Unveiling the Detrimental Effects: The Hazardous Impact of Smoking on Human Health

We all know that smoking is injurious to health, but despite that, there are around 120 million smokers in India. No matter the type of smoking done i.e. cigarettes, hookahs, bidis or sheesham, the person is putting his health at risk. This blog is devised to educate all and sundry about the perils of smoking while inspiring them to quit smoking. 

How does smoking damage your health?

Most of us know that smoking destroys your lungs and can severely damage your heart.  Just so you know, tobacco’s minute particles have the potential to cause cardiovascular disease, emphysema, pneumonia and cancer. 

Is that all that smoking does? No! We’ve enlisted a few more health perils caused due to smoking that are never heard before. 

• Blindness

Macular degeneration sets in as we grow older and can trigger blindness. Smoking speeds it up.

• Type 2 diabetes

Smokers need to know that tobacco's deadly particles can block the functions of insulin that helps in regulating the utilization of blood in your body. It leads to a rise in sugar build-up and increases your blood sugar which can be hazardous.  

• High blood pressure

Smoking constricts your blood vessels. That means blood will not be able to pass through them with ease. It goes without saying that smoking can cause hypertension.

• Erectile dysfunction

It is crucial for blood to flow seamlessly in order to maintain an erection. However, smoking contracts blood vessels which leads to a disruption in blood flow to the penis and this causes erectile dysfunction.

• Ectopic pregnancy

What is an ectopic pregnancy? This can be a life-threatening pregnancy and it occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus. If research is anything to go by, smokers are prone to developing this type of pregnancy when compared to non-smokers. 

• Weaker bones

Smoking will reduce your bone density. What does that translate to? It implies that smokers will be more susceptible to osteoporosis and fractures. 

• Birth defects

A pregnant woman who smokes or does passive-smoking may give birth to an infant with  cleft palate or cleft lip. 

Tobacco has up to 5000 hazardous chemicals entering the body when an individual smokes and almost 50 of those particles can cause cancer. These chemicals spread throughout the body and reach your vital organs such as the heart and brain merely in 10 seconds of your first puff, harming our body.

Smoking can cause-

Cancer

1. Lung Cancer
2. Mesothelioma
3. Cervical cancer
4. Bladder Cancer
5. Liver Cancer
6. Stomach Cancer,
7. Uterus Cancer, and
8. Kidney Cancer

Skin

1. Premature wrinkles and ageing
2. Poor wound healing

Teeth

1. Gum disease

Respiratory System

1. Increased risk of bacterial infection
2. Increased risk of viral infection
3. Increased risk of Tuberculosis
4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
5. Increased risk of Asthma

Cardiovascular System

1. Increased risk of Stroke
2. Increased risk of Heart Failure
3. Peripheral Vascular Disease

Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Reproduction

1. Infertility
2. Risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STDs)

Why do you get addicted to smoking?

Smoking tobacco is highly addictive because of its Nicotine content. One of the reasons why people get addicted to smoking is due to the release of dopamine, ‘a feel-good hormone’. Dopamine helps in uplifting your mood and improves concentration as well as vitality in the body. This effect has a brief span. A smoker tends to yearn for the same upliftment once the nicotine levels drop within the body. Scroll through further to discover easy methods to quit the unhealthy addiction. 

How to quit smoking?

Just in case you are accustomed to smoking, quitting the habit can be somewhat tricky. However, you need to remind yourself of the health hazards that follow and the subsequent journey is going to be a roller-coaster. Just a little introspection has helped many individuals come out of this addiction. 

1. Ask your loved ones to intervene to constantly remind you to quit the habit and watch over you. 
2. Do not fool yourself into thinking you can slowly phase yourself out of smoking. Smoking fewer cigarettes will not help. If you allow your body to enjoy the effects of smoking, you will never be able to give it up. So you have to stop in one go.  
3. Try chewing gum (non-sugared ones). This will keep your mind distracted.
4. Chain-smokers need professional help. Seek therapy.  

Smoking is disastrous. The sooner you quit, the better. Take all the help you need to quit smoking and enjoy good health.

De-addiction may be tough, initially. However, with the use of adequate guidance and dedicated efforts, anyone would be able to quit smoking.  

Find your reason

You need to find your personal motivation for quitting smoking. The reason can be to protect your family and friends from passive smoking or to prevent diseases such as lung cancer, bronchitis, heart diseases, and other lung diseases. You need to choose a concrete reason that you can stick to.

