Posts Tagged cigarette abuse

Illnesses Linked to Smoking

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Tobacco Abuse on March 22nd, 2010

No matter how we look at it, smoking is dangerous. Smokers suffer from increased risk of developing certain illnesses, some of which we have outlined below.

Heart Diseases

smokingSmoking significantly increases the risk of coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and stroke. Nicotine is addictive. It allows a certain boost of energy, giving a rush of adrenaline and providing a pleasant feeling. This chemical reaction damages the heart as adrenaline speeds up the heart and tightens the arteries up. This increases the blood pressure and strains the heart. Smoking has a damaging effect to the arteries, blood vessels and the heart itself. This is why smokers are more likely to suffer and die from heart-related diseases.

Lung Cancer

The rise of lung cancer as one of the most common causes of death can be directly attributed to cigarette smoking. Smoking cigarettes is responsible for over 90% of all lung cancer-related deaths. Cigarette smoke introduces about 40 toxic carcinogens to the body. The more a person smokes cigarettes, the more likely he or she is to have lung cancer.

Emphysema

Another one of the most common diseases that come with smoking is emphysema. It is a critical lung disease related with the degradation of the tiny air sacs located in the lungs due to exposure to tobacco smoke.

Other diseases linked to smoking are:

•    Bronchitis
•    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease
•    Liver cancer
•    Prostate cancer
•    Erectile dysfunction in men
•    Stomach cancer
•    Bladder and kidney cance
•    Abdominal aortic aneurysm
•    Acute myeloid leukemia
•    Cataracts
•    Cervical cancer
•    Kidney cancer
•    Pancreatic cance
•    Periodontitis
•    Pneumonia

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The Reality of Teenage Smoking Addiction

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Tobacco Abuse on December 17th, 2009

There is an alarming estimate looming: about 80% of adult smokers started smoking when they were teenagers. The issue at hand is not why teens smoke, but why is it that despite all the warnings posted against smoking and promotions on healthy living, smoking seems to be an appealing practice for teenagers.

Teens are at an age wherein they want to stand out, feel special, and ultimately belong. They see smoking as a means to look “dangerous” because they know they are not allowed to smoke in the first place. Most may see this as “cool”.

teen smokingSmoking enables the smoker to suppress feelings and achieve relaxation for those who feel disturbed, or to suppress appetite for those who are trying to manage their weight. Smokers also tend to huddle together in groups, which makes for conversation and companionship. Sometimes, complete strangers can start to engage in friendly conversation, after sharing a light.

Teenagers are the most affected, since they are at an age when they need to belong. In a social aspect, they seem to think that smoking helps them fill this particular void. The problem is, most teenagers, after taking their first puff, end up getting addicted.

Smoking is addictive because of nicotine. When the body starts to tolerate it, a smoker needs larger doses of nicotine to achieve the same effect. This vicious cycle eventually leads to a dependence of the body on the presence of nicotine to function normally.

Teenage smoking should not be simply taken as a bad lifestyle practice. Smoking should be viewed as a dangerous habit that can only lead to serious illnesses, such as lung cancer, heart diseases and pregnancy complications among others. Teens should keep themselves in an environment free of addiction, and should immerse themselves in sports and better education.

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Hard Truth for Smokers: SMOKING KILLS

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Tobacco Abuse on December 14th, 2009

There used to be a time when the words on the cigarette box were written like this: “Government Warning: Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health.” Now, several governments around the world require a much simpler phrase, and it cuts to the chase quite effectively: “SMOKING KILLS”.

smoking-kills-gunJust imagine the hundreds of billions of cigarettes being smoked each year in the United States alone. And if you think about it, that is just the number for a single country. What about the rest of the world? It’s a scary thought when you think about it.

People smoke for entirely different reasons. Some try it just for fun, others try it because they feel that they look cool doing it, and others still do it because of habit. Whatever the reason, it still remains a habit that can kill you slowly. The conditions will not manifest themselves at first, but don’t wait until the entire world squeezes on your chest.

A cigarette, while seemingly innocent at first glance, contains a load of carcinogenic substances that can kill you in large quantities. Some of these substances may be found only in traces, but they collect themselves within your body. One day, your body wouldn’t be able to handle the stress of these accumulated toxic substances, and this is where serious degeneration of your body begins.

Look at pictures of the organs before and after smoking. Meet other people whose families have died because of lung cancer caused by smoking. The evidence is everywhere, and you don’t need to go very far to see it.

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