Effects of Smoking
89The effects of smoking are countless. From the impact to your health, the health of those around you and even the damage it can do to your home, it blows my mind that smoking is still so popular. While the popularity is on a decline, its still estimated that 35% of men and 22% of women worldwide still smokes.
A couple of smoking facts:
- Smoke contains over 4000 chemicals including more than 40 cancer causing agents and 200 known poisons.
- Nicotine is comparable to heroine in terms of addiction.
- The nicotine released in gas form from smoke is easily absorbed through the lungs and into the blood stream. These chemicals alters the chemistry in the brain within seconds of inhalation. This causes a temporary euphoric sensation - which is why people crave nicotine so much.
- Carbon monoxide impairs the bloods ability to carry oxygen to the body including vital organs like the brain and heart.
- Smokers are in a constant state of oxygen deprivation because of the high amounts of carbon monoxide in their blood (4 to 15 times more than nonsmokers).
- The average cigarette has more than 600 times the concentration that is considered safe in industrial plants, where carbon monoxide poisoning is a constant danger.
A Sobering Experiment:
If the preceding facts about the chemicals introduced to your body through smoke hasn't scared you, try this.
Step 1: Take a puff of smoke without inhaling it and hold it in your mouth. Take a white handkerchief and hold it up to your mouth.
Step 2: Exhale the smoke through the handkerchief and you will be able to see the tar that is deposited into your lungs with every inhalation of smoke. Just imagine the cumulative effect after a pack a day for years.
Addictive Power
Nicotine has historically been one of the toughest addictions to break, but here are six reasons quitting is worth it.
- People who smoke spend 27% more time in hospitals and nearly 2 times the amount of time in intensive care units compared to nonsmokers.
- A smoker is at twice the risk of dying before age sixty-five as a nonsmoker.
- The risk of lung cancer increases 50% to 100% with every cigarette that a person smokes per day.
- Smoking filter tipped cigarettes cuts the risk of lung cancer by up to 20%, but still does not eliminate the danger involved.
- Each cigarette costs the smoker 5 to 25 minutes of life.
- The risk of Heart Disease increases 50% with every pack of cigarettes a person smokes per day.
Effects of Second Hand Smoke
- Over the past two decades, research has shown that non-smokers suffer many of the diseases of active smoking when they breathe secondhand smoke.
- Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to experience increased frequency of: asthma, colds, bronchitis, pneumonia and other lung diseases. Sinus infection and middle ear infections.
- When a pregnant woman is exposed to secondhand smoke, the nicotine she ingests is passed on to her unborn baby.
- Women who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy have a higher rate of miscarriages and stillbirths, low birth weight babies, have babies with decreased lung function and have babies with a greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer and contributes to the development of heart disease.
- Non smoking women who live with a smoker have a 91% greater risk of heart disease. They also have twice the risk of dying from lung cancer.
- Non-smoking spouses who are exposed to secondhand smoke have about 20% higher death rates for both lung cancer and heart disease.
Are your Pets Safe from the Effects of Smoke?
- Studies show a correlation between second hand smoke and certain forms of cancer in pets.
- In a study done by Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts researchers found a direct link between a cat’s chances of developing lymphoma and the number of smokers living in the home. A cat exposed to second hand smoke had double the risk of getting lymphoma. If the cat had lived with a smoker for five years or more, the risk was tripled. If there were two smokers in the house the risk increased four times.
- Birds with their tiny lungs are particularly susceptible to lung illness, cancers and even death from living in a smoky home.
Effects of smoking on your home and eventually your wallet.
- Homes owned by smokers are historically difficult to sell.
- These smoked in homes often take 2-3 times longer to sell, or require tens of thousands in new carpets, paint and clean up before selling.
- A home smoked in for many years will often sell for 5-15% less than a home that hasn't been smoked in.
Tips to Minimize the Effects of Smoking
- Encourage them to smoke outdoors. The risks of smoking indoors and the challenges of eliminating the smoke effectively are just too great.
