Smoking

smoking,

inhalation and exhalation of the fumes of burning tobaccotobacco,
name for any plant of the genus Nicotiana of the Solanaceae family (nightshade family) and for the product manufactured from the leaf and used in cigars and cigarettes, snuff, and pipe and chewing tobacco.
..... Click the link for more information. in cigars and cigarettescigar and cigarette,
tubular rolls of tobacco designed for smoking. Cigars consist of filler leaves held together by binder leaves and covered with a wrapper leaf, which is rolled spirally around the binder.
..... Click the link for more information. and pipes. Some persons draw the smoke into their lungs; others do not. Smoking was probably first practiced by the indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere. Originally used in religious rituals, and in some instances for medicinal purposes, smoking and the use of tobacco became a widespread practice by the late 1500s. Tobacco was introduced into Europe by the explorers of the New World; however, many rulers prohibited its use and penalized offenders. By the end of the 19th cent. mass production of cigarettes had begun, and the smoking of cigarettes became prevalent as the use of cigars and pipes declined. Despite controversy as to the effects of smoking and bans on smoking by certain religious groups, the use of tobacco continued to increase.

Health Effects

Smoking is considered a health hazard because tobacco smoke contains nicotinenicotine,
C₁₀H₁₄N₂, poisonous, pale yellow, oily liquid alkaloid with a pungent odor and an acrid taste. It turns brown on exposure to air. Nicotine, a naturally occurring constituent of tobacco, is the active ingredient in tobacco smoke.
..... Click the link for more information. , a poisonous alkaloid, and other harmful substances such as carbon monoxide, acrolein, ammonia, prussic acid, and a number of aldehydes and tars; in all tobacco contains some 4,000 chemicals. In 1964 definitive proof that cigarette smoking is a serious health hazard was contained in a report by the Surgeon General's Advisory Committee on Health, appointed by the U.S. Public Health Service. The committee drew evidence from numerous studies conducted over decades. They concluded that a smoker has a significantly greater chance of contracting lung cancerlung cancer,
cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell.
..... Click the link for more information. than a nonsmoker, the rate varying according to factors such as the number of cigarettes smoked per day, the number of years the subject smoked, and the time in the person's life when he or she began smoking. Cigarette smoking was also found to be an important cause of cancers of the esophagus, nasopharynx, mouth, larynx, kidney, and bladder as well as a cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysemaemphysema
, pathological or physiological enlargement or overdistention of the air sacs of the lungs. A major cause of pulmonary insufficiency in chronic cigarette smokers, emphysema is a progressive disease that commonly occurs in conjunction with chronic bronchitis.
..... Click the link for more information. , and heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Since then it has been found to be an independent risk factor in male impotence. Smoking also increases risks associated with oral contraceptive use and exposure to occupational hazards, such as asbestosasbestos,
common name for any of a variety of silicate minerals within the amphibole and serpentine groups that are fibrous in structure and more or less resistant to acid and fire.
..... Click the link for more information. . Pipe and cigar smokers, if they do not inhale, are not as prone to lung cancer as cigarette smokers, but they are as likely to develop cancers of the mouth, larynx, and esophagus. Those who use snuff or chewing tobacco (sometimes called "smokeless tobacco") run a greater risk of developing cancer of the mouth.

Inhalation of tobacco smoke by nonsmokers has been found to increase the risk of heart disease and respiratory problems; this has created a movement for smokeless environments in public spaces, including government buildings, office buildings, and restaurants. Fetal damage can be caused if a mother smokes or is exposed to smoke during pregnancy. Children of smokers have a higher risk of asthma and lung disease.

Regulation of Tobacco and Smoking

Because of mounting evidence of health risks, television advertisements for cigarettes were banned beginning in 1971. In the 1980s, Congress began to require stronger warning labels on all print advertising; soon afterward it banned smoking on domestic air flights. Concerns about the effects of tobacco smoke on nonsmokers led government and businesses to place additional restrictions on smoking in public, common, and work areas; more than two thirds of U.S. states now place some restrictions on smoking in public places.

