Q: How does frequent tobacco use affect your health?

According to the CDC , smoking leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ in your body. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung damage and disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking is also known to increase your risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems with the immune system. On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers and is responsible for almost half a million deaths every year in the US. If you think that chewing or smokeless tobacco is safer- think again . Chewing tobacco can cause many types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, tongue, gums, stomach, oesophagus, and bladder. Heavy users can also experience unhealthy teeth ware and receding gums. It is also linked to a higher risk of heart attacks.

Question 1

Is tobacco really that addictive?

Accepted Answer

Tobacco creates a nicotine dependence that involves physical and psychological factors that make it difficult to stop using tobacco, even if the person wants to quit. Nicotine releases a chemical called dopamine in the same regions of the brain as other addictive drugs. It causes mood-altering changes that make the person temporarily feel good. Inhaled smoke delivers nicotine to the brain within 20 seconds, which makes it very addictive—comparable to opioids, alcohol and cocaine.

When the person stops using tobacco, nicotine levels in the brain drop. This change triggers processes that contribute to the cycle of cravings and urges that maintains addiction. Long-term changes in the brain caused by continued nicotine exposure result in nicotine dependence, and attempts to stop cause withdrawal symptoms that are relieved with renewed tobacco use.

Signs and symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include:

irritability
restlessness
anxiety
insomnia
difficulty concentrating
fatigue

Question 2

How does frequent tobacco use affect your health?

Accepted Answer

According to the CDC, smoking leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ in your body. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung damage and disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking is also known to increase your risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems with the immune system. On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers and is responsible for almost half a million deaths every year in the US.

If you think that chewing or smokeless tobacco is safer- think again. Chewing tobacco can cause many types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, tongue, gums, stomach, oesophagus, and bladder. Heavy users can also experience unhealthy teeth ware and receding gums. It is also linked to a higher risk of heart attacks.

Question 3

How can you break the addiction to tobacco?

Accepted Answer

Breaking a tobacco addiction can be extremely challenging for some. Here are common ways that people resist tobacco cravings:

Nicotine replacement therapy (inhalers, nicotine patches, and prescription non-nicotine stop-smoking drugs)
Avoiding triggering situations where you’re most drawn to using tobacco
Chew on sugarless gum, hard candy, or other snacks
Get involved in physical activities when you feel a craving
Try relaxing activities such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation, yoga, or massages
Consider counseling and/or setting up a support system to keep you accountable
Join a stop-smoking program online
Remind yourself constantly on why you want to stop smoking

Question 4

Is vaping better than smoking cigarettes?

Accepted Answer

Vaping might be a better alternative in some ways to smoking cigarettes, but it can also contain serious levels of nicotine. Learn more about e-cigarettes and vapes here.

Tobacco

Smoking cigarettes is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States.

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