Information and facts on Smoking

 

Tobacco is a mood altering substance that has been used for thousands of years. Today it is used by smoking cigarettes. Tobacco smoke contains 1000's of chemical aspects but the main thing concerning its addictiveness, is nicotine. Nicotine acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system; when nicotine is ingested, adrenaline production increases, raising the blood pressure and heart rate. Nicotine also affects the overall metabolic rate, the regulation of body temperature, the degree of tension in  the muscles, and the levels of certain hormones. These and other metabolic changes create a  pleasurable sensation in the user that often and strangely is experienced as a feeling of relaxation. This pleasurable sensation is something that makes tobacco so addictive. Another is the fact that  tolerance to the effects of nicotine develops quickly. So the amount needed to achieve the  desired effect increases. Once addicted, your body depends on the presence of nicotine. If you  then quit smoking, withdrawal symptoms occur and include: anger, anxiety, irritability, frustration,  difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, headache,  restlessness, stomach cramps, a slowed heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, and, most of all, an intense craving for nicotine.

Even though it is very difficult to stop smoking, people are doing it everyday. There are many reasons to stop. Cigarettes are a factor in over 17% of all deaths in the USA each year that's around 400,000 people a year. This is more than the total number of deaths from alcohol, illegal drugs, traffic accidents, suicide, and homicide combined. Tobacco smoking causes in around 33% of all cancer deaths, 25% of fatal heart attacks, and 85% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. And it accounts for at least 85% of lung cancer cases. Many other health related problems have been connected to smoking as well, including angina, arteriosclerosis, cataracts, chronic bronchitis, corectal cancer, diarrhea, emphysema, heartburn, high blood pressure, impotence, peptic ulcers, respiratory ailments, urinary incontinence, circulatory ailments, and  cancers of both the mouth and throat, especially with cigarette smokers who also use alcohol and/or use mouthwash containing alcohol. Smoking raises the risk of catching colds and increases recovery time as well. Tobacco smoke paralyzes the cilia which are hair-like protrusions lining the nose and throat, reducing their capacity to clear the passages by moving mucus and the cold viruses trapped within to the outside and thus causing problems.

Nicotine has long been known as a deadly toxin. A very small pinhead sized drop of liquid nicotine,  injected directly into a person's bloodstream, would be fatal. At the doses usually taken by smokers, nicotine makes the heart pump faster and work harder, increasing the risk of heart disease. It also constricts the peripheral blood vessels, contributing to circulatory disorders such as Raynaud's phenomenon and hardening of the arteries. And nicotine is not the only ingredient in cigarettes that poses a danger to human health. Over 4,000 chemical substances have been identified as constituents of cigarette smoke, and at least 43 of these substances are known to cause cancer in humans. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, benzene, cyanide, ammonia, nitrosamines, vinyl chloride, radioactive particles, and other known irritants and carcinogens. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin, interfering with the transport of oxygen throughout the body. Carbon monoxide also promotes the development of cholesterol deposits on artery walls. These two factors increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Hydrogen cyanide causes bronchitis by inflaming the lining of the bronchi. Over the long term, smoking dramatically reduces flow of blood to the brain. Men who have smoked for years are more likely to have abnormally low penile blood pressure, which contributes to impotence. This is probably because smoking damages the blood vessels, including the tiny blood vessels that supply the penis. Smoking also is a factor in sterility; the sperm of men who smoke have weakened ability compared to that of nonsmokers to penetrate, and thus to fertilize, the woman's egg.

Women cigarette smokers often to have menopause earlier, face a greater risk of osteoporosis after menopause, and also have a much higher risk of getting both cervical or uterine cancer. They also appear less fertile and have more problems during pregnancy. Smokers tend to have more miscarriages, stillbirths, and premature deliveries. Their babies often are smaller and have more health problems than babies of nonsmokers. Infants whose mothers smoke both during pregnancy and after childbirth appear to be three times as likely to die of SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome as infants of nonsmokers. Children whose fathers smoke also face an increase in health problems. Children of male smokers have been shown to be at a higher than normal risk of developing both brain cancer and leukemia.

Smoking has a detrimental effect on nutrition. Smokers break down vitamin C about twice as fast as nonsmokers. This can deprive the body of adequate amounts of one of the most powerful and versatile antioxidants for our health and well being. Most other antioxidant vitamins are reduced as well. Cigarette smoke contains high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide ozone, a compound that oxidizes the antioxidant vitamins and is also known to do damage to DNA. The accelerated antioxidant usage, in combination with the DNA damage, speeds the aging process with extra wear on your body systems.

Other Changes To Make

• drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or filtered water a day

• eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)

• nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good

• juice is good (make your own with a juice machine)

• do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods

• carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack

• a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)

• do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks

• do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...

• use stress relief like going for walks in the park (or the 10/90 rule - see Stress)

• brown rice is good to eat

• avoid red meat and animal fats

• reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others

• fast a few days a month

• get at least 8 hours of sleep 

• exercise light to moderate amounts

• avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet

• do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke

• do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal

• do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry

• do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else

All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or to administer to any physical ailments.
In all matters related to your health please contact a qualified, licensed Medical Consultant or Doctor.