A 1988 report of the Surgeon General of the United States recognized nicotine as an addictive substance, leading the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider treating nicotine as any other addictive drug and implementing stricter regulations. The authority of the FDA to regulate smoking was, however, denied by the Supreme Court. In 2009, however, the U.S. Congress passed legislation that allows the Food and Drug Administration to regulate cigarettes and other forms of tobacco; the law also imposed additional restrictions on the marketing of tobacco products. The habit of smoking continues to increase in the young despite the illegality of cigarette sales to those under 18 years of age in all 50 states.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a treaty adopted by World Health Organization members in 2003, seeks to reduce the number of tobacco-related illnesses and deaths by establishing international standards for antismoking measures; it entered into force in 2005. The convention restricts the marketing and sale of tobacco products and requires health warnings on packages of cigarettes. The treaty has been signed, but not ratified, by the United States. Indoor air quality laws, high taxes on tobacco, and measures against cigarette smuggling are encouraged under the pact.

Legal Battles

In the mid- and late 1990s the tobacco industry in the United States faced grave legal and financial threats. Under heavy attack from states seeking compensation to recover costs for smoking-related health care, from the federal government seeking further regulation, and from individual smokers seeking damages for illness, the major cigarette producers sought ways to protect themselves. After a tentative $368 billion settlement (1997) with state attorneys and plaintiffs' lawyers fell apart, lawsuits were brought against the industry by Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Texas; the suits were settled for $40 billion, to be paid over 25 years. In 1998 the remaining 46 states accepted a $206 billion plan to settle lawsuits they had filed against the industry. Individual lawsuits continued to pose potential significant financial threats.

Bibliography

See publications of the Office on Smoking and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and publications of the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association; see also E. C. Hammond, I. J. Selikoff, and J. Chung, "Asbestos exposure, cigarette smoking and death rates" from Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (1979); R. J. Troyer and G. E. Markle, Cigarettes: The Battle over Smoking (1983); P. Taylor, The Smoke Ring (1984); Imperial Cancer Research Fund, World Health Organization, and American Cancer Society, Mortality from Smoking in Developed Countries 1950–2000 (1994); R. Kluger, Ashes to Ashes (1996); S. A. Glantz, J. Slade, L. A. Bero, P. Hanauer, D. E. Barnes, The Cigarette Papers (1996).

Smoking

processing meat and fish products with smoke to increase their stability during storage and to add a specific flavor and aroma. Smoking is usually preceded by light pickling. Meat and fish were smoked over open fires as early as the Stone Age. The Slavic peoples knew smoking in the tenth through 12th centuries. In Russia fish was first smoked for commercial purposes in the 13th and 14th centuries in Novgorod.

The preservative effect of smoking is a result of the partial dehydration of the product and the smoke’s bactericidal effect and antioxidative capacity. Table salt is added to the product during processing. The formation of the specific smoky flavor and aroma depends principally on penetration of the product by phenolic compounds and organic acids contained in the smoke.

The wood and sawdust of predominantly hardwoods are used for the smoke; they are burned either directly in the smokehouse or in a smoke generator (sawdust), from which the smoke enters the smokehouse. Smoking may be cold (18°–22°C for meat, 20°–40°C for fish) or hot (35°-50°C for meat, 80°-170°C for fish). The smoking action can be accelerated by electrosmoking, in which particles of smoke ionized by an electrical current are directed into an electrical field and precipitate on the surface of the product.

The smoking medium contains aromatic hydrocarbons—for example, 3.4-benzipyrene. Therefore there is a move toward a smokeless method that uses smoking fluids with no carcinogenic substances. Smoking fluids can be obtained by distilling a concentrate of smoke or mixing a number of chemical products. The fluids are either introduced into the product in the process of its manufacture (sausage products) or are used as a bath for the product (fish).

REFERENCES

Kurko, V. I. Fiziko-khimicheskie i khimicheskie osnovy kopcheniia. Moscow, 1960.
Tekhnologiia miasa i miasoproduktov, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1970.

V. N. RUSAKOV

Smoking

a common type of drug addiction, the most widespread form of which is nicotine addiction, the effect of smoking tobacco. Smoking is also therapeutically useful as a means of taking certain medicinal agents, including drugs for bronchial asthma.

Tobacco was introduced into Spain and Portugal from America by Christopher Columbus at the end of the 15th century. At first, it was used as an ornamental plant; only later was it used for smoking. It was introduced into France in the 16th century, when the queen was presented with a gift of tobacco (for therapeutic use) by the French ambassador to Portugal, J. Nicot (hence, “nicotine”). Tobacco leaves were not used only for smoking; dried and ground, they were used for snuff. The immoderate use of tobacco led to cases of intoxication, which prompted the authorities to prosecute smoking. For example, in England, severe penalties were imposed for smoking, and in Italy, Pope Urban VII excommunicated those who used tobacco. At the beginning of the 17th century tobacco was introduced into Russia, but there, too, smoking was prosecuted by the authorities. Tsar Mikhail Romanov ordered that smokers be caned and whipped; in 1649, Tsar Alexei Romanov made the prohibition against smoking part of the legal code. Peter I, who adopted the habit while in Holland, permitted the sale of tobacco, after imposing a duty on it for the benefit of the state. Smoking gradually spread and became a common vice.

