Chap. 21 Tobacco

Facts According to the Surgeon General, tobacco use, particularly smoking, is the number one cause of preventable disease and death in the United States Cigarettes contain 43 known carcinogens, including cyanide, arsenic, antifreeze, and poisonous chemicals that are used to clean toilets and kill insects.

Tobacco Nicotine: a substance that causes physiological or psychological dependence All tobacco products contain nicotine Nicotine is classified as a stimulant, which is a drug that increases the action of the central nervous system Nicotine raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, and contributes to heart disease and stroke

Toxic Mixture Tobacco smoke has been classified as a Group A carcinogen. A carcinogen is a cancer-causing substance Cigarettes contain tar, tar penetrates the smoker’s respiratory system and destroys cilia. Cilia is the tiny hair-like structures that line the upper airways and protect against infection by regulating mucous. (This is why smokers have to cough or hack in order to move mucous out of the lungs) Carbon monoxide is also found in cigarettes, it replaces oxygen in the blood, thereby depriving the tissues and cells of oxygen.

Types of Tobacco Smokeless Cigarettes Cigars Pipe tobacco Clove cigarettes

Effects of Smokeless Tobacco It’s tobacco that is sniffed or chewed This is not a safe alternative to smoking Since smokeless tobacco is often held in the mouth for a long period of time, it delivers both nicotine and carcinogens to the body at levels that can be two or three times the amount delivered by a single cigarette Leukoplakia is a result of smokeless tobacco. It is thickened, white, leathery-looking spots on the insides of the mouth that can develop into oral cancer.

Short-Term Affects of the Body Change in brain chemistry (Addiction, crave more nicotine) Increased Respiration (Breathing becomes more difficult) Increased Heart Rate (Irregular heart rate can occur) Dulled Taste Buds (Cant enjoy food) Reduced appetite Bad Breath (Unattractive effect of tobacco abuse) Smelly Hair Smell Clothes Skin irritation

Long-Term Affects of the Body Chronic Bronchitis (Cilia no longer functions) Lung Cancer (Cancerous cells grow as a result of mucous not being regulated) Stroke (Arteries become clogged, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke) Emphysema (Air sacs in lungs are destroyed, much more difficult to absorb oxygen) Coronary Heart Disease (Constrictions of blood flow to the heart)

Reduced Tobacco Use Among Teens Smoking rates among teens have fallen sharply in recent years Some factors contributing to this trend are: Antismoking campaigns Financial Cost Societal Pressures Family Influence

Benefits of Living Tobacco Free Avoiding tobacco lowers the risk of: Lung Cancer, heart disease, and stoke It improves cardiovascular endurance, lung function, enhances athletic performance Experience less stress because you’re not dependent on an addictive substance Have healthier skin, more energy, smell better, and most of all feel better

Strategies for Preventing Use of Tobacco Nearly 90% of all adults smokers started when they were teens If you avoid tobacco at an early age, you are likely to stay tobacco free throughout your life Here are some tips on how to stay tobacco free: Choose friends who don’t use tobacco Avoid situations where tobacco product may be sued Practice and use refusal skills “Say NO Thanks)

Why some teens use Tobacco Think is will help control their weight Help cope with stress Might make them seem mature or independent Peer Pressure Media Influences Ads portray tobacco use as glamorous Boredom To get back at someone (Revenge factor)

Withdrawal from Tobacco Symptoms Include: Irritability Difficulty concentrating Anxiety Sleep disturbance Cravings for tobacco Weight Gain To relieve symptoms: People use nicotine substitutes Nicotine Patch Nicotine Gum Nasal Sprays Inhalers (All release small amounts of nicotine in to a person’s system, eventually helping that person give up the habit)

Tips for Quitting Prepare for the Day Get Support and Encouragement Identify health-related services in the community Replace tobacco use with healthier alternatives Change daily behavior Engage n healthful behaviors

Effects of smoke on Unborn Children Smoking during pregnancy can seriously harm the developing fetus Nicotine passes through the placenta, constricting the blood vessels of the fetus Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen levels in the mother’s and the fetus’s blood These negative effects increase the risk of impaired fetal growth, miscarriage, prenatal death, premature delivery, low birth weight, deformities, and stillbirths Babies can also suffer from growth and developmental problems throughout early childhood

Effects of smoke on Infants Children of smokers are nearly twice as likely to be in poor health as those of nonsmokers Children of smokers tend to have a higher incidence of sore throats, ear infections, and upper respiratory problems Children who live with smokers have double the risk of developing lung cancer Because children learn by example, it’s not surprising that children of smokers are nearly three times as likely to smoke as children of nonsmokers (Being a positive role model is another good reason to make the choice to be tobacco free)

Closing Facts Each day 3,000 children smoke their first cigarette 20 percent of American teens smoke Roughly 6 million teens in the US today smoke despite the knowledge that it is addictive and leads to disease. 3,000 nonsmoking adults die of diseases caused by exposure to second hand smoke every year. According to the Surgeon's General, Teenagers who smoke were: Three times more likely to use alcohol. Eight times are likely to smoke marijuana. And 22 times more likely to use Cocaine.