- If you or a family member insists on smoking indoors, set up a closed room as a “smoking room”. Close off all return vents in the room to minimize the amount of smoke that gets drawn into the ductwork and pumped into every room of the home. Then, weather strip the door, crack a window in the room and run a home smoke eater air cleaner capable of removing the smoke particles as well as the thousands of gases and fumes.
- Do not smoke or allow family members to smoke if children are present (particularly infants and toddlers, who are especially susceptible to the effects of tobacco smoke). Sometimes smoking family members may be belligerent of such a rule—but smoking around children is a life or death situation. You would not let your child play with a gun because of the potential danger of it firing—why you would feel any differently about secondhand smoke, which is statistically much more dangerous?
- Do not allow babysitters or other people who work in your home to smoke indoors.
- For families with heavy smokers or multiple smokers, you should consider a comprehensive approach to smoke removal. A quality smoke eater in the dedicated smoking room coupled with effective whole house filtration and air purification to help clean the air of the multiple pollutants.
Your family and your home will thank you.
In the end...
Smoking is still a personal choice. If you want to smoke, knowing all of the health hazards, go for it. But please consider the harmful effects of smoking on others. Perhaps even your loved ones. You may try to delude yourself into thinking that all the anti-smoking in the media along with complaints from family members are simply discrimination, but the facts are indisputable. Smoking and even second hand smoke is not just uncomfortable but downright dangerous.
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I really enjoy occasional trips to casinos, but the smoke is disgusting. And I'm in California--the non-smoking section of the US!
My favorite casino, Pechanga, is very well ventilated/filtered, and they have a good sized non-smoking area. But MANY games that I want to play, along with all of the restaurants (except the fast food court), are in the much larger smoking areas...so my choice comes down to not playing those games [and staying in the non-smoking area] or putting up with the miserable smoke--and I have asthma, so this is a big deal.
I don't understand why the casinos haven't banned smoking. I understand that they're operating under tribal, not state, law but facts are facts--smoking, including breathing second-hand smoke, is dangerous, regardless of whether you're on tribal land!
I read your comments on cigarette smoke allergy and they do not address my situation. Contact with cigarette smoke is life threatening to me. It sets off an immediate severe asthmatic type reaction, even if it is only on someone's clothes or if the smoker is 50 metres away outdoors. My airways close, oxygen doesn't get to my brain. I have about 3 minutes before lucid brain function ceases. I cannot think or understand and I want to go to sleep. If I did go to sleep I think I'd die.
I looked at this site because I had one of those reactions today. I was on a train where it is illegal to smoke. People break the law though and someone, a carriage or two away, did. The smoke filtered through the air conditioning system and I had to get out at the next stop, just to stay alive.
I take asthma medication for this condition even though I'm not asthmatic. Three doses a day of preventer is now too little, and the reliever only saves me long enough to get away from the poisons. It's two hours later and my whole body is still shaking.
I was hoping to find someone else like me who knows more before it's too late. I think most people with this condition probably died of babies though - of "cot death".
Linda:
I'm so sorry to hear that you are having this severe reaction. Have you always had this when encountering smoke? Are there other things that give you this same reaction? Perfumes? Cleaning products? Any other odors or gases?
Let me be clear - I am not a doctor and definitely defer to your doctors for proper management of this situation. I know avoidance is clearly the best option - but as you continually find out - it isn't always possible.
There are some very interesting books written by a Dr. Mark Hyman where he talks about 7 factors of wellness and they are all inter-connected.
By focusing on some of his recommendations, it is possible you can strengthen your immune system to the point where these episodes are not as severe.
Search for Dr. Mark Hyman on Amazon.com. His book Ultra Prevention may be a good one to start with since it covers his approach to wellness pretty well.
Best wishes in your quest to figure this out.
Dan
Hi Dan, Thanks for your interest. I'm also allergic to a lesser degree, to incense and party smoke machines, but not natural types of smoke. I think it must be a reaction to some of the chemicals these things have in common.