When tobacco is smoked, a craving for it develops rapidly, fostered by the transformation of the act of smoking into a unique ritual. The harmful influence on the body of the products formed by the dry volatilization of tobacco in smoking has been established. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, the tooth enamel is damaged, and caries may develop. Stomatitides and gingivitis often develop as a result of smoking. The chronic influence of nicotine on the autonomic nervous system leads to general autonomic disturbances, increased gastric secretion, and elevated gastric acidity. Gastritides and peptic ulcers develop, a tendency to constipation or diarrhea appears, and secretion of saliva intensifies, causing deposits of tartar on the teeth. The vasoconstrictive effect of nicotine causes trophic changes in the walls of the blood vessels; this, in turn, promotes the development of atherosclerosis and systemic vascular diseases. A special type of “smoker’s disease” is intermittent dysbasia from endarteritis obliterans of the legs and feet. The constant irritation of the mucosa of the bronchi and bronchioles leads to chronic disease and sometimes, bronchial asthma.

In addition to nicotine bases, tobacco smoke contains other harmful substances. It has been proved that for those who smoke more than two packs of cigarettes per day the risk of contracting lung cancer is 20 times greater than for nonsmokers (see Table 1).

A connection has been established between smoking and cancer

Table 1. Relationship between smoking and mortality
Cigarettes per day	Mortality per 100,000 population
Source: Hammond and Horn, USA
0.5 packs	95.2
0.5-1 packs	107.8
1-2 packs	229.2
More than 2 packs	264.2
Nonsmokers	12.8

of the lips, oral cavity, and trachea. The percentage of tuberculosis patients is almost twice as high among smokers as among nonsmokers, and 95 percent of the cases of tuberculosis that begin in adulthood occur in smokers.

Smoking tobacco produces temporary euphoria, as does every narcotic. According to data compiled by the Soviet pharmacologist N. P. Kravkov, the temporary stimulation of mental activity during smoking depends not only on nicotine but also on the reflex influence on brain circulation of the stimulation by smoke of the sensory nerves of the oral cavity and respiratory tract. Smoke is damaging to the health not only of smokers but also of those in their vicinity. Smoking is especially harmful during pregnancy. Nicotine enters the mother’s blood and is toxic to the fetus.

Acute nicotine poisoning, the symptoms of which are nausea, vomiting, rapid pulse, convulsions, and elevated blood pressure, is usually observed in first attempts at smoking.

Psychotherapy and preventive psychological counseling have decisive importance in treating nicotine addiction. Certain medicinal agents, such as Tabex and Lobesil, are also helpful.

REFERENCE

Stoiko, A. G. Khronicheskii nikotinizm (tabakokurenie) i ego lechente. Moscow, 1958.

I. I. LIKOMSKII

Smoking

(dreams)It is very common for ex-smokers to dream about smoking. This type of a dream could be called wish-fulfillment or a compensatory dream. The smoker misses smoking. He cannot smoke during the day, and therefore he smokes in his dreams. If you are dreaming about being surrounded by other people’s smoke, you may be experiencing some confusion and anxiety in daily life or in regard to a particular situation. Smoke or smoking usually depletes people of energy and hampers one’s ability to think clearly and act directly with the issues at hand.

smoking

Smoking

Definition

Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress. A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Many health experts now regard habitual smoking as a psychological addiction, too, and one with serious health consequences.

