Tobacco 101

What is Tobacco Tobacco is a plant grown for its leaves, which are smoked, chewed, or stiffed for a variety of effects. It is considered an addictive substance because it contains the chemical nicotine. Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and compounds. Hundreds are toxic and at least 70 cause cancer. Tobacco smoke itself is a known human carcinogen.

Chemicals in Cigarettes

Cancer-Causing Chemicals Formaldehyde: Used to embalm dead bodies Benzene: Found in gasoline Polonium 210: Radioactive and very toxic Vinyl chloride: Used to make pipes Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults worldwide.

Toxic Metals Chromium: Used to make steel Arsenic: Used in pesticides Lead: Once used in paint Cadmium: Used to make batteries

Poisonous Gases Carbon monoxide: Found in car exhausts Hydrogen cyanide: Used in chemical weapons Ammonia: Used in household cleaners Butane: Used in lighter fluid Toluene: Found in paint thinners

Nicotine More addictive than cocaine and heroine Toxic if ingested in high doses

Carbon Monoxide The compound in car exhaust that causes death Causes shortness of breath Reduces the amount of oxygen blood can carry Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating.

Tar Sticky residue that stains the fingers, teeth and lungs. Contains benzopyrene - one of the deadliest cancer causing agents known. Tar exposes the user to an increased risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders.

Street Names for Tobacco Cigarettes: Smokes, Cigs, Butts. Smokeless Tobacco: Chew, Dip, Spit Tobacco, Snuff

Short-Term Effects Increase in blood pressure Increase in heart rate Increase the flow of blood from the heart Increase the effect of irritants on any standing allergies Increase in acid in the stomach

Long-Term Effects Chronic lung disease Coronary heart disease Stroke Cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth, and bladder

Smokeless Tobacco Smokeless tobacco, also called spit tobacco, chew, chaw, and dip, come in two forms: snuff and chewing tobacco Snuff is a fine grain tobacco that often comes in teabag- like pouches that users pinch or dip between their lower lip and gum. Chewing tobacco comes in shredded, twisted, or bricked tobacco leaves that users put between their cheek and gum.

Consequences of Smokeless Tobacco Cracking and bleeding lips and gums Receding gums Increase heart rate, blood pressure Cancer

What is Secondhand Smoke Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoke, is a mixture of 2 forms of smoke from burning tobacco products: Sidestream smoke: smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar Mainstream smoke: smoke that is exhaled by a smoker

Consequences of Secondhand Smoke Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Heart disease Lung cancer Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Low birth weight Frequent and more severe asthma attack Bronchitis and pneumonia Increased risk for ear infections Increased risk of cervical cancer

Children & Secondhand Smoke 38% of children aged 2 months to 5 years are exposed to secondhand smoke in the home Up to 2,000,000 ear infections each year Nearly 530,000 doctor visits for asthma Up to 436,000 episodes of bronchitis in children under five

Pregnancy & Secondhand Smoke Miscarriage Preterm Delivery Prematurity Low birth weight Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Benefits of Quitting Within 20 Minutes:  Blood pressure drops to normal  Pulse rate returns to normal  Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal Within 8 Hours:  Carbon Monoxide level in blood drops to normal  Oxygen level in blood increases to normal  Smoker’s breath disappears Within 24 Hours:  Your chance of a heart attack decreases

Benefits of Quitting Within 48 Hours:  Nerve endings start to re-grow  Your ability to smell and taste is enhanced Within 72 Hours:  Bronchial tubes relax making it easier to breathe  Lung capacity increases making it easier to do physical activities Within 2 Weeks:  Circulation improves  Walking becomes easier

Benefits of Quitting Within 1-9 Months:  Coughing, sinus, congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease  Energy level increases Within 1 Year:  Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker Within 2 Years:  Heart attack risk drops to near normal Within 5 Years  Stroke risk is reduced

Benefits of Quitting Within 10 Years:  Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a person who does not smoke  The pre-cancerous cells are replaced Within 15 Years:  Risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a person who has never smoked Quitting at any age and at any time is beneficial. It's never too late to quit, but the sooner the better. New strategies for cessation, including nicotine replacement and non-nicotine medications, can make it easier.

Resources to Quit Mississippi Tobacco Quitline QUIT-NOW ACT Center

Sources American Heart Association Centers for Disease Control and Prevention American Lung Association The New York Times Surgeon General’s Report Mississippi State Department of Health