Set a quit date

Mark a date on the calendar when you shall be able to give up smoking. Set realistic goals and gradually curb the habit.  You can fix particular days or hours in which you won’t smoke. If you have the habit of smoking while working, then don’t smoke on weekends and gradually quit smoking completely.

Let your family and friends know about your decision.

The most imperative step to success in quitting smoking is the moral support and encouragement from loved ones. Ask them to be generous when keeping a watch over you and goad you to start living a healthy lifestyle without smoking. 

Identify your triggers

Identifying your triggers can take a few days, and for that, you can keep a craving journal in which you can note the time when you smoked and, what made you smoke, what were you feeling at that time. 

Avoid common triggers such as-

Alcohol: Certain smokers prefer smoking while consuming alcohol. Instead, go for other non-alcoholic beverages or chew nuts to escape the temptation. 

Post-meal- Some smokers like to whiff a puff after having a meal. If you are one of them, then you can take fruit, chocolate, or a sweet dish after your meal to get rid of your cravings.

Rest of the smokers: If you are used to smoking with other people, try asking your friendsif they have decided to give up smoking. Most possibly, they can be instrumental in eradicating this toxic habit whenever they hang out with you. 

Manage triggers

1. Chew on something- Munch a few candies, carrots, nuts or anything crunchy that will replace the satisfactory feeling. 
2. Distract your mind-Develop a hobby or turn to a creative pursuit to distract you during your free time. Try squeezing balls, listening to music, reading books or playing games. 
3. Increase physical activities- Jogging, walking, squats, running and planks are some good exercises. At the office, you may get up from your desk and move around and use stairs instead of escalators.  
4. Stay hydrated-Gulp down water to thwart your smoking craving and reduce withdrawal symptoms.
5. Take rest- Find out alternative ways to relax your mind and body, such as meditation, exercises, reading a book, and taking a hot shower. 
6. Keep lighter at bay- Don’t keep lighter or matchboxes in your pocket.

Join support groups

Seek solace in numerous online support groups like Facebook etc, wherein people from different walks of life share their journey of giving up smoking. Feel free to be a part of those groups to get inspired to quit the habit. 

Take professional help

Try seeking professional help to make your journey smooth and easy. There are a plethora of de-addiction programs which are inclusive of:

Medications

Nicotine replacement therapies-Seek doctor’ help about anti-smoking medications. You would also find anti-smoking therapies for instance gums, nicotine lozenges, inhalers that supply tiny amounts of nicotine gradually for the whole day. It diminishes your craving to smoke. 

Non-nicotine neutral medicines: These medications are useful in giving up the hazardous habit with no nicotine. 

Behavioural therapy

CBT Therapy is an effcient technique to encoruage quitting the lethal habit. It entails managing the triggers of smoking for instance anxiety, depression and empowering aptients to tackle these triggers easily.  

1. Motivational enhancement therapies- There can be individuals who resist quitting the habit. Such patients may seek motivation with inspirational enhancement therapies which may include SRs.
2. Relevance- You are encouraged to figure out how quitting smoking is relevant for you personally.
3. Risks- Patients are educated about the dire consequences of smoking. 
4. Rewards- You are asked about the possible benefits of smoking you believe in.
5. Roadblocks- Next step is to identify the barriers that will hinder your way of quitting smoking. 
6. Repetition-Motivation therapy is provided repeatedly each time the interaction with clinician takes place to ensure the ethics and insights of quitting smoking get ingrained in the individual and you feel encouraged to give up this toxic habit.   
7. Nicotine Withdrawal

Quitting smoking makes you feel a bit different than usual, but it won’t do you any harm. The withdrawal symptoms will diminish gradually and won’t affect you provided you don’t smoke again.

Some of the withdrawal symptoms are- 

1. Urge of smoking
2. Irritation
3. Restlessness
4. Trouble concentrating
5. Insomnia/Disturbed Sleep
6. Hunger/ Weight gain
7. Anxiety

With the wealth of information, insights and reasons mentioned above will leave no stone unturned in motivating you to quit the perilous habit. God forbid, if the situation gets critical, you may seek professional help. 

Quitting smoking can be a difficult journey, but it is not impossible. Moreover, the rewards are phenomenal so if you or your loved ones want to quit smoking, consult our specialist now and take your first step towards a smoke-free life.