SUBSTANCE ABUSE: Tobacco’s Risks and Quitting Ms. Mai Lawndale High School

Risks for Tobacco Users Smoking is the major cause of premature, preventable deaths Smoking causes heart disease, cancer, and chronic lung disease Smokeless tobacco users have an even higher rate of some types of cancers than smokers do

Heart Disease Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of heart disease because the arteries are blocked by fatty material This blockage eventually cuts off the blood supply to the heart leading to a heart attack Smoking damages the arteries, raises blood cholesterol and pressure, and reduces oxygen in the blood

Cancer Tobacco use is the leading cause of deaths due to cancer because of the carcinogens in tobacco Lung Cancer – shortness of breath and coughing up mucus Oral Cancer – mouth, tongue, and lips have sores (leukoplakia) Throat Cancer – larynx gets infected (vocal chords are removed)

Chronic Lung Disease Cigarette smoking is the major cause of chronic lung disease in the US (bronchitis and emphysema) Bronchitis – inflammation of the membrane that lines the air passages Emphysema – lungs are destroyed and airs sacs are lost (difficulty breathing because lungs cannot inflate)

Other Health Problems Smoking can also lead to a stroke (disruption in blood supply to the brain) Smoking can trigger allergies and swelling of sinuses (common cold) Smokers have weaker lungs and can get diseases (influenza and pneumonia) Smoking can also cause diseases in the gums and teeth, and bad breath

Risks for Nonsmokers Smokers are not the only people who suffer negative effects from smoking Passive smoking means breathing air that has been contaminated with tobacco smoke Because of the harmful side effects, many states have passed laws that limit or prohibit smoking in public areas

Passive Smoking Passive smokers breathe in 2 types of smoke: mainstream and sidestream 1. Mainstream Smoke – smoke inhaled and exhaled by a smoker 2. Sidestream Smoke – smoke from the burning end of a cigarette Sidestream is more harmful than mainstream because it contains more tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide

Pregnancy and Smoking The fetus of a pregnant woman who smokes is a passive smoker Nicotine and carbon monoxide pass through a mother’s bloodstream to a fetus’s bloodstream through the placenta Pregnant smokers have higher risk of miscarriages, stillbirths, and premature births, birth defects, and low birth weight

Some Tobacco Statistics There are over 50 million smokers and over 12 million smoke-less tobacco users in the United States Every year smoking-related diseases kill more Americans than cocaine, heroine, alcohol abuse, auto accidents, homicides, and suicides combined Every year, an estimated 1 million people start smoking (3,000 per day) Adolescent males are the fastest growing group of smokers

Quitting Tobacco Use Every year, 1 million people in the US stop using tobacco For most, quitting is not easy because of the nicotine addiction Regardless of the difficulty, the benefits are well worth the efforts

The Health Benefits of Quitting When someone stops using tobacco, their body immediately begins to clean itself During the first 24 hours, the levels of nicotine and carbon monoxide in the blood drop, the heart rate decreases, blood pressure lowers, and more oxygen flows in the blood

The Health Benefits of Quitting During the next week or so, chronic cough begins to clear up and breathing is easier In time, the risks of heart disease, chronic lung disease, lung cancer, oral cancer, and other cancers are decreased After two years, the risks of heart and lung disease are about the same as those who never smoked

Other Benefits of Quitting People who quit soon discover that food tastes better, smell improves, and the bad taste in their mouth disappears Quitters sleep better, teeth and finger stains fade, breath smells fresher, skin looks healthier, and end up saving a lot of money They also feel a sense of relief to be finally free of tobacco

What To Expect Tobacco users typically experience certain withdrawal symptoms Two or three days after quitting, most of he nicotine in the body is gone so it is no longer a physical dependence, but a psychological one

Common Withdrawal Symptoms Duration Cause Craving for tobacco first 2 or 3 days Addiction to nicotine Dizziness 1 or 2 days More O2 in blood Coughing, Dry Throat A few days Body getting rid of mucous from cough Trouble sleeping 1 week Nicotine affects sleep patterns Irritability 2 to 4 weeks Body no longer being stimulated by nicotine Hunger Several weeks Nicotine craving confused with hunger

How To Quit On Your Own There is no right or best way to quit Many people quit suddenly (cold turkey), while other do it gradually Most people who have quit and stayed off tobacco had to try several different times before they were successful

How To Quit with a Group In the past 20 years, many group programs have become available to help people stop using tobacco These programs provide information, supportive materials, and structured quitting plans These group programs are sponsored by hospitals, clinics, and health organizations and charge a small fee

How To Quit with Nicotine Substitutes A nicotine substitute is a manufactured form of nicotine that is used as a temporary replacement for the nicotine in tobacco (gum and patch) The nicotine in these products is just as addictive, but the psychological dependence of lighting up or exhaling smoke is not there

Quitting and Weight Gain Many people worry that they will gain weight if they quit smoking Weight gain actually depend upon eating and exercise habits, not the sudden lack of nicotine in your body

Techniques for Quitting Tobacco Set a quit date Keep track of tobacco use List your own reasons of quitting Tell other people for support Quit one day at a time (focus on today, don’t worry about tomorrow) Substitute with other activities