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The Health Cost of Smoking

The health cost of smoking has manifold angles. It takes in the cost to society as a whole and to the individual smoker and their family on the basic level. Of course, some smokers would argue that nonsmokers also add to health care costs since they live longer.

The Individual Costs

There are many additional costs that smoking adds to an individual’s expenses. The first of course is the cost to purchase the cigarettes. Each pack of cigarette is money that could have been saved or used for something else.

Smokers generally have to pay more for health insurance. They are considered high risk by insurers since smoking is known to cause some forms of cancers. Often their premiums far exceed what non-smokers pay for coverage.

The Cost to Society

Because smokers tend to have poorer health than nonsmokers, they place greater burden on the health system. Many of them develop cancers, heart disease and respiratory diseases. These lead to extended hospitalization and surgeries, and more often than not, they have to be on medication for life. The cost is mind-boggling considering the number of smokers as well as nonsmokers affected by passive smoke.

In 2009, figures reportedly from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the cost of smoking for direct health care was $96 billion annually. Added to this was the projected loss in productivity of $97 billion per year. It is easy to see that this can have a negative impact on any economy.

In addition to the financial costs, there are also the emotional costs resulting from smoking. Many families have been destroyed after losing loved ones to smoking related illnesses. Children have had to see parents suffer from various illnesses that are directly related to cigarette smoking such as emphysema.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tagged With: Cigarette, Passive smoking, Tobacco smoking

Why It is So hard to Stop Smoking

On the face of it, it would seem like an easy thing to stop smoking if you want. The question may be asked, if some people just stop cold turkey why can’t everyone. There is no simple answer to the question as to why some persons beat their nicotine addiction easier than others.

Scientists have found that nicotine, the drug in cigarettes, is highly addictive. Once someone gets hooked on nicotine, they become both physically and psychologically dependent on it. As with any type of addiction, learning to live without the source of addiction is hard.

Over time, when a smoker does not have nicotine, they suffer withdrawal symptoms which can be unpleasant. These include irritability, tiredness, difficulty focusing and for some people hunger. Some smokers gain weight when they quit. These feelings make the smoker think that smoking is necessary to function properly. Plus, many people especially women, use cigarettes as a means of keeping their weight in check.

Apart from the physical reasons, some people find it hard to quit because it gives them a feeling of belonging. This is especially true for teens who give in to peer pressure. For them, smoking is a way of showing maturity.

There is also an emotional side to smoking. It helps many people to relax when stress hits. Many smokers will say that smoking helps them to think clearly. When someone stops smoking they have to find new ways to deal with stress and frustration which can be hard, especially for long-term smokers.

Quitting the habit sometimes calls for repeated attempts before success is achieved. The addictive pull of nicotine and the psychological boost are hard to do without.

Filed Under: Addiction Tagged With: Cigarette, Nicotine, Smoking cessation

Different Types of Addictions

Addictions are often thought to only pertain to drugs. Indeed, drug and substance dependencies can form some of the most immediately dangerous addictions, at least in reference to the effects of these drugs. Fatalities, long-term biological damage, and other effects can be felt with drug-related addiction.

Yet it is often overlooked when it comes to other types of addictions. As drinking, smoking, and more serious drugs are normally thought as “serious addictions,” this topic does not end there. It is not uncommon for one to become addicted to shopping, video games, and computers. There are also eating addictions, whether eating too much, not eating enough, or vomiting food after binging.

Society often casts a view upon these types of addictions of them being less important or normal, so to speak. However at its core these are no less important than those that surround drugs and alcohol. While substance abuse may involve one that is more dangerous—such as the medical implications of alcohol dependency or in overdosing on a serious drug—other types of addictions can become very serious. For example, there are some people who have actually died because they played video games without stopping to eat or sleep.

From this argument it is seen that help should be sought for any type of addiction. Those battling addictions to alcohol and other drugs should seek professional help such as treatment at MichaelsHouse.com. If you or someone you know has any type of addiction, from drugs to video games, it is important to consult with a mental health professional. The dangers are very real whether the cause of the addiction is immediately dangerous or dangerous to one’s physical health.

It is important to realize that addictions can be overcome. Relative to one’s addiction the individual should seek professional help in order to get the right type of attention. If you or someone you know is battling an addiction, seek immediate help.

Filed Under: Addiction Tagged With: addiction, Substance abuse, Substance dependence

The Link Between Smoking and Cancer

It is estimated that there are 1.3 billion smokers in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is expected that smoking will kill approximately 6.5 million people by the year 2015. Statistics show that more than 18 percent of all deaths in the USA annually occur as a result of smoking. In 2009 there were 46 million smokers in the USA alone according to The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) .