The reactions have built up over the years. I can remember as a small child, aged about 3, hiding behind a piano to try and find some air while visiting the house of a smoker with my mother. I remember wondering why no one else felt so sick and what was wrong with me.
Smoke always made me feel very ill, but now it seems to worsen with each exposure to the point where I felt, for the first time today, it was useless to be part of society and I'm spoiling other people's fun. No one, not even close relatives seem to understand. They act as though I'm making it up or something.
Today I did an internet search and found there are a few other people like me. None of them have found a cure, but at least I didn't feel so alien. I'll check out that book but to be honest, I don't hold out much hope that he has an answer.
Linda:
I don't believe you are making this up. My mother has chemical sensitivities and can smell things none of our family can. And yes, as a bystander, it is difficult to understand since we either can't smell what she smells or aren't reacting the way she is.
So, I do believe you have sensitivities. But as someone who has fought chronic back pain and studied a LOT about how the brain and body are connected, I also believe that what you think also effects your body. My back pain is stress induced. I can tie my pain levels to my stress and fear levels very closely.
What you focus on magnifies.
Fear has an incredible influence on your physical body. Stress hormones are released. Emotional events DO cause physical events.
And no, I'm not saying you are crazy. I truly do believe you have a real physical issue with smoke. But ask yourself this. Is it possible that your fear and expectation of a severe reaction virtually guarantees it to occur?
The doctors may or may not have a cure. I would start looking into the mindbody connection whie you continue to work with doctors to find out what else could be going on physically.
And while you don't have back pain - a doctor John Sarno has really discovered some amazing things about how the mind and body are connected. His book The MindBody Prescription is a very interesting read. And despite his specialty being pain syndromes - don't let that cause you to dismiss his approach.
As for it being useless to be part of society, I don't believe that for a minute. I don't know you much at all, but I truly believe - ALL people are good and worthy of love and friendship.
Hang tough...
Your friend...
Dan
I'm definitely not making it up.
As for it being partly mind generated, that's fairly normal. We are one whole person - mind, body and spirit - all intricately inter related so what affects one part affects all.
I've done some more research since the day I wrote here and discovered there are some other people in the world like this too. About half of them developed the condition through parents who smoked in the home, building up their sensitivity to the chemicals. Some, and I believe I might be in this category, developed it from other chemical sensitisation.
Anyway, it's all speculation so I'm not going to talk about it anymore unless I or someone else discovers a real cure. I just have to focus on how to stay alive in a world where smoking is still legal ..... can you believe that? Something this harmful is actually legal! It's a crazy world we live in.
Smoking is as much a psychological addiction as a physical one. Unfortunately, all of the great information in the world can't overcome the psychological need to smoke. But, if it persuades one person to quit, it was worth it!
Thanks for the comprehensive article on smoking. I can't imagine why people would want to smoke knowing all of this. My father died at age 48 from smoking, my uncle died at 46 and my grandfather died at age 56 from smoking. To me, smoking is a death sentence.
They're taxing cigarettes to the moon nowadays. Its like eight buck a pack where I live.
I too am VERY ALLERGIC (or whatever term you want to use.) I have LITTERALY BEGGED for my life where I work and get NO help. They will do nothing but "claim" it is a smoke free facility. I have lost years of sick leave (that counts toward my retirement) and spent thousands on medical care to no avail. My mother almost died working for the state as I do and they weren't supposed to smoke there either. I think it should be ATTEMPTED MURDER if the people who smoke around you know of your problem as they do mine and continue to smoke. I have found NO lawyers who will touch it because it is State.
in 14 years old and i cant stop smoking . its affecting my family can any1 help me
very bad
smoking very danger for your body, especially health
Hey Ruebin, I’m glad that you have decided to stop smoking. Cut whatever amount of cigarette and smoking breaks by two. Try to divide by 2 every month are 2 month. Do a lot of exercise to keep your mind from smoking and stay away from smokers. If you have friend that smokes tell them to not do it around you.
