Tobacco
- What's in cigarettes?
- What can I expect if I smoke?
- What can happen down the road?
- How addictive is smoking?
- Working Towards a smoke-free Canada
What's in cigarettes?
Cigarette smoking is the most common addiction in North America and is also one of the most difficult to overcome. Inhaled cigarette smoke contains over 5,000 different chemicals - many of which have been linked to or proven to cause cancer. Some common chemicals in cigarettes include nicotine, tar, ammonia, benzene, arsenic and carbon monoxide.What can I expect if I smoke?
The first time you smoke a cigarette you feel the effects immediately.Some effects of cigarettes are:
- Pulse and blood pressure go up, skin temperature goes down.
- More stomach acid and less urine are produced.
- Initially, the brain and nervous system are stimulated and the smoker may interpret this as relaxation.
- Appetite and physical endurance decrease.
What can happen down the road?
Smoking over a long period of time significantly increases the risk of developing serious health problems.- Every year 30,000 Canadians die from the effects of smoking.
- It can lead to sexual problems, including impotence.
- Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.
- Emphysema, a condition in which the lungs are abnormally enlarged, is a life-threatening disease that is often associated with smoking.
- Chronic bronchitis and cancer of the larynx, mouth, bladder, kidney and pancreas occur in many people who have smoked heavily for years.
- Even before developing these serious diseases, a smoker can experience lung problems in the form of "smoker's cough" - a chronic shortness of breath that makes you have uncontrollable, dry heaving coughs.
- Babies of smoking mothers often have low birth weight, are shorter in length, and have small head circumference. Some studies link smoking with miscarriage and stillbirths. Some research also suggests that smoking when pregnant can lead to the child having learning and behaviour problems.
- Secondhand smoke (sidestream smoke) that is not directly inhaled by the smoker can harm people who are exposed to it. In fact, a non-smoker subjected to secondhand smoke can experience many of the same short-term and long-term effects as smokers do.
How addictive is smoking?
Smokers become addicted to tobacco quickly. Almost everyone who smokes develops a dependence on tobacco that is very difficult to break.Withdrawal symptoms can include:
- irritability,
- anxiety,
- sleep and appetite disturbances,
- changes in temperature and heart rate, and
- strong cravings for tobacco.
Working Towards a smoke-free Canada
The popularity of cigarette smoking is at an all-time low in Canada. Almost 70% of Canadians are non-smokers.Due to the dangers of secondhand smoke, many public places have been declared smoke free. Hospitals, doctor's offices, banks and many government offices have non-smoking policies. Airlines and bus companies have non-smoking policies. Restaurants have non-smoking sections. Many workplaces do not allow smoking either by visitors or staff.
However, quitting smoking is usually much more difficult than posting a "No Smoking" sign. As with any other addiction, you may need help overcoming the habit. Many programs are available to help those who find they can't do it alone.
Updated: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 1:40 PM