Health For You: SMOKING

All forms of tobacco smoking including cigarettes, cigar, pipes and hookahs can produce ill health effects and addiction.

There are more than 4000 substances in cigarette smoke

It contains:

Carcinogens – Tar, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, benzopyrene, nickel, arsenic, nitrosamine, hydrazine, vinyl chloride
Co-carcinogens – Phenol, cresol, catechol
Addicting Agents – Nicotine
Other – Carbon monoxide

Main stream smoke – smoke emerging from mouthpiece during puffing

Side stream smoke – smoke emitting between puffs at the burning end and from mouth end. Contains more carcinogens than main stream smoke.

Number of cigarettes/ day X number of years smoked

Number of packs of cigarette/day X number of years smoked (1 pack = 20 cigarette)

Also known as second hand smoking, involuntary smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure.
Occurs when smoke from one person’s burning tobacco product is inhaled by others.
It increases the risk of CAD, cancer, respiratory illness and death.

Effects of Smoking

Withdrawal symptoms in chronic users begin to appear approximately 30 minutes after every dose.

Features includes-

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Use of nicotine patches, nicotine gums, lozenges and nasal sprays.
Contraindicated in unstable coronary artery disease, untreated peptic ulcer, recent MI and recent stroke.

Methods of gum use:

Chew slowly until a strong taste or tingling sensation felt.
Stop chewing and place the gum between cheek and gums.
Chew again wen intensity of tingling decreases.
Repeat this cycle of “park and chew” for about 30 minutes or until the tingling sensation subsides.

Bupropion

Varenicline

More effective than nicotine and bupropion
Contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation
Side effects include nausea, insomnia, abnormal dreams, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, visual disturbances and alteration in consciousness.

Other medications – Clonodine and Nortryptyline

Electronic Cigarettes

A battery-powered vaporizer which contains nicotine derived from tobacco plant and gives the feeling of smoking a cigarette.
Reduces various health effects of cigarette smoking.