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About Smoking |
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| Addiction | Impacts of smoking | Exposure to smoking |
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0845 27 07 222 |
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| Addiction | ||
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Smoking is an addiction. It is not just a bad habit. The nicotine found in tobacco is a highly addictive drug. It changes the way your brain and body works. Every time you take a puff, a shot of nicotine reaches your brain within 7 seconds. It will give you a feeling of pleasure and makes you seem relaxed. However, nicotine will leave your brain almost as quickly as it reaches it. This means that when you have finished one cigarette you may feel you need another. Over time you will build up a resistance to nicotine and you may increase the amount of cigarettes you smoke. You know you are addicted to smoking if you: - crave a cigarette when you are not smoking - continue to smoke even though you know the risks - continue to smoke even if you have a health problem caused by smoking - have already tried to quit but failed - suffer from withdrawal when you are not smoking - believe you cannot cope without smoking - make excuses to continue smoking. Nicotine does not cause health problems. It makes you dependent upon cigarettes, which contain chemicals that will damage your health. It will be hard, but not impossible to break your addiction. Rather than giving up completely you may need to use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to help you deal with the feelings of withdrawal. To successfully beat your nicotine addition it is important that you prepare to quit and stay motivated. |
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| Impacts of smoking | ||
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- Smoking is estimated to cause the death of over 120,000 people every year. That is 1 in 2 regular smokers in the UK. - It is the cause of 1 in 5 of all male deaths and 1 in 10 of all female deaths. - Smoking related diseases cost the NHS £1.7 billion a year (Callum 1998). - An estimated 50 million working days are lost each year as a result of smoking related illnesses (HAD - Smoking policy for the workplace). - Smokers are estimated to take 25% more sick days a year than non-smokers. - Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the chances of non-smokers contracting lung cancer and heart disease by 25% (DoH scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health 2004). - 17,000 children under 5 years of age are admitted to hospital every year due to the effects of passive smoking. - In the UK smoking kills around 6 times more people than the combined deaths from road and other traffic accidents, murder, manslaughter, suicide and HIV. - Research has shown that smoking reduces life expectancy by ten to fifteen years. |
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| Exposure to smoking | ||
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Short - term exposure to smoking can cause: - coughing and sneezing - eye and throat irritation - headaches - breathing problems - dizziness and nausea - aggravation of asthma - irregular heartbeat Long - term exposure can cause: - Smoking raises blood pressure, which can cause hypertension (high blood pressure). This is a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. - Couples who smoke are more likely to have fertility problems. - Smoking worsens asthma and counteracts asthma medication by worsening the inflammation of the airways that the medication tries to ease. - The blood vessels in the eye are sensitive and can be easily damaged by smoke. - Heavy smokers are twice as likely to get macular degeneration, resulting in the gradual loss of eyesight. - Smokers run an increased risk of cataracts - Smoking stains your teeth and gums. - Smoking increases your risk of periodontal disease, which causes swollen gums, bad breath and teeth to fall out. - Smoking causes an acid taste in your mouth and contributes to the development of ulcers. - Smoking can also affect your looks. Your skin will be paler and you may have more wrinkles. This is because smoking reduces the blood supply to the skin and lowers levels of vitamin A. - Stopping smoking at any age increases your life expectancy. Even if some damage has been done, you can still benefit from quitting. |
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