| SAY ! "NO TO TOBACCO" | | | | who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day have |
| Statutory Warning : Cigarette smoking is injurious to | | | | poorer memories and middle age than non-smokers. |
| health | | | | Some experts say that smoking is linked to memory |
| Tobacco is deadly in any form. According to WHO | | | | problems because it contributes to narrowed arteries |
| report, nearly 10,000 people die everyday across the | | | | that restrict blood flow to the brain. One of the causes |
| world due to smoking related diseases. Smokers | | | | of memory decline in relation to the brain function could |
| comprise 1.5 billion or one-fifth of the humanity. The life | | | | be the nerve-cell death, or decreased density of |
| expectancy of a smoker reduces by 6.6 years and | | | | interconnected neuronal network due to loss of |
| even non-smokers are threatened, facing exposure to | | | | dendrites, the tine filaments which connect one nerve |
| the 'environmental tobacco smoke' produced by | | | | cell to another. Abstain from smoking is essential not |
| smokers. | | | | only to avoid this systemic effects but also to reduce |
| The major ill effect of tobacco was reported first by | | | | the ill effects on the environment. |
| the Director General of Health, U.S.A. way back in | | | | CANCER FROM TOBACCO : |
| 1945. Ever since, there are more than 100 scientifically | | | | Cancer is a dreaded disease and sufferings of the |
| proven articles that clearly suggest smoking is injurious | | | | patients are enormous. Moreover, it also requires a lot |
| to health. Smoking is the major cause of mortality with | | | | of money to treat it. The only wise way is to prevent |
| bronchogenic carcinoma of the lung and one of the | | | | its occurrence and it is possible if tobacco usage is |
| factors causing death due to malignancies of larynx, | | | | stopped. The notable cancers which are caused by |
| oral cavity, ocsophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, | | | | tobacco consumption are mouth, throat, voice box, |
| stomach and uterine cervix and coronary heart | | | | lung, pancreas, urinary bladder, kidney and uterine |
| diseases. | | | | cervix. |
| Cigarettes can act as an agent quickly delivering the | | | | Cancer of mouth and throat : Smoking cigarettes, |
| naturally occurring alkaloid nicotine to the body. A | | | | pipes and cigars is a risk factor for all cancers |
| typical smoker will take 10 puffs of a cigarette and if | | | | associated with the larynx, oral cavity and esophagus. |
| such person smokes 10 to 15 cigarettes a day and it | | | | Over 90% of the patients with oral cancer use |
| will send approximately 1 mg per cigarette of nicotine | | | | tobacco by either smoking or chewing it. Oral cancer |
| daily to the brain. Nicotine is the major substance | | | | includes cancer of the lips, tongue, mouth and those |
| present in the smoke that causes physical | | | | who smoke pipes or cigars experience a risk similar to |
| dependence. | | | | that of cigarette smokers. |
| The principal ingredients consumed during smoking of | | | | Lung Cancer : Lung Caner kills more people than any |
| tobacco include nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. It | | | | other type of cancer and at least 80% of these |
| causes an increased risk of cardiovascular disease | | | | deaths are caused by smoking. The risk of lung |
| such as coronary heart disease and stroke, lung and | | | | cancer increases directly with the number of |
| other forms of cancer and respiratory diseases such | | | | cigarettes smoked. The risk dying from lung cancer |
| as chronic bronchitis. Smoking diminishes fertility in | | | | increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per |
| women and increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy, | | | | day. |
| miscarriage, pre-born birth, pre-clampsia and still birth. | | | | Breast Cancer : There is growing evidence of a link |
| The combination of smoking and oral contraceptive is | | | | between both active and passive smoking and breast |
| dangerous. The Tar component in cigarettes | | | | cancer. Seven of eight published studies examining |
| associated with a proportional increase in lung cancer. | | | | passive smoking and breast cancer suggest an |
| It is the stuff that stains fingers and turns teeth yellow. | | | | increased risk of breast cancer. |
| Levulinic acid, added to cigarettes to mark the harsh | | | | Cervical Cancer : A study in Sweden found that |
| taste of the nicotine, can increase the binding of | | | | smoking was the second most significant behavioural |
| nicotine to brain receptors, which increases the 'kick' of | | | | lifestyle factor after Human Papilloma Virus in causing |
| nicotine. Smoke from the burning end of a cigarette | | | | cervical cancer. |
| contains 4,000 chemicals and 43 carcinogens. It has | | | | GIVING UP SMOKING THROUGH MEDICINES : |
| long been known that tobacco smoke is carcinogenic, | | | | The most common form of nicotine replacement |
| or cancer causing. | | | | medicine is available as flavoured chewing gum or a |
| The lungs of smokers collect an unusual deposit of 1 to | | | | skin patch. It is used for up to 12 - 20 weeks as a part |
| ½ pounds of black material. Like many | | | | of supervised step in smoking cessation programme. It |
| carcinogenic compounds, they can act as tumour | | | | is not suitable for use during pregnancy and |
| promoters or tumour initiators by acting directly on the | | | | breast-feeding. Smoking needs to be avoided at the |
| genetic make up of cells of the body and development | | | | time of taking these medicines as combination may |
| of cancer. | | | | cause overdosing of nicotine. Nicotine skin patches |
| A few drops of pure nicotine, weighing around 60 mg, | | | | deliver very small, measured and tapering doses of |
| on the tongue can kill a healthy adult. Cigarettes usually | | | | nicotine. Nicotine gum, available in different strengths, |
| contain 0.5 - 2.0 mg of nicotine depending upon the | | | | delivers nicotine that is absorbed through mucous |
| brand. Nicotine dependence is the central factor in the | | | | membrace of the mouth. An anti dressant drug that |
| continuation of smoking behaviour. | | | | allays withdrawal symptoms has helped smokers stay |
| WHAT'S IN A CIGARETTE ? | | | | of cigarettes. |
| Anti-cigarette lobbies claim that a cigarette, either as | | | | There are no harmful effects in putting a sudden end |
| additives or as compounds created while smoking, has | | | | to smoking tobacco. The problems caused by stopping |
| nearly 4,000 chemicals. At least 43 of the ingredients | | | | tobacco are temporary and will last only 5 to 7 days. |
| are carcinogenic (cancer causing). Here is a sampling | | | | ( consult a doctor before you use any of them. Some |
| of the ingredients/components produced: | | | | of these require prescriptions ) |
| - Acetic Acid (corrosive to respiratory tract) | | | | HOW TO AVOID CIGARETTES ? |
| - Acetone (used in nail polish removers) | | | | - Postpone each cigarette by one hour |
| - Ammonia (used in floor and toilet cleaners) | | | | - Do not buy in packs |
| - Arsenic ( a poison) | | | | - Do not keep a stock of cigarettes |
| - Cadmium (car battery fluid) | | | | - Tell your family, friends and colleagues that you are |
| - Carbon Monoxide ( interferes with the supply of | | | | going to quit tobacco and ash trays in your house. |
| oxygen in the blood to the rest of the body) | | | | - Make your home and your living environment a |
| - DDT/dielderon ( insecticides) | | | | tobacco free zone. |
| - Ethanol ( alcohol) | | | | BENEFITS OF QUITTING SMOKING : |
| - Formalin (used in preserving human tissue and fabric) | | | | - With in one hour - Blood pressure falls and circulation |
| - Hexamine (used in explosive compounds) | | | | starts improving |
| - Hydrogen Cyanide (poison) | | | | - One day - Lungs start to clean out mucus and other |
| - Methane ( petroleum gas) | | | | derbis |
| - Naphthalene (used in moth balls) | | | | - One week - Bronchial passages relax making |
| - Nicotine (schedule 6 poison) | | | | breathing easier |
| - Nitro Benzene ( a petrol additive) | | | | - One Month - Circulation improves throughout the |
| - Phenols (used in disinfectants) | | | | whole body |
| - Stearic Acid (used in candle wax) | | | | - One Year - Lung function improves 5 to 10 percent |
| - Toluene (industrial solvent) | | | | - Ten Years - Risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a |
| - Vinyl Chloride (used in PVC) | | | | smoker and risk of heart attack falls to the same as |
| EFFECT OF NICOTINE ON HUMAN BODY: | | | | non smoker |
| During smoking, within first 8-10 seconds nicotine is | | | | WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY : |
| absorbed through the lungs and quickly moved into the | | | | World No Tobacco Day is celebrated around the |
| blood stream and circulated throughout the brain. | | | | world every year on May 31. The Member States of |
| Nicotine can also enter the blood stream through the | | | | the World Health Organisation created World No |
| mucous membranes that line the mouth (if tobacco | | | | Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the |
| chewed) or nose (if snuff is used) and even through | | | | tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and |
| the skin. | | | | disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly |
| SMOKING LEADS TO LOSS OF MEMORY : | | | | passed Resolution calling for 7th April 1988 to be a " |
| Nitric Oxide (NO) is a unique molecule which plays a | | | | World No-smoking day". In 1988, Resolution WHA 42.19 |
| role in number of beneficial and some of the harmful | | | | was passed, calling for the celebration of World No |
| number of beneficial and some of the harmful brain | | | | Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May. |
| and body mechanisms example synapse formation, | | | | K.V.RAMANA |
| drug tolerance and local regulation of cerebral blood | | | | MURTHYramanamurty9967@yahoo.co. |
| flow, Parkinson's disease etc. It is also found people | | | | |