Same dilemma here as most of you have posted. I keep getting told that Im ”Imagining” things, theres been plenty of those not so subtle hints of me having psychological issues, that Im a whiner and that I love the victim role.
I really dont care if people smoke, they get cancer and die early. Honestly. Its their life. But if I breath that second hand tobacco, theyre quite literally poisoning me.
All the taxing in the world isnt gonna stop smokers from smoking. Taxation just breeds beauracracy and makes no real end difference. There needs to be a law that makes the individual smoker responsible for the smoke they produce and be held accountable for making others involuntarily breath it. Simple as that.
My brother and brother in-law sucks me always when they smoke indoor and I told my sister 'bout this but seem to enjoy what they are doing in front of her 2 years old son.This is practised mainly in South African rural areas but the situation I'm putting on the table is happening in township areas.
tryi to quit but still cannt
Gift - the key phrase there is "TRY". There is no such thing as try - you either quit or you don't. I don't minimize how difficult it is to quit, but ultimately you have to make a decision that "I am a NON Smoker." Stop buying them. Stop lighting them. And stop sucking on them.
The language you use in your own head matters. If you walk around saying "I want a cigarette." you don't stand a chance.
If you walk around saying "I'm a non smoker and will NEVER smoke again." You can do it.
Well everybody likes to ses what USA is doing. A country where there is so many people over weight and smoking. It's going to take alot of effort to get rid of cigarettes and smoking etc.......
I started a new job 6 six weeks ago, and the smoking area is just next to the front door, everytime someone comes in thru reception where I work they are reaking of smoke. I have s severe reaction to smoke, I have constant sinus and allergic asthma. I'm taking lots of tablets & inhalers for the past 6 weeks and I feel drained.
The people where I work are very nice, but what can I do when even the Manager does it and then he comes over and speaks to me after a cig. I have bought a small fan and I try to be discreet with it I don't want to offend anyone, there are only about 6 smokers but they are making my life a misery. I really need this job, but I am worn out.
Helena,
You really only have two choices. Have a polite, respectful conversation with the manager and ask if there is a way people can smoke out back instead of out front. Let them know you have smoke allergies and explain what is happening. Either they will be accommodating or they won't. If not - you may want to start looking around for another job and leave when you find one.
But to suffer in silence won't work for you long term. It's not healthy either physically or even mentally to just bite your tongue and put up with it.
Best of wishes. You are in a tough spot.
Smoking is harmful ... for our body and also for our minds: how can I have self- confidence when consciously I am doing harm to myself? How can I love me?
Very interesting the part about our animal friends, many smokers do not think this aspect of the problem. But, in my experience, smokers often do not think the effects of their smoking because otherwise they would feel silly. The reality of the smoke is that you have described very well.
Fucsia
yah i'm a vegan too.
MAY BE THE EUPHORIC EFFECT IS CAUSED BY THE CO INTOXICATION FROM THE CIGARETTE.
l been smoking for years off and on,lately at my 50th l been noticing skin irreatration bumps ans rashes, hard to rid off but l manage to down my smoking habits cause these bumps are very painfull to my skin..lm thinking its coming from getting older and smoking l need to quit has anyone gotton a skin rash or bumps like red swollen bumps from it?
Sylvia: Get to a doctor. I have no idea what it can be, but painful bumps and rashes should be looked at. Don't assume it is from the smoking.
Great information, thanks for sharing.
I and my husband have been married for 25 years ,23 years ago my husband quit smoking .we had a daughter and he did not have a job, so the choice was priorities,so he quit. Now we live very close to a
very sweet family who are very heavy smokers who want us to visit for hours every day. The next day after a lengthy visit l have bags under my eyes a funny nose sore throat and headache. So I looked this site up to see what might be going on. Any one else have this kind of reaction ?
my father does and when i ask him to not do it around me in the house or my friends he will tell me its harmless and the companies and docs say its not so they can make money selling drugs and purposely lights up another one
I live with my soon to be ex-boyfriend. I have severe reactions to his three pack a day habit. Ican't even go downstairs anymore without severe breathing problems. I've begged and pleaded for him to go outside...there is even a great screened in attached patio out there, set up like that of a living room. Too bad he refuses to realize he is killing my life, not just his.
