Smoking

• Every day: 6000 teens light up for the first time– 3000 become regular smokers

• 9 of 10 adult smokers began as teens– 1/3 of these will die from smoke related

causes

• 2.6 million packs of cigarettes are sold illegally to minors every day

Nicotine

• Nicotine – the addictive drug in cigarettes is a poison stimulant– People smoke to reduce the craving for the

nicotine

• A stimulant increases the action of the CNS, heart and other organs– Raises heart rate and blood pressure

Tar

• Flavor is due to the tar in tobacco

• Tar is thick, sticky, dark fluid produced when tobacco burns

• It penetrates the airways and lungs

• It combines with the drying effect of the smoke to paralyze or destroy the cilia

• Contains several substances known as carcinogens

Carbon Monoxide

• A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas in smoke that passes through the lungs into the blood

• Same as automobile exhaust fumes

Other tobacco

• Smokeless tobacco – sniffed or chewed• Myths:

– Its “cool”– Safer because it is not “taken” into the lungs

• Truth– Includes the same health risks– Cancer if the lip, mouth, throat– Damage to the teeth and gums– Damage to the digestive system

Skoal Flavors:

Wintergreen***

Peach

Citrus

Berry blend*

Vanilla

Cherry

Effects of smoking on the body

Diseases of the respiratory system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ4n7g31RlE

Chronic bronchitis

• bronchi are irritated. As tar builds up, cilia become useless resulting in chronic coughing and excessive mucus secretion

Emphysema

• Involves destruction of the tiny air sacs in lungs

• As walls are destroyed, they lose their elasticity and provide less total surface area for oxygen to be absorbed

• Instead of using 5% of total energy to breathe, now using 80%

Lung cancer

• Leading cause of death in males

• Becoming a more significant cause of death in females

Disease of the circulatory system

• Nicotine causes the heart to speed up

• It constricts blood vessels reducing blood flow to the limbs, resulting in a tingling sensation in hands and feet.

• Increases the chance for arteriosclerosis

• Hardening of the arteries which gradually clogs the vessels to the hearts

• Increases the risk of heart attack by 3x

Smoking

• Raises the blood pressure

• Increases the risk of stroke

• Increases the risk of coronary heart disease

Dangers of smokeless tobacco

• Addictive• Produces increased saliva – though most

is spit out, some is unconsciously swallowed, introducing carcinogens into the digestive and urinary systems.

• Contains chemicals that delay “healing.”• Cause leukoplakia – thickened, white,

leathery-appearing spots on the inside of the mouth – can turn to cancer

Quitting

• Nicotine withdrawal

• May feel nervous, moody, difficult sleeping

Strategies for quitting

• Nicotine filters

• Deliver smaller doses of nicotine

• Nicotine gum

• Nicotine patch

• Cold turkey

Benefits of quitting

• Fitness increases as breathing becomes easier

• Reduce chance of stroke and heart disease

• Reduces anxiety of offending others and finding places to smoke

Tips for quitting

• Make a list of reasons for quitting

• Set a specific date and stick to that date

• Set short term goals to reinforce decision

• Decide which approach to take

• Get your environment ready including setting up a support system