RED FLAG- SMOKERS!

Smoking is an ill, deep-rooted in our society today. The web of smokers is increasing, with new recruits adding to the list everyday. Once initiated, it becomes an addiction and there is no going back. It was considered a masculine "habit" but recently, women are taking the lead especially in the western world and some part of west African countries. Researches conducted over the years has shown numerous harmful effects which is no longer strange to us.  Despite the sensitization on the effect of smoking on our health, it is alarming to know that several thousands of people are still being killed every year from smoking-related-diseases and this keeps increasing every year.

Cigarette is filled with several chemicals that are harmful to health, included in the list are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, metals, cyanide, ammonia and other radio active compounds.These chemicals when exposed for a longer duration cause several bad effects on one's health e.g: heart, lungs, mouth, stomach and immune system to mention few.  See below, a few summary of the harmful effects of smoking on some of human internal organs.

HEART
Smoking temporarily increases the heart rate and causes stress on the arteries and heart. In smokers, the blood flow in the body slows down hereby  affecting the levels of oxygen in the blood. The heart will have to work much harder to pump the blood, the blood vessels becomes narrow which in most cases may lead to heart attack in smokers. 40% of men and 60% of women who smoke are at the risk of getting a heart attack and one out of five deaths from heart related disease is caused by smoking.

IMMUNE SYSTEM
Nicotine content in cigarette badly affects the immune system which makes smokers to fall ill frequently. They are susceptible to cold, bronchitis, pulmonary bronchitis and are prone to contract HIV because of their poor immunity.

STOMACH
When you smoke, the tar in the smoke leaves a residue in the mouth and this enters the digestive tract along with the food. As a result, the stomach produces more gastric juices and damages the stomach lining which in later stages leads to the formation of ulcers. Tar in the smoke may also become the reason for abnormal cell growth which leads to cancer in the mouth, stomach or rectal region. Liver also gets affected as it has to strain itself in eliminating the harmful chemicals that enter the body through smoke.

LUNGS
Smoking predominantly affects the lungs. Carbon monoxide and cyanide present in the cigarette badly affect the pulmonary cavity. The tar in the smoke will form a layer in the lungs like soot which may lead to cancer in the later stages. Smoking narrows the air passages of the lungs and their functioning gets gravely affected. Smokers are 10 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. Smokers are liable to develop respiratory infections, asthma and other respiratory disorders and another lung disease that affects smokers is emphysema.

MOUTH AND THROAT
Smoking affects the health of your mouth and throat. More than 80% cases of mouth and throat cancers occur in people who smoke for a long period of time. The risk of mouth and throat cancer increases with the length of time and the amount of tobacco one smokes. By quitting smoking, you are not only reducing your risk of mouth and throat cancer significantly but can quash other harmful effects of smoking.

ORAL CAVITY
Smokers usually face problems related to mouth, tongue, gums and oesophagus. The tar in the cigarette leads to the discoloration of teeth. Cigarette and Cigar smokers are likely to experience bad breath also known as Halitosis, more dental problems than normal people, their tongue may lose its taste sensation, mouth ulcers, and harmful disease like cancer can develop in the oral cavity.

PASSIVE SMOKING
Smokers are not only affected by smoking but it also affects those present in the smoking environment. Like smokers, these passive smokers face several health hazards for instance, Infants are more susceptible to pulmonary diseases like asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. 

You cannot stop smoking if you are one of those who believe in the following:

• I'm not a heavy smoker
• I don't smoke as I used to
• I'm only a social smoker
• I'm so stressed and only smoking relaxes me
• My grandparents/parents smoked all their lives and never had problems

There is no safe level of smoking please beware!

Tips on How to Stop!

• Desire to stop
• Decide to stop
• Set a date
• Tell everyone around you that you are quitting smoking
• Get rid of ashtrays, lighters and all cigarettes
• Take one day at a time
• Be positive
• Be aware of the smoking influence/situations e.g: parties, clubbing, drinking alcohol, friends etc
• Find the therapy that will work for you (no smoker quits in a day or even a week)
• Try Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): which comes as gums, nicotine patches, sprays, tablets and inhalers
• Be prepared for some withdrawals symptoms like, headaches, nausea (feeling sick), anxiety, instability, craving and awful feelings. This is caused by the lack of nicotine that your body is used to but not to worry it will ease off within 2-4 weeks

Finally always remember the 4 "Ds"

Delay: the worst cravings only last for a few minutes and will become less frequent as you stop

Deep Breathe: this helps you to relax and focus your mind on something else

Drink Water: this helps to flush out nicotine and toxins out of your system

Do something else: take a walk, go to the movies, snack fruits like apples, chew gum, brush etc all these would in help in distracting you from smoking.

"Smoking won't make you look cool, it only destroys; make up your mind today that you can and you will!"  Happy Quitting!