Description

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asserted that cigarettes and smokeless tobacco should be considered nicotine delivery devices. Nicotine, the active ingredient in tobacco, is inhaled into the lungs, where most of it stays. The rest passes into the bloodstream, reaching the brain in about 10 seconds and dispersing throughout the body in about 20 seconds.Depending on the circumstances and the amount consumed, nicotine can act as either a stimulant or tranquilizer. This can explain why some people report that smoking gives them energy and stimulates their mental activity, while others note that smoking relieves anxiety and relaxes them. The initial "kick" results in part from the drug's stimulation of the adrenal glands and resulting release of epinephrine into the blood. Epinephrine causes several physiological changes—it temporarily narrows the arteries, raises the blood pressure, raises the levels of fat in the blood, and increases the heart rate and flow of blood from the heart. Some researchers think epinephrine contributes to smokers' increased risk of high blood pressure.Nicotine, by itself, increases the risk of heart disease. However, when a person smokes, he or she is ingesting a lot more than nicotine. Smoke from a cigarette, pipe, or cigar is made up of many additional toxic chemicals, including tar and carbon monoxide. Tar is a sticky substance that forms into deposits in the lungs, causing lung cancer and respiratory distress. Carbon monoxide limits the amount of oxygen that the red blood cells can convey throughout your body. Also, it may damage the inner walls of the arteries, which allows fat to build up in them.Besides tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide, tobacco smoke contains 4,000 different chemicals. More than 200 of these chemicals are known be toxic. Nonsmokers who are exposed to tobacco smoke also take in these toxic chemicals. They inhale the smoke exhaled by the smoker as well as the more toxic sidestream smoke—the smoke from the end of the burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe.Here's why sidestream smoke is more toxic than exhaled smoke: When a person smokes, the smoke he or she inhales and then breathes out leaves harmful deposits inside the body. But because lungs partially cleanse the smoke, exhaled smoke contains fewer poisonous chemicals. That's why exposure to tobacco smoke is dangerous even for a nonsmoker.

Causes and symptoms

No one starts smoking to become addicted to nicotine. It isn't known how much nicotine may be consumed before the body becomes addicted. However, once smoking becomes a habit, the smoker faces a lifetime of health risks associated with one of the strongest addictions known to man.About 70% of smokers in the United States would like to quit; in any given year, however, only about 3.6% of the country's 47 million smokers quit successfully.Although specific genes have not yet been identified as of 2003, researchers think that genetic factors contribute substantially to developing a smoking habit. Several twin studies have led to estimates of 46-84% heritability for smoking. It is thought that some genetic variations affect the speed of nicotine metabolism in the body and the activity level of nicotinic receptors in the brain.

Symptoms That Occur After Quitting Smoking
Symptom	Cause	Duration	Relief
Craving for cigarette	nicotine craving	first week can linger for months	distract yourself with other activity
Irritability, impatience	nicotine craving	2 to 4 weeks	Exercise, relaxation techniques, avoid caffeine
Insomnia	nicotine craving temporarily reduces deep sleep	2 to 4 weeks	Avoid caffeine after 6 PM relaxation techniques; exercise
Fatigue	lack of nicotine stimulation	2 to 4 weeks	Nap
Lack of concentration	lack of nicotine stimulation	A few weeks	Reduce workload; avoid stress
Hunger	cigarettes craving confused hunger pangs	Up to several weeks	Drink water or low calorie drinks; eat low-calorie snacks
Coughing, dry throat, nasal drip	Body ridding itself of mucus in lungs and airways	Several weeks	Drink plenty of fluids; use cough drops
Constipation, gas	Intestinal movement decreases with lack of nicotine	1 to 2 weeks	Drink plenty of fluids; add fiber to diet; exercise

Smoking risks

Smoking is recognized as the leading preventable cause of death, causing or contributing to the deaths of approximately 430,700 Americans each year. Anyone with a smoking habit has an increased chance of lung, cervical, and other types of cancer; respiratory diseases such as emphysema, asthma, and chronic bronchitis; and cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, and atherosclerosis (narrowing and hardening of the arteries). The risk of stroke is especially high in women who take birth control pills.Smoking can damage fertility, making it harder to conceive, and it can interfere with the growth of the fetus during pregnancy. It accounts for an estimated 14% of premature births and 10% of infant deaths. There is some evidence that smoking may cause impotence in some men.Because smoking affects so many of the body's systems, smokers often have vitamin deficiencies and suffer oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that steal electrons from other molecules, turning the other molecules into free radicals and destabilizing the molecules in the body's cells.Smoking is recognized as one of several factors that might be related to a higher risk of hip fractures in older adults.Studies reveal that the more a person smokes, the more likely he is to sustain illnesses such as cancer, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. But even smokers who indulge in the habit only occasionally are more prone to these diseases.Some brands of cigarettes are advertised as "low tar," but no cigarette is truly safe. If a smoker switches to a low-tar cigarette, he is likely to inhale longer and more deeply to get the chemicals his body craves. A smoker has to quit the habit entirely in order to improve his health and decrease the chance of disease.Though some people believe chewing tobacco is safer, it also carries health risks. People who chew tobacco have an increased risk of heart disease and mouth and throat cancer. Pipe and cigar smokers have increased health risks as well, even though these smokers generally do not inhale as deeply as cigarette smokers do. These groups haven't been studied as extensively as cigarette smokers, but there is evidence that they may be at a slightly lower risk of cardiovascular problems but a higher risk of cancer and various types of circulatory conditions.Recent research reveals that passive smokers, or those who unavoidably breathe in second-hand tobacco smoke, have an increased chance of many health problems such as lung cancer and asthma, and in children, sudden infant death syndrome.

