When a person inhales or exhales gases from the burning tobacco (cigarette, pipe, cigar etc,), gases enter and get absorbed from the lungs into blood. From the blood, chemicals present in gases reach to various parts of the body. The main active ingredient, nicotine, present in the smoke of tobacco is responsible for relaxation and pleasure. Nicotine is also responsible for persons improved attention after smoking. Smoking is dangerous and can lead to addiction.
Active smoking is an inhalation of smoke intentionally and voluntarily using cigarettes or other smoking stuff. A person who smokes is called an active smoker.
Passive smoking is an inhalation of smoke unintentionally or involuntarily due to smoke present in the environment. Such smoke is defined as environmental smoke (ETS) or second hand smoke. A person who smokes by passive way is called passive smoker.
There are over 4000 toxic chemicals present in cigarette smoke. Some of them are potentially very dangerous substances that cause cancer and heart attack. In general, their use includes, but not limited to pesticidal activity. Pesticides are the chemical substances that are used in killing insects, worms, microorganisms that damage cultivated crops and plants. Some of the dangerous chemicals present in cigarette smoke are acetone, benzene, carbon monoxide, nicotine, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, lead, nicotine, phenol.
Passive smoking also causes several health problems. It is as dangerous as active smoking. When a person is exposed to secondary smoke, the intensity of smoke and the duration of exposure show different effects on health. Headache, irritation to the eyes, vomiting, nausea and cough are some of the effects of passive smoking. If the intensity of smoke and duration of exposure is high, the effects of passive smoking are as dangerous as active smoking. Researchers revealed that the consequences of passive smoking include heart attack, shortness of breath, asthma, diminished lung capacity, weight loss and cancer.
Irritation, nervousness, head ache, cough, shivering, insomnia, tension, fatigue, dizziness, constipation, desire to smoke, appetite, lack of concentration and social gathering.
Nicotine is one of the chemical substances present in cigarette smoke or tobacco. Chemically, it is an alkaloid. Nicotin is responsible for relaxation and pleasure. It is also responsible for persons improved attention after smoking. Nicotine causes addiction. It takes approximately seven minutes for nicotine to reach from blood to brain. In the brain nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine, a chemical neurotransmitter responsible for creating pleasure, motivation, learning, refreshment and attention.
When a person who smokes regularly, stops smoking, the nicotine levels in the blood dropdown and shows withdrawal symptoms of smoking within few hours. Therefore, withdrawal symptoms of smoking are nothing but withdrawal symptoms of nicotine. If smoking is stopped continually for long time withdrawal symptoms reach to peak and that person carve for cigarette. It would take approximately 21 days to stop any habit completely.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is followed to reduce the withdrawal symptoms of smoking cessation. It helps people who stop smoking but cannot tolerate withdrawal symptoms. NRT is a method of providing nicotine to the body in the form of various dosage forms. Various nicotine dosage forms are available in the market in the form of nicotine chewing gums, tablets, lozenges, transdermal patches and inhalers.
Withdrawal symptoms of nicotine are nothing but withdrawal symptoms of smoking. Irritation, nervousness, head ache, cough, shivering, insomnia, tension, fatigue, dizziness, constipation, desire to smoke, appetite, lack of concentration and social gathering.
Smoking cessation is an effort made towards others to quit smoking. Smoking cessation normally involves meetings, discussions, counseling, advice and assistance by authorized persons at smoking cessation clinics or centers.
Your heart and lungs function improve and recovery process starts to come back to normal stage. Many physiological functions of the organs that are affected by smoking will improve their normal functions. You will have confidence, happiness and will be away from stress caused by smoking. Your body’s antioxidant system and immune system will be improved. You will look young and live longer.