It is a well known fact that smoking causes an increase in the prevalence of some types of cancer. Tar has been identified as the primary cause. The smoke itself is seen as cancer causing and affects not only the smoker, but also the nonsmoker who inhales environmental tobacco smoke. A cigarette contains between 60 to 80 different cancer-causing agents.

Which Cancers Does Smoking Cause?

When many people think of smoking and cancer, only lung cancer comes to mind. However, smoking has been linked to many other types of cancer. Six of the cancers most often associated with the habit are:

1. Lung

2. Bladder

3. Mouth

4. Esophageal

5. Throat

6. Larynx

Evidence is also emerging that smoking may have an impact on other cancers such ovarian, liver, stomach, bowel and breast. Research has shown that smoking over time causes a buildup of dangerous poisons in the body which damages the organs and inhibits normal functioning of the body. Some of these toxins are cadmium, benzene and arsenic. Individually these compounds are dangerous, when combined they are deadly. Scientists have found that the blood of smokers has 10 times as much arsenic as that of nonsmokers.

There can be no doubt based on the number of studies done over the years that smoking is a prime cause of cancer in humans. The good news is that for many people, most of the cancers listed above can be prevented by not smoking.

Filed Under: Addiction Tagged With: Cancer, Lung cancer, Smoking

Simple Ways to Help You Quit the Habit

While quitting smoking is hard, there are lots of ways to help people stop. Despite this, it is important to know that many people sometimes have to stop and start over repeatedly before they beat nicotine addiction. This is prove of how addictive nicotine is.

While there are well-known aids such as drugs to help people quit smoking, there are other ways to get the process started. It helps if the smoker makes a list of some of these steps as they work towards their stop smoking goal. The first stage of any such program should include these:

A desire to quit on the part of the smoker. Making a list of all the reasons why you want to quit will help make the decision easier.Start a conditioning program such as going to the gym and eating better so as to get your mind and body in gear.Learn what your triggers are and try to avoid them. Some people smoke when they face great stress others after eating certain types of food. Knowing what sparks cravings can help you avoid them and find other coping methods.Drinking lots of water is believed to help flush out nicotine and related toxins from your body.

Some methods that people all over the globe use to help them beat nicotine are:

Going cold turkeyGradually reducing cigarette smokingUsing medicationUsing herbal therapyUsing traditional means such as acupuncture and meditation

Some methods or combination of methods work best for some people and not for others. To beat addiction of any type is not easy. The person with the addiction must want to stop and be willing to keep going even when they fail. Many former smokers tried to quit numerous times before they succeeded.

Filed Under: Addiction Tagged With: Nicotine, Quitting, Smoking cessation

Women and Smoking: The Added Risks

Women seem to face more risks from smoking. They are exposed to all the known health risks that men face such as cancers of the lung, throat, mouth and larynx, heart and circulatory diseases. However, they have to deal with unique situations as well.

Women who smoke could have fertility issues and problems while giving birth. It has been reported that smokers will generally take over a year to conceive in comparison to nonsmokers. Published reports suggest that the fertilization process in smokers can be impaired.

Babies of smokers are more likely to develop colds, allergies and respiratory illnesses than babies of nonsmokers. These babies may be born prematurely and even when they are full term, babies of smokers tend to be of low birth weight which can have health implications.

Women who use birth control also face certain dangers from smoking. Many ads for birth control products warn that women who smoke may be at increased risks of certain conditions such as blood clots and stroke. According to some of these ads, the danger increases after age 35.

Pre and post-menopausal women also have increased risks of some health conditions if they are smokers. Osteoporosis, bone density loss among older women, can be compounded by smoking. Female smokers lose more bone density than nonsmokers especially as they reach menopause.

It would seem that the cards are stacked against women smokers. The health risks discussed are just a few of the the known dangers when it comes to women and smoking. Thankfully, there are now many ways for women to get help to quit smoking.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tagged With: Menopause, Smoking cessation, Tobacco smoking

Naturals Ways to Quit Smoking

Every day people try to quit smoking without success. There are many products on the market that are designed for helping people quite the habit, but some want to do it naturally. There are lots of natural methods that smokers can try to help them get over the habit for good.

Herbs

There are many herbs that have been used for years as aids to help people quit. Some of them are quite popular such as St. John’s Wort, Lobelia and Ginseng. Some can be had as pills while others are used in powder form to brew tea.

Acupuncture

This ancient Chinese treatment has helped some smokers quit. The treatment is said to help by changing the taste of cigarettes, which result in the smoker not wanting to smoke. Some acupuncturists use herbs in conjunction with acupuncture to hasten the process of withdrawal and cessation.

Hypnotherapy

Many people who have quit smoking swear by this method. It may not be for everyone, but it may be worth a try.