Smokers' symptoms

Smokers are likely to exhibit a variety of symptoms that reveal the damage caused by smoking. A nagging morning cough may be one sign of a tobacco habit. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, and frequent occurrences of respiratory illness, such as bronchitis. Smoking also increases fatigue and decreases the smoker's sense of smell and taste. Smokers are more likely to develop poor circulation, with cold hands and feet and premature wrinkles.Sometimes the illnesses that result from smoking come on silently with little warning. For instance, coronary artery disease may exhibit few or no symptoms. At other times, there will be warning signs, such as bloody discharge from a woman's vagina, a sign of cancer of the cervix. Another warning sign is a hacking cough, worse than the usual smoker's cough, that brings up phlegm or blood—a sign of lung cancer.

Withdrawal symptoms

A smoker who tries to quit may expect one or more of these withdrawal symptoms: nausea, constipation or diarrhea, drowsiness, loss of concentration, insomnia, headache, nausea, and irritability.

Diagnosis

It's not easy to quit smoking. That's why it may be wise for a smoker to turn to his physician for help. For the greatest success in quitting and to help with the withdrawal symptoms, the smoker should talk over a treatment plan with his doctor or alternative practitioner. He should have a general physical examination to gauge his general health and uncover any deficiencies. He should also have a thorough evaluation for some of the serious diseases that smoking can cause.

Treatment

Research shows that most smokers who want to quit benefit from the support of other people. It helps to quit with a friend or to join a group such as those organized by the American Cancer Society. These groups provide support and teach behavior modification methods that can help the smoker quit. The smoker's physician can often refer him to such groups.Other alternatives to help with the withdrawal symptoms of kicking the habit include nicotine replacement therapy in the form of gum, patches, nasal sprays, and oral inhalers. These are available by prescription or over the counter. A physician can provide advice on how to use them. They slowly release a small amount of nicotine into the bloodstream, satisfying the smoker's physical craving. Over time, the amount of gum the smoker chews is decreased and the amount of time between applying the patches is increased. This helps wean the smoker from nicotine slowly, eventually beating his addiction to the drug. But there's one important caution: If the smoker lights up while taking a nicotine replacement, a nicotine overdose may cause serious health problems.The prescription drug Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride) has shown some success in helping smokers quit. This drug contains no nicotine, and was originally developed as an antidepressant. It isn't known exactly how bupropion works to suppress the desire for nicotine. A five-year study of bupropion reported in 2003 that the drug has a very good record for safety and effectiveness in treating tobacco dependence. Its most common side effect is insomnia, which can also result from nicotine withdrawal.Researchers are investigating two new types of drugs as possible treatments for tobacco dependence as of 2003. The first is an alkaloid known as 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), which selectively blocks the nicotinic receptors in brain tissue. Another approach involves developing drugs that inhibit the activity of cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6), which controls the metabolism of nicotine.

Expected results

Research on smoking shows that most smokers desire to quit. But smoking is so addictive that fewer than 20% of the people who try ever successfully kick the habit. Still, many people attempt to quit smoking over and over again, despite the difficulties—the cravings and withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability and restlessness.For those who do quit, the benefits to health are well worth the effort. The good news is that once a smoker quits the health effects are immediate and dramatic. After the first day, oxygen and carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal. At two days, nerve endings begin to grow back and the senses of taste and smell revive. Within two weeks to three months, circulation and breathing improve. After one year of not smoking, the risk of heart disease is reduced by 50%. After 15 years of abstinence, the risks of health problems from smoking virtually vanish. A smoker who quits for good often feels a lot better too, with less fatigue and fewer respiratory illnesses.

