Smoker or Non-Smoker?





Which one of these belong to you?

The chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of the blood vessels and affect the level of lipids (fats) in the bloodstream. This increases the risk of atheroma forming (sometimes called hardening of the arteries). Atheroma is the main cause of heart disease, strokes, peripheral vascular disease (poor

circulation of the legs), and aneurysms (swollen arteries which can burst causing internal bleeding). All of these atheroma-related diseases are more common in smokers.

 

Aside Circulation disorders, the following are either causing by or made worse by smoking,

• Lung cancer.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Heart disease.
• Other cancers - of the mouth, nose, throat, larynx, gullet (oesophagus), pancreas, bladder, cervix, blood (leukaemia), and kidney are all more common in smokers.
• Sexual problems.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Ageing.
• Infertility
• Early Menopause.
• Other conditions where smoking often causes worse symptoms include: asthma, colds, flu, chest infections, tuberculosis, chronic rhinitis, diabetic retinopathy, hyperthyroidism, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, and Crohn's disease.
• Smoking increases the risk of developing various other conditions including: dementia, optic neuropathy, cataracts, macular degeneration, pulmonary fibrosis, psoriasis, gum disease, tooth loss, osteoporosis and Raynaud's phenomenon.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco caused 5.4 million deaths in 2004 and 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century.

 

Tobacco smoke contains several carcinogenic pyrolytic products that bind to DNA and cause many genetic mutations.

 

 

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) works by releasing nicotine steadily into your bloodstream at much lower levels than in a cigarette, without the tar, carbon monoxide and other poisonous chemicals present in tobacco smoke.

 

NRT comes in different forms, including:

 

• skin patches
• chewing gum
• inhalators, which look like plastic cigarettes through which nicotine is inhaled
• tablets, strips and lozenges, which you put under your tongue
• nasal spray
• mouth spray  

Getting help

Stopping smoking can make a big difference to your health. It is never too late to stop smoking to greatly benefit your health. For example, if you stop smoking in middle age, before having cancer or some other serious disease, you avoid most of the increased risk of death due to smoking.

 

If you are in uk, your GP will be able to give you information and advice about quitting smoking. You can also call:

 

• the NHS Smokefree helpline on 0300 123 1044
• the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 9 169

Useful links

Treatment

Quitting smoking

Coping with cravings for a cigarette.

Effects of Tobacco

Smoking the Facts