Smoking major issues

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. You might be aware of the dangers of smoking. Smoking is the cause of different health issues.
1) Cancer
Lung cancer is a major health issue found among smokers. Smoking not only affects lungs, it also affects every organ in your body.
2) Chronic Bronchitis
Smoking is the main cause of mucus formation in the lungs and this leads to frequent coughing. This leads to chronic inflammation and lung infections.
3) COPD
COPD means Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The term can be used to describe chronic bronchitis and emphysema. More than 75% of COPD deaths are caused by smoking.
4) Fertility problems result of smoking

Women smokers will have problems to conceive since a compound called NAH found in cigarettes will cause the ovaries to shut down. This also causes irregular menstrual cycle.
5) Pregnancy risk
If you are pregnant and you have the habit of smoking then there is a chance of miscarriage. It will also lead to other complications later in baby’s life like diabetes, mental retardation etc.
6) Shortened Lifespan
Smoking affects the lifespan of people. A study on this topic by British doctors states that a lifelong smoker will die 10 years before non-smokers or those who stopped smoking at the age of 30.
7) Poor sex life
Smoking is a reason for poor sex life. It causes erectile dysfunction in men. A research on this topic reveals that men who smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day have 60 percent higher chance of developing ED.
8) Emphysema
Emphysema is a lung disorder in which patients will find it difficult to breathe due to reduced lung capacity.
9) Heart Diseases
The American Heart Association states that there is a strong connection between smoking and heart diseases. Smoking raises blood pressure, increases chance of blood clot, lowers HDL etc.
10) Poor immune function
Smokers will have a poor immune system. They are more susceptible to allergies and infections.
These are the main dangers of smoking. Since we are aware of the bad impacts we should try to abolish this from the society.

Tobacco and the skin

Quitting smoking decreases the risk for certain cancers, heart and cardiovascular diseases, improves general health and mood and prevents the development of respiratory illnesses. However, quitting smoking can also hinder ageing and one cosmetic-related reason to quit smoking is younger looking skin. Let's take a look at some of the ways that smoking impacts the skin in order to further underscore the importance of smoking cessation:

· Skin tone: Smoking causes people to have a poor skin tone. Smokers' skin tends to be blotchy, sallow, pale and uneven. This is because the skin is continuously deprived of the vital nutrients, oxygen and especially fluid it needs to stay healthy when people inhale tobacco smoke.

· Skin that sags: Smoking causes the skin to sag. The plethora of chemicals and toxin in tobacco smoke destroy collagen and elastin over time-the compounds responsible for keeping the skin young and elastic.

· Smoker's pucker: Smokers' use muscles around their mouths that create a wrinkle effect-a permanent pucker wrinkle.

· Wrinkles: Smoking cigarettes damages the blood vessels in the skin and causes it to age faster. As a result, people develop deep lines and wrinkles at a younger age and they have an overall look to their face that is unhealthy.

Here are just a few of the main ways that tobacco smoke can damage the skin if it is chronically inhaled over time. Many people who start smoking in their teens or twenties do not worry about these effects because they are basking in the glory of youth-how can their skin ever get wrinkles? The trouble is that youth has a time limit and smoking makes that time limit critically short. Once smokers hit their thirties, the ageing process accelerates rapidly.

The good news is that the adverse effects of smoking can always be mitigated by learning how to stop smoking. As soon as a smoker gives up cigarettes, the health damage begins to reverse and over time the body heals. It is never too late to quit smoking.

Why Should I Stop Smoking

The evidence on how smoking is linked to cancer, lung disease and many other diseases cannot be disputed. The same is true for the links between smoking and heart disease and stroke.

Here are the ways smoking affects your heart:

• Carbon monoxide from cigarettes makes it harder for your blood to carry oxygen, so your heart has to work harder.
• Nicotine makes your heart beat faster, again making it work harder.
• Nicotine narrows your blood vessels, so less blood and oxygen get through.
• Nicotine also increases the amount of deposits that build up on the inside walls of your arteries. This increases your blood pressure and can lead to blood clots. High blood pressure and blocked arteries are both risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

·         Even when we know how smoking affects our health, quitting is not easy. There are many ways that smoking is addictive:

·         Physically - your body craves the tar and nicotine in cigarettes.

·         Psychologically - smoking makes you feel good, and you depend on this effect.

·         Socially - you relate smoking to being with people and enjoying yourself.

·         Behaviourally - smoking is a habit you find hard to break.

·         Emotionally - smoking helps define who you are.

·         Do whatever you can to quit smoking. It will be tough at times - but your body will thank you in the end.

When you succeed in quitting smoking, the rewards start piling up right away. Here are some examples:

• Within a few hours your body starts getting healthier
• After a few days you will be able to do more physical activity and you sense of smell and taste improve
• After one year your odds of having heart disease are cut in half
• In general you will feel stronger and more in control of your life. Your odds of getting many diseases go down the longer you are a smoker.

Quit Smoking, learn how!

If you want to quit smoking, you will need to learn about the few stages and steps to stop. This will help significantly because you will be able to assess your situation and know what the most probable remedy is.

1. Think about Quitting or Reducing

It goes without saying that a smoker will think of quitting after a while, or simply just reducing his smoking.

2. Changing Brands

Most smokers who wish to stop or reduce smoking will try changing brands. For example, he may try to smoke light cigarettes instead of reds, or maybe try cheaper brands.

3. Learn Ways to Stop the Habit

Smokers today will search for valuable information found on the internet that can help them.

4. Putting it in Motion

After they learn a few tips or methods on quitting, they will now try it out if it is suitable for them.

3 Steps to Quit Smoking

After a smoker finally finds a promising method, he will then find ways to suppress his urges. Here are a few steps that can help you get through the ordeal:

Step 1: Refrain from Smoking for a Day

Once you get this first hurdle, you will find yourself fighting with your urges. You will also experience some of the withdrawal symptoms after you stop smoking. However, after you get through this, you will have started the recovery process.

Step 2: Keep a Record

Keep a record of whenever you feel the urge, and how you handled it. This will help you feel better about your success of that moment and yourself.

Step 3: Develop Ways to Stop Your Cravings

There are many ways to suppress your urges that can be readily found on the internet. A common method of this is to set a substitute for cigarettes, such as fruits, mints, or candies. Another popular method is to keep yourself busy; distract yourself constantly so that the thought of smoking won't pop up in your head.

Once you get past the first few months, you won't be feeling the need to smoke as much anymore. However, be wary of the withdrawal symptoms that can cause you and those around you discomfort. In the end, just be proud of yourself because you have started to quit smoking; this will help you feel better about the task you are undertaking. Remember, you are not doing this only for yourself, but for your family as well.