Alternative treatment

There are a wide range of alternative treatments that can help a smoker quit the habit, including hypnotherapy, herbs, acupuncture, and meditation. For example, a controlled trial demonstrated that self-massage can help smokers crave less intensely, smoke fewer cigarettes, and in some cases completely give them up.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy helps the smoker achieve a trance-like state, during which the deepest levels of the mind are accessed. A session with a hypnotherapist may begin with a discussion of whether the smoker really wants to and truly has the motivation to stop smoking. The therapist will explain how hypnosis can reduce the stress-related symptoms that sometimes come with kicking the habit.Often the therapist will discuss the dangers of smoking with the patient and begin to "reframe" the patient's thinking about smoking. Many smokers are convinced they can't quit, and the therapist can help persuade them that they can change this behavior. These suggestions are then repeated while the smoker is under hypnosis. The therapist may also suggest while the smoker is under hypnosis that his feelings of worry, anxiety, and irritability will decrease.In a review of 17 studies of the effectiveness of hypnotherapy, the percentage of people treated by hypnosis who still were not smoking after six months ranged from 4-8%. In programs that included several hours of treatment, intense interpersonal interaction, individualized suggestions, and follow-up treatment, success rates were above 50%.

Aromatherapy

One study demonstrated that inhaling the vapor from black pepper extract can reduce symptoms associated with smoking withdrawal. Other essential oils can be used for relieving the anxiety a smoker often experiences while quitting.

Herbs

A variety of herbs can help smokers reduce their cravings for nicotine, calm their irritability, and even reverse the oxidative cellular damage done by smoking. Lobelia, sometimes called Indian tobacco, has historically been used as a substitute for tobacco. It contains a substance called lobeline, which decreases the craving for nicotine by bolstering the nervous system and calming the smoker. In high doses, lobelia can cause vomiting, but the average dose—about 10 drops per day—should pose no problems.Herbs that can help relax a smoker during withdrawal include wild oats and kava kava.To reduce the oral fixation supplied by a nicotine habit, a smoker can chew on licorice root—the plant, not the candy. Licorice is good for the liver, which is a major player in the body's detoxification process. Licorice also acts as a tonic for the adrenal system, which helps reduce stress. And there's an added benefit: If a smoker tries to light up after chewing on licorice root, the cigarette tastes like burned cardboard.Other botanicals that can help repair free-radical damage to the lungs and cardiovascular system are those high in flavonoids, such as hawthorn, gingko biloba, and bilberry, as well as antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, and selenium.

Acupuncture

This ancient Chinese method of healing is used commonly to help beat addictions, including smoking. The acupuncturist will use hair-thin needles to stimulate the body's qi, or healthy energy. Acupuncture is a sophisticated treatment system based on revitalizing qi, which supposedly flows through the body in defined pathways called meridians. During an addiction like smoking, qi isn't flowing smoothly or gets stuck, the theory goes.Points in the ear and feet are stimulated to help the smoker overcome his addiction. Often the acupuncturist will recommend keeping the needles in for five to seven days to calm the smoker and keep him balanced.

Vitamins

Smoking seriously depletes vitamin C in the body and leaves it more susceptible to infections. Vitamin C can prevent or reduce free-radical damage by acting as an antioxidant in the lungs. Smokers need additional C, in higher dosage than nonsmokers. Fish in the diet supplies Omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with a reduced risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema or chronic bronchitis) in smokers. Omega-3 fats also provide cardiovascular benefits as well as an anti-depressive effect. Vitamin therapy doesn't reduce craving but it can help beat some of the damage created by smoking. Vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid may help protect against smoking-induced cancer.

Prevention

How do you give up your cigarettes for good and never go back to them again?

Key terms

Antioxidant — Any substance that reduces the damage caused by oxidation, such as the harm caused by free radicals.Chronic bronchitis — A smoking-related respiratory illness in which the membranes that line the bronchi, or the lung's air passages, narrow over time. Symptoms include a morning cough that brings up phlegm, breathlessness, and wheezing.Cytochrome — A substance that contains iron and acts as a hydrogen carrier for the eventual release of energy in aerobic respiration.Emphysema — An incurable, smoking-related disease, in which the air sacs at the end of the lung's bronchi become weak and inefficient. People with emphysema often first notice shortness of breath, repeated wheezing and coughing that brings up phlegm.Epinephrine — A nervous system hormone stimulated by the nicotine in tobacco. It increases heart rate and may raise smokers' blood pressure.Flavonoid — A food chemical that helps to limit oxidative damage to the body's cells, and protects against heart disease and cancer.Free radical — An unstable molecule that causes oxidative damage by stealing electrons from surrounding molecules, thereby disrupting activity in the body's cells.Nicotine — The addictive ingredient of tobacco, it acts on the nervous system and is both stimulating and calming.Nicotine replacement therapy — A method of weaning a smoker away from both nicotine and the oral fixation that accompanies a smoking habit by giving the smoker smaller and smaller doses of nicotine in the form of a patch or gum.Sidestream smoke — The smoke that is emitted from the burning end of a cigarette or cigar, or that comes from the end of a pipe. Along with exhaled smoke, it is a constituent of second-hand smoke.Here are a few tips from the experts:

