Smoking

 

Smoking tobacco is deadly and is responsible for more illness and death than any other drug. Tobacco smoke contains a cocktail of over 60 toxic chemicals including tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, ammonia and arsenic and can cause a range of health conditions such as:

 

 

• Coronary artery disease including heart disease and heart attack,
• Stroke,
• Lung disease such as bronchitis and emphysema,
• Gastrointestinal ulcers,
• Reduced bone density,
• Impaired blood circulation resulting poor wound healing, gangrene or amputations,
• Infertility,
• Cancer, particularly of the mouth, throat, lungs, liver and bone marrow.

 

Passive smoking occurs when non-smokers breathe in second-hand smoke (inhalation of the smoke from the burning cigarette). Research has shown that passive smoking poses equal health dangers to smoking as the toxic chemicals in the smoke are still able to illicit ill-health and therefore poses a great health risk to the general public of non-smokers.

 

One of the biggest barriers to stopping smoking is that the nicotine found in cigarettes is highly addictive and smokers want to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

 

 

Quitting options
Since the broad health impacts of tobacco smoking are well documented, the Federal Government has implemented strict regulations in an effort to deter smoking in public and to limit the impact of passive smoking on the general public. Such laws affect price and labelling of cigarettes as well as prohibiting smoking within close proximity of public buildings such as shops, restaurants, hospitals and schools.

 

Research indicates that most smokers want to quit smoking, but it may take more than one attempt to definitively stop smoking for good.

 

Initiatives to stop smoking generally centre on a combination of:

• Counselling and coaching to educate, motivate and encourage smokers to not give up, and
• Low dose nicotine replacement in an effort to wean off nicotine in a gradual manner.

 

Your health care professional will be able to advise you on the most appropriate therapy options for you.

 

 

Disclaimer
The content displayed on this webpage is intended for informational purposes and is a guide only. It does not replace or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Information contained on this webpage must be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional before making any decisions or taking any action based on the content of this webpage.

 

Sources

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Smoking_tobacco_is_deadly?open

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/smoking_effects_on_your_body

http://www.quit.org.au/reasons-to-quit/health-risks-of-smoking