SMOKING: WHY STRESS YOUR LUNGS?

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*Smoking*

Do you know that there are about a billion smokers, that consumes the 6 trillion cigarette sticks, manufactured by nearly 500 factories producing 6.48 million tonnes of dry tobacco, from 32.4 million tones of green tobacco-leaf across 125 countries yearly?

Yes, the number of tobacco consumers (smokers) is that many. And it's very saddening that these individuals see no bad in smoking, despite the public campaign against it. Temporary pleasure__permanent damage.

Smoking is the action or habit of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco or a drug(tobacco in this context). It can also be defined as a practice in which tobacco is burnt: the resulting smoke is inhaled to be tasted, and absorbed into the body system. It is also known as Tobacco dependence.

A person who is dependent on tobacco is called an addict or chain smoker.

*Reasons for smoking*

1.) Peer pressure: the desire to smoke because friends and peers are doing it. Some smokers smoke just to belong and feel among.

2.) Addiction: some smokers smoke because they just can't help it. They feel depressed, sad, grouchy and irritated: hence resort to smoking

3.) Adventure: other smokers also start the habit as an adventure. They love to take risk and defy rules. Thus they try to smoke despite knowing the effects,and it eventually becomes an habit.

4.) Parental influence: sometime ago, smoking was restricted to the elites: people who were youths in that era smoke to prove their literacy. Since children are easily influenced by their parents, their children may end up smoking.

5.) Misinformation: youths are wrongly informed by the society and peers, that smoking makes one feel "high". Hence smokers act on this desire and wrong information, and take to smoking each time they have the need to feel elated.

*Signs of Tobacco dependence*

1.) Inability to feel at ease without smoking: an addict usually feels apprehensive, irritated or agitated in the absence of tobacco in their body system. Hence the need for continual consumption of tobacco.

2.) Neglecting important activities for smoking: an addict usually cares less about other activities, when the urge to smoke arises. Hence they tend to forsake those activities for the temporary relief from or pleasure in smoking.

3.) Inability to stop after deciding to: addicts do find themselves going back to smoking, even when they don't want to. Smoking like every other habit is easy to culture, but difficult to quit. So an addict can stop smoking for few days, and return to it thereafter.

4.) Moodiness or disinterest in normal activities: smoking tobacco releases some neurotransmitters(endorphin) in the brain, which results in excitement and vigor. When tobacco is withdrawn from an addict's system: they tend to get moody or feel depressed,because their brain is unable to secrete those neurotransmitters without the trigger from tobacco.

*Effects of smoking.*

For comprehension, the effects of smoking has been categorized based on its relationship to the systems of the body.

*The Respiratory System: smoking actively involves the respiratory system and excessive smoking can lead to coughing, wheezing, colds, lung cancer and pneumonia.

*The Mouth: addicts have been discovered to have bad breath, especially after smoking. It also causes teeth discoloration in the long run.

*The Nervous System: excessive smoking causes damage to the brain and its connections, thus causing stroke. Confusion and dizziness are also part of its effects.

*The Reproductive System: it can lead to impotence in a male(weakening of the sperm cells, and reduction in sperm count) and infertility in female.

*The Cardiovascular System: it is a major cause of some cardiovascular diseases such as heart diseases, high blood pressure.

*The skeletal system: it can lead to osteoporosis i.e weakening of the bones in an adult.

* The Skin: it leads to premature wrinkling of the skin and blackening of the lips

* The Immune system: it weakens the immune system, specifically the white blood cells.

* The Digestive system: smoking causes prediabetes (a type of diabetes which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Where body cells become resistant to the actions of insulin, thereby causing the accumulate of glucose in the blood)

*How to overcome tobacco dependence/addiction:*

1.) You must make up your mind to quit smoking: it's a decision you alone can make for yourself. This determination will help you through the withdrawal and recovery period.

2.) Steer clear of reminders: do away with anything that reminds you of smoking e.g cigarette sticks, smoking environment, smoking buddies etc.

3.) Exercise: it helps take your mind off smoking, and helps the brain to secrete more of similar neurotransmitters triggered by smoking.

4.) See a counselor: they are trained personnels, who offer professional help. They have worked with patients in similar situations, so they know what to advice. And be rest assured, your secret is safe with them.

5.) Accountability partners: they could be friends, colleagues etc. It could even be a group with like-minded individuals: smokers who are ready to quit. You could be a good source of encouragement for one another, as everyone shares their experiences to share in working towards the common goal__quitting.

By: Nagudia A. Gregory and Olubola Adepoju