Have a plan and set a definite quit date.
Get rid of all the cigarettes and ashtrays at home or in your desk at work.
Don't allow others to smoke in your house.
Tell your friends and neighbors that you're quitting. Doing so helps make quitting a matter of pride.
Chew sugarless gum or eat sugar-free hard candy to redirect the oral fixation that comes with smoking. This will prevent weight gain, too.
Eat as much as you want, but only low-calorie foods and drinks. Drink plenty of water. This may help with the feelings of tension and restlessness that quitting can bring. After eight weeks, you'll lose your craving for tobacco, so it's safe then to return to your usual eating habits.
Stay away from social situations that prompt you to smoke. Dine in the nonsmoking section of restaurants.
Spend the money you save not smoking on an occasional treat for yourself.

Resources

Periodicals

"AAAAI, EPA Mount Effort to Raise Awareness to Dangers of Secondhand Smoke." Immunotherapy Weekly November 30, 2001: 30.Batra, V., A. A. Patkar, W. H. Berrettini, et al. "The Genetic Determinants of Smoking." Chest 123 (May 2003): 1338-1340.Ferry, L., and J. A. Johnston. "Efficacy and Safety of Bupropion SR for Smoking Cessation: Data from Clinical Trials and Five Years of Postmarketing Experience." International Journal of Clinical Practice 57 (April 2003): 224-230.Janson, Christer, Susan Chinn, Deborah Jarvis, et al. "Effect of Passive Smoking on Respiratory Symptoms, Bronchial Responsiveness, Lung Function, and Total Serum IgE in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey: A Cross-Sectional Study." Lancet 358 (December 22, 2001): 2103.Lerman, C., and W. Berrettini. "Elucidating the Role of Genetic Factors in Smoking Behavior and Nicotine Dependence." American Journal of Medical Genetics 118-B (April 1, 2003): 48-54.Maisonneuve, I. M., and S. D. Glick. "Anti-Addictive Actions of an Iboga Alkaloid Congener: A Novel Mechanism for a Novel Treatment." Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior 75 (June 2003): 607-618.Richmomd, R., and N. Zwar. "Review of Bupropion for Smoking Cessation." Drug and Alcohol Review 22 (June 2003): 203-220.Sellers, E. M., R. F. Tyndale, and L. C. Fernandes. "Decreasing Smoking Behaviour and Risk through CYP2A6 Inhibition." Drug Discovery Today 8 (June 1, 2003): 487-493."Study Shows Link Between Asthma and Childhood Exposure to Smoking." Immunotherapy Weekly October 10, 2001: np.Yochum, L., L. H. Kushi, and A. R. Folsom. "Dietary Flavonoid Intake and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Postmenopausal Women." American Journal of Epidemiology 149, no. 10 (May 1999): 943-9.

Organizations

American Association of Oriental Medicine. 5530 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1210, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. (301) 941-1064 or (888) 500-7999. http://www.aaom.org.American Cancer Society. Contact the local organization or call (800) 227-2345. http://www.cancer.org.American Lung Association. 1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. (800) 586-4872 or (212) 315-8700. http://www.lungusa.org.Herb Research Foundation. 1007 Pearl St., Suite 200, Boulder CO 80302. (303) 449-2265. http://www.herbs.org.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Building 31, Room 5A52, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2486, Bethesda, MD 20892. (301) 592-8573. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov.Smoking, Tobacco, and Health Information Line. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mailstop K-50, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. (800) 232-1311. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco.

Other

Virtual Office of the Surgeon General: Tobacco Cessation Guideline. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco.

smoking

[smōk´ing] the act of drawing into the mouth and puffing out the smoke of tobacco contained in a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. For centuries, tobacco smoking was suspected of being a health hazard, and now a close relationship between smoking and lung cancer and heart disease has definitely been established. While smoking is not the only cause of these diseases, its relationship to them and also to other diseases has been so strongly established that no smoker can afford to ignore the evidence. Parents especially owe it to their children to educate them in order that the cigarette habit will never begin.
General Effects on Health. Tobacco smoke contains a number of harmful substances, including poisons such as nicotine, various irritants, and carcinogenic compounds. Because cigarette smokers usually inhale this smoke, they are much more subject to its harmful effects than pipe and cigar smokers, who generally do not inhale. In pipe and cigar smoking, however, there is some danger to the heart because of the nicotine that is absorbed by the mouth. There is also the possibility of cancer of the lips, tongue, and mouth. Statistically, there is no question that nonsmokers are far less subject to the diseases that affect smokers. Passive smoke, that inhaled by individuals in close proximity to smokers, can also cause respiratory problems.

