There are approximately 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, many of them toxic. The ingredients in cigarrate affect everything from the internal functioning of organs to the efficiency of the body's immune system. The effects of cigarette smoking are destructive and widespread. •Toxic ingredients in cigarette smoke travel throughout the body, causing damage in several different ways.
•NICOTINE reaches the brain within 10 seconds after smoke is inhaled. It has been found in every part of the body and in Bosom milk.
•Carbon Monoxide binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing affected cells from carrying a full load of oxygen.
•Cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke damage important genes that control the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally or to reproduce too rapidly.
•The carcinogen benzoic (a)pyrene binds to cells in the airways and major organs of smokers.
•Smoking affects the function of the immune system and may increase the risk for respiratory and other infections.
•There are several likely ways that cigarette smoke does its damage. One is oxidative stress that mutates DNA, promotes atherosclerosis, and leads to chronic lung injury. Oxidative stress is thought to be the general mechanism behind the aging process, contributing to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and COPD.
•The body produces antioxidants to help repair damaged cells. Smokers have lower levels of antioxidants in their blood than do nonsmokers.
•Smoking is associated with higher levels of chronic inflammation, another damaging process that may result in oxidative stress.
Tips on How to Quit Below, some tips to help you quit smoking are listed. First and foremost, set a quit date and quit COMPLETELY on that day. To prepare for that day: •Identify the times you are most likely to smoke. For example, do you tend to smoke when feeling stressed? When you are out at night with friends? While you are drinking coffee? When you are bored? While you are driving? • Keep a diary to help you determine such risky times. Record each time you have a cigarette, including time of day and what you are doing.
•Make a plan about what you will do instead of smoking at those times that you are most likely to smoke. For example, drink tea instead of coffee -- tea may not trigger the desire for a cigarette. Or, take a walk when feeling stressed. Remove ashtrays and cigarettes from the car. Place pretzels or hard candies there instead. Pretend-smoke with a straw.
•Let all of your friends, family, and co-workers know of your plan to stop smoking and your quit date. Just being aware that they know can be a helpful reminder and motivator.
•Prior to your quit date, start reducing your cigarette use, including decreasing the number and strength of the cigarettes. However, DON'T do this simply to make your diary "look good!" Get rid of all of your cigarettes just prior to the quit date and clean out anything that smells like smoke, such as clothes and furniture.
Other tips that can help you quit and stay quit include: •Enroll in a smoking cessation program (hospitals, health departments, community centers, and work sites frequently offer programs).
•Ask your health care provider for advice, including whether prescription medications (such as bupropion -- Zyban or Wellbutrin) are safe and appropriate for you.
•Find out about nicotine patches, gum, and sprays. •Try hypnosis -- it works for some people. •Avoid smoke-filled settings and situations in which you are more likely to smoke. •Exercise to relieve urges to smoke.
Posted: at 16-07-2008 05:55 PM (16 years ago) | Upcoming
khadijah at 30-08-2008 07:35 PM (16 years ago) (f)
do u think tis is gonna work for chronic smokers..well most smokers are willing to stop they dont have strong will power despite all these publications.
Posted: at 30-08-2008 07:35 PM (16 years ago) | Gistmaniac
and many more............ just think u r inhaling all of these when u smoke a cigarette.
and even worse side stream smoke(passive smoke) has an even higher concentration of these chemicals cos there's a seive in d cigarette dat reduces d concentration of these chemicals but dat seive does not protect wat is coming out of d other end makin pple dat don't smoke more susceptible to inhaling these chemicals, when u stand close to someone dat doesn't smoke. please it's advisable to quit smoking asap.
Posted: at 21-11-2008 01:59 PM (16 years ago) | Upcoming
yusufamoke at 5-01-2009 11:27 AM (16 years ago) (f)
YES IT IS. I COULD REMEMBER VIVIDLY WEN I WAS STILL IN D SCHOOL, WE ARE TAUGHT DAT IT CONTAINS NICOTINE. AND IT REACHES the brain within 10 seconds after smoke is inhaled. It has been found in every part of the body and in Bosom milk.
Posted: at 5-01-2009 11:27 AM (16 years ago) | Newbie
No its not!!! Its an effective way to maintain a healthy balance in the ecosystem! A really good way to counter population explosion, plus it provides employment opportunities for medical researchers and feseability of profitable expansion for thoses Cancer NGO's... Without smokers, where will WHO and the likes of them be? where would the $4bn yearly revenue to Cigarette industries go to?
Its all how U look at it.
Posted: at 27-02-2009 04:48 PM (16 years ago) | Hero
atamajim at 19-08-2010 02:19 PM (14 years ago) (m)
you all may not understand. almost over 90% of smokers really want to quit but its not that easy. imagine the inscription at the back of the pack , yet they spend their money to buy their death. i was once a smoker, but my stopping was not as a result of preaching or advice from anybody, it was absolutely devine intervention. Since then, i don't blame any smoker but pray for him or her. if you love them , pray for them
Posted: at 19-08-2010 02:19 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
GlamourPuss at 29-08-2010 04:03 PM (14 years ago) (f)
luckily i vant smoke cigarettes even if i want to i am allergic to evryone, smoking kills, pls dont start and those who have alredy started pls quit..dont spoil ur health
Posted: at 29-08-2010 04:03 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming