SAY! "NO TO TOBACCO"

SAY ! "NO TO TOBACCO"who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day have
Statutory Warning : Cigarette smoking is injurious topoorer memories and middle age than non-smokers.
healthSome experts say that smoking is linked to memory
Tobacco is deadly in any form. According to WHOproblems because it contributes to narrowed arteries
report, nearly 10,000 people die everyday across thethat restrict blood flow to the brain. One of the causes
world due to smoking related diseases. Smokersof memory decline in relation to the brain function could
comprise 1.5 billion or one-fifth of the humanity. The lifebe the nerve-cell death, or decreased density of
expectancy of a smoker reduces by 6.6 years andinterconnected neuronal network due to loss of
even non-smokers are threatened, facing exposure todendrites, the tine filaments which connect one nerve
the 'environmental tobacco smoke' produced bycell 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 bythe ill effects on the environment.
the Director General of Health, U.S.A. way back inCANCER FROM TOBACCO :
1945. Ever since, there are more than 100 scientificallyCancer is a dreaded disease and sufferings of the
proven articles that clearly suggest smoking is injuriouspatients are enormous. Moreover, it also requires a lot
to health. Smoking is the major cause of mortality withof money to treat it. The only wise way is to prevent
bronchogenic carcinoma of the lung and one of theits 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 heartlung, pancreas, urinary bladder, kidney and uterine
diseases.cervix.
Cigarettes can act as an agent quickly delivering theCancer of mouth and throat : Smoking cigarettes,
naturally occurring alkaloid nicotine to the body. Apipes and cigars is a risk factor for all cancers
typical smoker will take 10 puffs of a cigarette and ifassociated with the larynx, oral cavity and esophagus.
such person smokes 10 to 15 cigarettes a day and itOver 90% of the patients with oral cancer use
will send approximately 1 mg per cigarette of nicotinetobacco by either smoking or chewing it. Oral cancer
daily to the brain. Nicotine is the major substanceincludes cancer of the lips, tongue, mouth and those
present in the smoke that causes physicalwho smoke pipes or cigars experience a risk similar to
dependence.that of cigarette smokers.
The principal ingredients consumed during smoking ofLung Cancer : Lung Caner kills more people than any
tobacco include nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. Itother type of cancer and at least 80% of these
causes an increased risk of cardiovascular diseasedeaths are caused by smoking. The risk of lung
such as coronary heart disease and stroke, lung andcancer increases directly with the number of
other forms of cancer and respiratory diseases suchcigarettes smoked. The risk dying from lung cancer
as chronic bronchitis. Smoking diminishes fertility inincreases 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 isbetween both active and passive smoking and breast
dangerous. The Tar component in cigarettescancer. 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 harshCervical Cancer : A study in Sweden found that
taste of the nicotine, can increase the binding ofsmoking was the second most significant behavioural
nicotine to brain receptors, which increases the 'kick' oflifestyle factor after Human Papilloma Virus in causing
nicotine. Smoke from the burning end of a cigarettecervical cancer.
contains 4,000 chemicals and 43 carcinogens. It hasGIVING 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 toskin patch. It is used for up to 12 - 20 weeks as a part
½ pounds of black material. Like manyof supervised step in smoking cessation programme. It
carcinogenic compounds, they can act as tumouris not suitable for use during pregnancy and
promoters or tumour initiators by acting directly on thebreast-feeding. Smoking needs to be avoided at the
genetic make up of cells of the body and developmenttime 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 usuallynicotine. Nicotine gum, available in different strengths,
contain 0.5 - 2.0 mg of nicotine depending upon thedelivers nicotine that is absorbed through mucous
brand. Nicotine dependence is the central factor in themembrace 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 asThere are no harmful effects in putting a sudden end
additives or as compounds created while smoking, hasto smoking tobacco. The problems caused by stopping
nearly 4,000 chemicals. At least 43 of the ingredientstobacco 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 ofgoing 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 isWORLD NO TOBACCO DAY :
absorbed through the lungs and quickly moved into theWorld 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 thethe World Health Organisation created World No
mucous membranes that line the mouth (if tobaccoTobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the
chewed) or nose (if snuff is used) and even throughtobacco 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 aWorld No-smoking day". In 1988, Resolution WHA 42.19
role in number of beneficial and some of the harmfulwas passed, calling for the celebration of World No
number of beneficial and some of the harmful brainTobacco Day, every year on 31 May.
and body mechanisms example synapse formation,K.V.RAMANA
drug tolerance and local regulation of cerebral bloodMURTHYramanamurty9967@yahoo.co.
flow, Parkinson's disease etc. It is also found people