Smoking Facts

When your parents were young, people could buy cigarettes and smoke pretty much anywhere — even in hospitals! When your parents were young, people could buy cigarettes and smoke pretty much anywhere — even in hospitals! Ads for cigarettes were all over the place. Today we're more aware about how bad smoking is for our health. Ads for cigarettes were all over the place. Today we're more aware about how bad smoking is for our health. Smoking has recently been banned in almost all public places. Smoking has recently been banned in almost all public places. Cigarette companies are no Cigarette companies are no longer allowed to advertise longer allowed to advertise on TV, radio, and in on TV, radio, and in many magazines. many magazines.

Smoking Ban in Michigan On December 18, 2009, Governor Granholm signed a smoking ban bill into law. On December 18, 2009, Governor Granholm signed a smoking ban bill into law. The law was put into action on May 1, The law was put into action on May 1, The Law officially banned smoking throughout the state of Michigan. The Law officially banned smoking throughout the state of Michigan. Smoking was banned in all public places including workplaces, restaurants, and bars. Smoking was banned in all public places including workplaces, restaurants, and bars. This law even goes as far as to ban smoking on the patios of restaurants. This law even goes as far as to ban smoking on the patios of restaurants.

Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. Like addictive drugs, the body and mind quickly become used to the nicotine that a person needs to have it just to feel normal. Like addictive drugs, the body and mind quickly become used to the nicotine that a person needs to have it just to feel normal. 9 out of 10 tobacco users started before they were 18 years old. 9 out of 10 tobacco users started before they were 18 years old.

Smoking and the Body The body is smart. It goes on the defense when it's being poisoned. The body is smart. It goes on the defense when it's being poisoned. First-time smokers often feel pain or burning in the throat and lungs, and some people feel sick or even throw First-time smokers often feel pain or burning in the throat and lungs, and some people feel sick or even throw up the first up the first few times few times they try they try tobacco. tobacco.

The consequences of this poisoning happen gradually. Over the long term, smoking leads people to develop health problems like: The consequences of this poisoning happen gradually. Over the long term, smoking leads people to develop health problems like: heart disease Stroke emphysema (breakdown of lung tissue), and many types of cancer — including lung, throat, stomach, and bladder cancer. People who smoke also have an increased risk of infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.

Wrinkling of the skin develops earlier in chronic smokers. Wrinkling of the skin develops earlier in chronic smokers. On average they look 5 years older than non- smokers of the same age do. On average they look 5 years older than non- smokers of the same age do. It reduces women's fertility It reduces women's fertility It impairs erections in middle-aged and older men and may affect the quality of their sperm. It seems to "sedate" sperm and to impair their motility. It impairs erections in middle-aged and older men and may affect the quality of their sperm. It seems to "sedate" sperm and to impair their motility. This is reversed after stopping smoking. This is reversed after stopping smoking.

Smoke passes through the bronchi, or breathing tubes. Smoke passes through the bronchi, or breathing tubes. Hydrogen Cyanide and other chemicals in the smoke attack the lining of the bronchi, inflaming them. Hydrogen Cyanide and other chemicals in the smoke attack the lining of the bronchi, inflaming them. Because the bronchi are weakened, a smoker is more likely to get bronchial infections. Because the bronchi are weakened, a smoker is more likely to get bronchial infections.

Smoking causes many premature deaths from diseases that are largely incurable. There are three main killing diseases which smoking causes or brings on earlier: Smoking causes many premature deaths from diseases that are largely incurable. There are three main killing diseases which smoking causes or brings on earlier: Heart disease. Smoking is responsible for 30 % of all heart attacks Heart disease. Smoking is responsible for 30 % of all heart attacks Cancer. It is responsible for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths each year. Cancer. It is responsible for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths each year. Lung problems. Smoking is responsible for 82 % of deaths due to emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Lung problems. Smoking is responsible for 82 % of deaths due to emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

What happens if you quit right now? Write down 5 things you think will happen if someone who smokes were to quit right now. Write down 5 things you think will happen if someone who smokes were to quit right now.

