Smoking is a very dangerous addiction, yet people can’t give it up easily. Find out why smoking is so addictive, what are the problems that result from ny vape pens what are the treatment methods for it, what the benefits of quitting are and much more about smoking here.
Why is Smoking So Addictive?
Smoking rushes nicotine to the brain and this is the fastest method of delivery; smoking also gives smokers precise control over their nicotine intake. Therefore, both ‘speed and control’ greatly enhance the addictive effect of nicotine on the brain. Smoking actually introduces nicotine to the pulmonary beds of the lungs from where nicotine is directly transported to the brain in seconds.
Nicotine mimics the neurotransmitter acetylcholine; it binds to and activates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Once nicotine reaches the brain, it quickly spreads to the activated brain regions such as reward, memory and learning centers. These firing receptors cause the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is associated with pleasure and addiction. So, in order to maintain these dopamine levels, a person needs to smoke frequently. Smoking may actually maintain dopamine levels by reducing enzymes that break it down or by increasing the level of molecules that inhibit dopamine clean up.
Simultaneously, nicotine also influences other areas of the brain that control mood, energy levels and memory as well as cause long-lasting neurological changes. As a result, the brain gets used to a constant dose of nicotine and therefore when you stop smoking, you experience withdrawal symptoms. This also makes it a difficult habit to kick.
What is Passive Smoking and What Are the Risks?
Passive smoking can be defined as involuntary inhalation of secondhand tobacco smoke. This secondhand tobacco smoke is a mixture of smoke exhaled by active smokers as well as smoke released from smoldering tobacco, diluted with ambient air. Passive smoking generally occurs in closed environments, but open environments are equally prone. Passive smokers are also exposed to carcinogens and toxic components present in secondhand tobacco smoke.
Passive smoking can have serious effects on an individual’s health. The health effects of passive smoking are as serious and debilitating as smoking itself. The risks outlined below have been linked with passive smoking.
Cancer – About 3,000 cancer-related non smoker deaths are directly attributed to passive smoking each year.
Heart Diseases – Approximately 50,000 non smoker deaths occur from heart related issues and can be linked to passive smoking.
Respiratory Diseases and Problems – Second hand smoke causes higher rates of lower respiratory infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia. It is also a contributory factor for upper respiratory irritation and infections as well as decreased lung function.
Ear Infections – Passive smoking is accountable for an increased number of ear infections.
Low Birth Weight – Second hand smoke is responsible for 10,000 low birth weight births a year and is a major factor for many infant deaths.
Asthma – Second hand smoke is responsible for nearly 8,000 new cases of asthma annually.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – Passive smoking is related to nearly 2,000 cases of SIDS each year.
Still births – Passive smoking is also accountable for an increased risk of still births and spontaneous abortions.
What Problems Can Occur From Smoking?
Smoking is harmful and the dangers of smoking are serious. Tobacco smoke contains 43 cancer-causing (carcinogenic) compounds besides 400 other toxins that include nicotine and tar. Nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco and tar congests the lungs, inhibiting normal breathing. Additionally, smoking causes lung and throat cancer, heart disease, emphysema, as well as bronchial and lung disorders.
Non smokers are also at risk of developing smoking related illnesses through passive smoking. A pregnant woman who smokes increases the chances of her baby dying from SIDS, being underweight and having behavioral problems. The world’s leading cause of death and disability, smoking-related illnesses cause 30 million deaths per year.
What Should one do If He Wants to Give up Smoking?
Giving up smoking is the most difficult thing. So, to give up smoking, you:
- Must have the desire to give up smoking and create a strong will to avoid a smoking relapse
- Must learn about the effects of smoking, understand its consequences and face the fact that you need to stop smoking and follow, finish and maintain a quit smoking plan
Once you have made up your mind to quit smoking, half the battle is won; because most smokers do not think about quitting. Smokers often try to quit more than once before they actually succeed. But continuing to try also needs grit and perseverance; it also shows how committed you are to the cause.
Once you have learned about the dangers of smoking, you will definitely feel more committed to quit. Learning about the health implications is enough to shock most people into quitting quickly.
You must prepare to quit smoking. You must distance yourself from friends, situations or places that compel you to smoke. Be surrounded by people who can help you with your initiative.
If you can’t quit cold turkey, don’t hesitate to use stop smoking aids like medications and NRTs. Most people are able to quit and stay quit with external help.
If you want to quit smoking and remain a quitter, you have to stay away from temptation and persistent nicotine cravings. ‘Slipping up’ will only lead to a relapse so keep yourself motivated to remain smoke free.
What Treatment Options are Available to Help Stop Smoking?
Some people have a strong determination to quit smoking via the cold turkey method; this is achieved by sheer will power alone. However, most smoker’s find it difficult to quit in this way and therefore require treatment to help them quit smoking. Some men and women may become non-smokers through counseling alone but their numbers can be counted on the fingertips. Counseling helps strengthen a person’s motivation to quit and keeps him/her motivated until he/she is able to quit successfully.
Many smokers take advantage of nicotine replacement therapy (NRTs) to help them quit smoking. This therapy works to relieve a person from nicotine withdrawal symptoms by providing nicotine externally. This measured intake of nicotine by way of nicotine chewing gums, nicotine patches, nicotine tabs, lozenges, nicotine nasal spray and inhalators, work well for some people. At the same time these people are well protected from other harmful toxins present in cigarette smoke. However, as NRTs provide nicotine, there is always a chance that person may become re-addicted to nicotine.
Currently, nicotine-free drug for smoking cessation such as Zyban (bupropion) and Chantix Varenicline (known as Champix in Europe) are the most advanced and the most preferred methods of quitting smoking. These treatment medications have been approved by the FDA as effective smoking cessation drugs. But, Chantix is preferred over Zyban as it not only provides relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms but also reduces the pleasure derived from smoking.
Success rates are much higher with Chantix smoking cessation drug as compared to that of Zyban smoking cessation pill; but, both the drugs have their share of side effects. While Chantix causes nausea, constipation, flatulence, insomnia, change in taste, increase in appetite, fatigue, dry mouth and bloated feeling, Zyban causes dry mouth, insomnia, changes in appetite, agitation, headaches, jitters, skin rash and seizures.