Just Stopping

For many people it is hard to quit abruptly. However, this has been the route taken by many former smokers who have given up the habit. This is a good method for people who are strong willed as it is easier for them to stop cold turkey, that is, without the use of any other methods. This may have to be tried repeatedly before success is finally achieved.

These methods have proven successful for some smokers, but not everyone will succeed at the first try. Like all addictions, support and encouragement is needed to help the smoker start the quitting process and to stick to it.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tagged With: Lobelia, Smoking cessation, Tobacco smoking

The Relation Between Smoking And Cancer

Smoking and lung cancer are terms that are commonly used in various situations. There are many people who have been suffering from diseases of the lungs and some of them suffer very severe problems and a very few of them may even suffer from lung cancer. The truth is that the relation between smoking and lung cancer is very high.

There are various reasons for this. The first important factor is that the smoke from the cigarettes contains nicotine that is released from the tobacco. The nicotine is a very addictive substance and at the same time, it is also a carcinogen. A carcinogen is a substance that can cause cancer in a person. Since the nicotine is a carcinogen, it can cause cancer in the person.

The nicotine enters the lungs of the person with each breath when the person draws in the smoke. Once this occurs on a regular basis, the person will start having changes in the tissues of the lungs. The lungs start collecting fluids and there is also infection. The air that enters into the lungs is also not to the full amount. This decreased air entry into the lungs will cause the person to suffer from breathlessness.

Other than the person who smokes, the people who live around the smoker can also be affected by smoking and this is called as the passive smoking. Since the affected individual is not an active smoker, the inhalation of the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker is called as passive smoking. The passive smoking also has the same kind of effect as active smoking. The family members or people living with a smoker are prone to this condition and may also suffer from lung cancer. Cessation of smoking decreases the chances of a person suffering from lung cancer very drastically.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tagged With: Cancer, Lung, Lung cancer

Quit Smoking The Self-Inflicted Punishment

One of the biggest health challenges facing mankind is unfortunately of their own making. As it is, the world is becoming an unhealthier place to live in because of pollution and environmental degradation. Added to this the menace of smoking is snuffing out many valuable lives in the prime of their youth.

It is unfortunate that millions of people across the world continue with this life-threatening practice even though they are very much aware of the risks associated with it. Smoking is an almost certain route to cancer and a host of other diseases. Though a plethora of laws are floating around in various countries, it is very difficult to implement them unless the end users of cigarettes, i.e. the consumers themselves realize the dangers they are bringing upon them and to society at large

One more dangerous consequence associated with cigarettes is passive smoking or exposure to second-hand smoking as it also called. Imagine a situation in a small apartment where the parents are smokers. They are surely damaging their health irretrievably but what they may not be realizing is that they are also seriously damaging their family members’ health. Passive smoking is as big a health challenge as active smoking in many parts of the world, especially in poor countries where the living conditions are very bad, unhygienic and with lack of ventilation.

To combat this menace, there are many initiatives taking place out there but more needs to be done. There are many ways to quit smoking provided there is a determination and will power amongst the users. More importantly there should be a mass uprising to get the world rid of this menace and a long fight is ahead, especially with the biggest vested interest, i.e. the tobacco manufacturing companies and tobacco cultivators. These people tout death and destruction in the name of creating jobs and opportunities.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tagged With: Health, Passive smoking, Smoking cessation

How to Identify a Person who Smokes

Many of you may have heard about the harm and health risks of smoking, but how many of you have actually taken care to see the signs of a smoker? Smoking is a habit which can harm both you and your family, it would be better to keep away from it, and try to stop the habit before it gets out of hand. Lung cancer is not the only thing is causes; there are many other health risks.

One of the main sign of a smoker is the fingers and the teeth. The fingers would have a yellowish tinge, while the teeth would be stained. This is because the cigarettes contain nicotine, the chemical responsible for various health risks in you. It is a strong one and can cause addiction to the person using it. Nicotine has the ability to stain the nails and teeth.

Dark lips are a quality, albeit a subtle one. A person who smokes is said to have a darker lips than his normal color when he smokes. Another unstable sign is the smell. You can say whether a person has been smoking by the smell on his clothes but you can’t be hundred percent sure. This is because the smell sticks on to the cloth when the person is around smokers as well.

Also, people who have the habit of smoking get wrinkles and crow’s feet around their eyes much earlier than others who don’t. This is definitely bad news for the people who are extremely beauty conscious. Smoking is a habit which can make you look older than you actually are. In fact, it also affects your health. You can easily get out of breath or have eyes which look red.

Doctors who are experienced can identify heavy smokers at a glance. If you have the habit of smoking then it would be better to try to stop it and lead a healthy life.

Filed Under: Addiction Tagged With: Health effects of tobacco, Nicotine, Tobacco smoking