i m 17 n i hv been smokin 4 abt 10-11mnths at an avg f 1-2cigs/day....n frm d last 1mnth i hv bn smokin 2-3cigs/3days bt i take dat 2-3 at a tym nly....i wntd to knw d effcts f smokin on me n in wat amt f tym...
im 14 and have been smoking for a year i used to smoke a pack a day now i only smok about 9 a day should i stop i dont really want to
Matthew - of course you should stop. It's absolutely proven to be bad for you. People die of cancer all the time from smoking. It's expensive, and while you think you look cool, you aren't. There is nothing cool about doing something that is clearly bad for you. Plus, as a smoker, you smell like smoke and nobody will want to kiss you if you taste like smoke. Make the decision that you WANT to stop and then stop.
i know smoking bad for you but most of aunts and ucles have been smikin since about 14 and there about in the 40s and 50s and there fine so how bad is it really
Matthew - there are plenty of people in their 40's or 50's already dead from smoking. Even younger. Do you want to take the chance and possibly cut off half of your life? Take a wet paper towel and as you smoke, blow the exhaled smoke through the paper towel for a whole cigarette. Better yet, a whole pack. See how nasty it gets. Now imagine your lungs working as the filter and getting tons of tar embedded in them. Yes, it's THAT bad. The fact your aunts and uncles aren't dead yet doesn't mean it's good for you.
ican try and stop dan but it is really hard for me ive tried many times i just end up starting again
Matthew,
The unfortunate part is that the cigarette companies intentionally make the cigarettes addicting. They want you to continue to smoke. It's all about money.
The good part is that YOU are in control.
You can do anything you want - including stopping smoking.
You can pick yourself back up and recommit to yourself if you relapse and start smoking again. Don't give up.
I believe in YOU.
Three step process:
1. Stop buying cigarettes.
2. Stop putting them in your mouth.
3. Stop lighting them.
Nowhere in that process is the word TRY. Don't try. Quit. I know you can. Go for it!
Dan
thanx i will try its one of the hardest things to quit the hardest thing fo me is the withdrawl syptoms it makes u feel like shit that the problem how do u deel with the withdrawl syptoms dan?
and thanx for your help dan
While I'm not a doctor, I have read that the nicotine is actually out of our bodies in about a week. If you can make it through a week without smoking, then at least physically, you should be done.
If you can't quit all at once, cut down your smoking my a couple cigarettes a day until you are down to one or two. Then quit completely. The withdrawal symptoms should be less because the quantity of nicotine in your bloodstream is less.
The other challenges are from a HABIT standpoint. If you spend time with other smokers, that will make it more difficult to quit. You may need to change your habits and possibly change who you hang around with if the social aspect of smoking is an issue for you.
Chew gum, get a box of toothpicks, chew on a straw. Any time you feel like a cigarette, grab a toothpick or straw or pop in a piece of gum. Go for a walk. Do something physical to distract you from the desire to light up.
ive tried chewing gumand all that it doesnt really help are there any other method i can use ?
smokers dont stop smoking because it is A TRUE ADDICTION As a non smoker I get that, BUT I DONT WANT YOUR SMOKE, I should be able to walk into any building not having to hold my nose, SMOKERS violate ny rights all the time. I dont begruge you your right to live WHY THEN MUST SMOKERS BEGRUGE ME MY RIGHT TI LIVE SMOKE FREE
craftsmantouch 4 years ago
It is amazing that anyone in this day and age would continue to smoke - but then again, I've tried to get my dad to quit to no avail. I heard it said that if a person smoked "mindfully" - actually focusing on the process of sucking the poisonous gas deeply into their lungs time and time again, that they wouln't be able to continue the practice. Smoking is simply an addictive and mindless habit that most use as an escape from their daily life. Seems to me, smoking in itself is the bigger worry. It's a wonder what people can do to themselves. Thanks for this post.