What every person should know about Tobacco!

What do you know about Smoking? The nicotine in cigarettes causes cancer? The tar in cigarettes causes addiction? Cigarette smoking can lead to heart disease? Over 1,000 people die each day from smoking? It is safe to smoke filter cigarettes? Being in a smoked filled room for one hour is the same as smoking a cigarette? A women who smokes while pregnant can harm the fetus? Cigarettes kill more people each year than all the deaths due to AIDS, heroin, cocaine, murder, and alcohol combined. False True False

Why do people start Smoking? Peer Pressure Stress/Problems Advertising What do people keep Smoking? Addiction- Nicotine is a powerful addictive drug!

FYI-What is Nicotine? FYI-Is Nicotine Addictive? Nicotine belongs to a group of chemicals known as alkaloids. Since plants containing alkaloids are usually poisonous, they produce a bitter taste when eaten in order to warn animals (and humans) of their dangerous effects. In 1988 the Surgeon General asserted that nicotine is more addictive than heroin. 35% of young people who are just “experimenting” with tobacco end up being addicted by the time they are 20.

Types of Smoke…. Sidestream Smoke- comes from the burning tip of a cigarette Mainstream Smoke- is inhaled and exhaled by the smoker.

What’s in a Cigarette? Over 4,000 Chemicals that go right into your lungs. Tar- well known carcinogen (causes CANCER!!!!) And several other poisonous chemicals

Acetone: colorless, flammable liquid used as a solvent Ammonia: Used in fertilizers, explosives, and plastics Arsenic: Poisonous to all life, plants, and animals. Benzene : Flammable poison prohibited by law in products like paint thinner. Carbon Monoxide: Drives oxygen from the red blood cells. Stays in blood for up to 6 hours after exposure to smoke has stopped. Cyanide: A poisonous gas, deadly to all living things. Formaldehyde: Used to preserve and embalm dead tissue. Naphthalene: Used in fungicide and solvents. Toluene: Toxic. Used as a solvent. Zinc: Used in electric batteries and paint.

How Does Smoking Affect your Body? A. The Lungs - Kills Cilia -Causes Bronchitis, Emphysema and Cancer B. The Heart - Speed up heart rate -Triggers blood clots -Puts carbon dioxide into your blood C. Other Effects -Shuts down circulation -Causes Wrinkles -Increases the risk of ulcers -Causes Infertility -Weakens Immune System -Causes Bad Breath -Yellow teeth

Smoking and Diseases Causes Cancer Causes Heart Disease Causes Strokes Causes Emphysema

Smoking Related Illnesses

Mortality Statistics

One thousand Americans stop smoking every day – by dying. ~Author Unknown

Smoking Stats #1 Preventable Cause of Death 500,000 people die every year from smoking 90% of lung cancer deaths are due to smoking 50,000 people die every year from 2 nd hand smoke

Behavior Linked Research has shown that teen tobacco users are more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs than are non-users. Cigarette smokers are also more likely to get into fights, carry weapons, attempt suicide, suffer from mental health problems such as depression, and engage in high-risk sexual behaviors.

Rick Bender was a Major League baseball player who lost half of his face due to chewing tobacco. Consequences of Smoking

Consequences of Smoking

I’m young. This stuff won’t happen to me for a long time. You may think that you are young and these problems only occur when you get old, but it all starts when you start smoking. You are probably already feeling the effects. Teen smokers have a harder time competing in sports because of shortness of breath, decreased circulation, and rapid heart rate. Smokers are more likely to miss a “big game” because they get sick more often with colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Smoking Cessation Don’t start. 5 D’s –Delay: The craving will eventually go away. –Deep breath: Take a few calming deep breaths. –Drink water: It will help flush out the chemicals. –Do something else: Find a new, healthy habit. –Discuss: Talk about your thoughts and feelings.

Strategies to help you quit Get support: ask your parents or friends. If they smoke and are not interested then find a support group in person or online. Set a quit date: Mark it on your calendar and tell your friends and family. Throw away your cigarettes and chew- ALL of it. Get rid of the ashtrays and lighters too. Wash all your clothes. Get rid of the cigarette smell. Think about triggers: –Avoid those situations –Substitute something else for cigarettes

More strategies to help you quit Keep yourself busy If you are having trouble with the strategies you may need to talk to a doctor who can give you some suggestions. Don’t give up! Reward yourself. Use the money that you would have used to buy cigarettes to buy yourself something special.

FYI-Why Quit Smoking? With in 20 minutes- your heart rate drops back to normal Within 8 Hours- carbon monoxide levels in your blood drop back to normal With in 12 hours- chances of having a heart attack go down, taste and smell improve With in 2-3 Weeks-breathing becomes easier

Why Quit Smoking? With in 9 months- coughing and shortness of breath decrease Within 1 year- risk of smoking related heart attack is cut in half With in 5 years- risk of having a stroke is cut in half With 10 years- chances of lung cancer is cut in half. All other risks of smoking related cancers is decreased.

Why Quit Smoking? 15 years after quitting- Your risk of heart disease is back to that of a non-smoker’s! Kick the habit before it’s too late!