, sticky black fluid that is produced when tobacco burns. There are over 200 harmful chemicals in tar. When tar is in the lungs, oxygen cannot pass easily to the blood. As a result, breathing becomes more difficult. Smokers become short of breath and often find it difficult to participate in physical activities.

Smoking & The Respiratory System (cont.) Tobacco smoke harms the cilia in the nose, throat, and bronchial tubes. Cilia are hair- like structures in the respiratory tract that trap dust and other particles and remove them. When a person smokes, the cilia become paralyzed, and harmful substances can enter the air passages. This renders the person more susceptible to respiratory infections, such as colds.

Smoking-Related Conditions & Diseases Smoking causes the air passages in the lungs to narrow, making breathing difficult, and may lead to an asthma attack. Asthma is a condition in which bronchial tubes constrict, making breathing difficult. A person with asthma who smokes puts himself/herself at serious risk. If an asthma attack occurs, the person might not be able to get enough air into the lungs and die as a result.

Smoking-Related Conditions & Diseases (cont.) Smoking increases the risk of cancer. Cancer is a group of diseases in which there is uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal cells in the body. Smoking increases the likelihood of cancer of the mouth, throat, lungs, and breast. Unlike other cancers, lung cancer is rarely treated successfully. Smoking is the greatest cause of lung cancer- if people did not smoke, the number of cases of lung cancer would be greatly reduced.

Smoking-Related Conditions & Diseases (cont.) Smoking also causes emphysema, a disease in which lung tissue loses its elasticity, making it difficult for the lungs to function. As a result, it is difficult for oxygen to be absorbed into the bloodstream from the lungs. Carbon dioxide builds up in the body because it cannot be expelled into the lungs from the bloodstream.

Smoking-Related Conditions & Diseases (cont.) A person with emphysema must breathe more quickly to get enough oxygen into the bloodstream. Some people with emphysema cannot get out of bed. They are unable to walk across the room without becoming short of breath. Other people with emphysema must drag around a portable oxygen tank. Even if a person with emphysema quits smoking, the damage is already done and cannot be reversed.

Smoking-Related Conditions & Diseases (cont.) Smoking also causes chronic bronchitis, a disease in which too much mucous lines the bronchial tubes. A person must cough frequently to help remove the mucous. The constant coughing irritates the cilia and bronchial tubes. Coughing cannot remove all the harmful matter from the air passages. Not removing this matter increases the risk of lung infections.

Smoking And Your Appearance Smoking causes the teeth to become yellow. It heightens the chance of mouth and gum disease. People who smoke look older more quickly. Their skin wrinkles and they appear less fit than other people who are the same age. Smoking gives you bad breath and smelly clothes. These days, most people consider people who smoke “outcasts”.

Secondhand Smoke Secondhand smoke is exhaled smoke and sidestream smoke. Sidestream smoke is the smoke that enters the air from the lit end of the cigarette or cigar. Sidestream smoke is more dangerous than actually smoking a cigarette because the sidestream smoke is not filtered. Sidestream smoke is a carcinogen, a substance that causes cancer.

Smokeless Tobacco There are two types of smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco and snuff. Chewing tobacco is made from chopped tobacco leaves, while snuff is made from powdered tobacco leaves and stems. Both are placed between the cheek and gums. Neither is a healthy alternative to smoking! They cause tooth decay along with cancers of the mouth and/or throat.

Tobacco Cessation Programs The best advice regarding tobacco use is do not start! However, if you make a mistake and get hooked, try following these steps: Set a date to quit. Consult a qualified medical professional who can suggest a smoking cessation program, and may advise the use of either a low-dose nicotine patch or nicotine gum. T

Smoking Cessation (cont.) Consider situations that may trigger you to smoke. Change your routine to avoid these situations. Exercise vigorously to release endorphins. Form a support network of friends/relatives that will be there for you when you need them. Fill a jar with cigarette butts, add water, and shake. Any time you want a cigarette, open up the jar and smell it.

Smoking Cessation (cont.) Tobacco cessation programs may be offered by: The American Cancer Society The American Lung Association The American Heart Association County Health Department Community providers, such as hospitals, community centers, and churches.