Among the respiratory diseases closely related to cigarette smoking are lung cancer, cancer of the larynx, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease are also closely related to smoking, as are peptic ulcers, Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans), and bladder cancer. Still other diseases are thought to be linked with smoking. The risk of incurring any of these diseases increases with the number of cigarettes smoked daily, the length of each cigarette consumed, and the length of time the smoking habit has persisted. In general, heavy smokers as a group die younger than do nonsmokers.

smoking

(smō′kĭng)adj.1. Engaging in the smoking of tobacco: smoking passengers.2. Designated or reserved for smokers: the smoking section of a restaurant.3. Of or relating to the use of tobacco: corporate smoking policies.

smoking

Public health An addiction causing the most preventable form of malignancy, lung CA Economic costs Direct: ± $16 x 109/yr, hospitalization; indirect: ± $35 x 109, lost productivity, earnings, disability, prematurity Population cost of smoking $200 per capita; 1 cigarette ↓ life span by 7 mins; smoking-related fires kill 1500/yr, injure 4000/yr–US; smokers suffer excess mortality of ±400,000/yr; in 1960, 70% of Americans smoked; in 2001, 27%. See Passive smoking.

Patient discussion about smoking

Q. why is smoking bad for you? A. There are numerous reasons why smoking is bad: it increases the risk for many cancers (and the more nasty ones, the ones that are not easily treated, if at all), in increases the risk to disease of the heart and blood vessels (sounds less dangerous, but still No 1. killer), it can cause chronic obstructive lung disease (imagine sitting in your chair, dependent on the oxygen mask, while even lacing your shoes cause you to feel out of breath), and many others.
Not to mention the cosmetic aspect: it gives a yellow shade to your fingers and teeth, it accelerate damage to the skin and can cause hoarseness.
It doesn't affect only you but also the people around you - your children your spouse, your friend that you expose to the smoke. And we haven't even mentioned the economical burden and social aspects.
There are many other reasons, but the decision to accept smoking as a bad thing must first be made by the listener- otherwise all I mentioned above wouldn't make any difference.

Q. Am I addicted to smoking? I only smoke when I go out with my friends to a pub and at parties. Does this make me an addict?A. You might not be addicted; however you shouldn't smoke at all since it is very unhealthy. If all your friends smoke, maybe you should start hanging out with non smoking friends as well or take your smoking friends out to places where they can't smoke and then you will not feel obligated to join them.

Q. what to do to quit smoking? A. that's a tough one- quit smoking is a physical and mental struggle. first of all getting rid of the dependency on cigarettes, and then getting rid of the old habits (smoking after meals, in pubs, with coffee). it's harder then it seems. you may gain weight while doing so, so i recommend starting a diet for a month or two while smoking only a 1/4 of the amount you used to smoke and after a month just stop.
it's hard i know- i smoked almost 2 packs a day for 20 years. i stopped one day, i had the feeling there's an earthquake for 2 weeks. you just need a good motivation, like your children's health.
crossing fingers for you!
I'm here if you'll need help!!

More discussions about smoking

smoking

smok·ing

smoking

smoking

smoke

ˈsmokiness

smoking

smoking

smoking gun

what was (one) smoking

smoke out

smoke like a chimney

smoke up

chain smoke

smoke (someone or something) out of (some place)

smokin'

smoke like a chimney

smoke something up

the smoking gun

smoke out

smoking gun

a smoking gun

smoke like a chimney

a smoking gun (or pistol)

ˌsmoke like a ˈchimney

a/the ˌsmoking ˈgun

smoke out

smoke up

smoke like a chimney

smoking gun

smoking gun

Smoking

smoking,

Health Effects

Regulation of Tobacco and Smoking

Legal Battles

Bibliography

Smoking

REFERENCES

Smoking

REFERENCE

Smoking

smoking

Smoking

Definition

Description

Causes and symptoms

Smoking risks

Smokers' symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

Expected results

Alternative treatment

Hypnotherapy

Aromatherapy

Herbs

Acupuncture

Vitamins

Prevention

Key terms

Resources

Periodicals

Organizations

Other

smoking

smoking

smoking

Patient discussion about smoking

smoking

Synonyms for smoking

noun the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

Synonyms

Related Words

noun a hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion

Synonyms

Related Words

adj emitting smoke in great volume

Related Words