In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal. In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal. In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal. In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal. In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level. In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level. In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase. In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.

In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks. In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks. In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%. In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%. In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half. In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half. In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker. In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.

In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker. In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker. In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker. In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.

Why Do People Smoke? Nicotine acts in the brain where it can stimulate feelings of pleasure, and pleasure feels good! Nicotine acts in the brain where it can stimulate feelings of pleasure, and pleasure feels good! It also will work as an appetite suppressant for many people; other people believe it relieves stress. It also will work as an appetite suppressant for many people; other people believe it relieves stress. There are some models that will tell you that her secret to being thin is caffeine and cigarettes (both stimulants). There are some models that will tell you that her secret to being thin is caffeine and cigarettes (both stimulants).

Nicotine raises the levels of dopamine in the parts of the brain that produce feelings of pleasure and reward. Nicotine raises the levels of dopamine in the parts of the brain that produce feelings of pleasure and reward.

How do people get addicted? People start smoking for a variety of different reasons. People start smoking for a variety of different reasons. Some think it looks cool. Others start because their family members or friends smoke. Some think it looks cool. Others start because their family members or friends smoke. Most adults who started smoking in their teens never expected to become addicted. Most adults who started smoking in their teens never expected to become addicted.

Experimental smoking usually begins the habit. Experimental smoking usually begins the habit. Next comes occasional cigarette smoking at parties, on weekends, with friends or when trying to lose weight. Next comes occasional cigarette smoking at parties, on weekends, with friends or when trying to lose weight. This is the most dangerous stage, because it usually leads to an addictive phase, when teens become regular smokers. This is the most dangerous stage, because it usually leads to an addictive phase, when teens become regular smokers. People who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting, and fewer than 1 in 10 people who try to quit smoking succeed. People who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting, and fewer than 1 in 10 people who try to quit smoking succeed.

What about What about Hookahs? Hookahs are water pipes used to smoke tobacco through a hose with a tapered mouthpiece. Hookahs are water pipes used to smoke tobacco through a hose with a tapered mouthpiece. There's a myth going around that hookahs are safer because the smoke is cooled when it passes through the water. There's a myth going around that hookahs are safer because the smoke is cooled when it passes through the water.

Take a look at the black, resinous gunk that builds up in a hookah hose. Some of that gets into users' mouths and lungs. Take a look at the black, resinous gunk that builds up in a hookah hose. Some of that gets into users' mouths and lungs. Experts say hookahs are no safer than cigarettes — and since they don't have filters and people often use them for long periods, the health risks might be even greater. Experts say hookahs are no safer than cigarettes — and since they don't have filters and people often use them for long periods, the health risks might be even greater. Hookahs are usually shared, so there's the additional risk from germs being passed around along with the pipe. Hookahs are usually shared, so there's the additional risk from germs being passed around along with the pipe.

Is smokeless tobacco safer than cigarettes?

It's true that many people think smokeless tobacco (also known as chewing tobacco or snuff) isn't as bad as cigarettes. It's true that many people think smokeless tobacco (also known as chewing tobacco or snuff) isn't as bad as cigarettes. One study quoted said that 77 percent of kids thought cigarette smoking was very harmful, but only 40 percent thought smokeless tobacco was harmful. One study quoted said that 77 percent of kids thought cigarette smoking was very harmful, but only 40 percent thought smokeless tobacco was harmful.

Smokeless tobacco use is connected with all sorts of problems. Smokeless tobacco use is connected with all sorts of problems. Can cause bleeding gums and sores of the mouth that never heal. Can cause bleeding gums and sores of the mouth that never heal. Can lead to cancer of the tongue or salivary glands. Can lead to cancer of the tongue or salivary glands. Tobacco is tobacco: it all contains nicotine, and nicotine is very addictive! Tobacco is tobacco: it all contains nicotine, and nicotine is very addictive!