Smoking
Introduction
- Tobacco is one of the world's leading preventable causes of death.
- Tobacco use leads to many diseases that negatively affect the heart, liver, and lungs.
What are the side effects and complications of smoking?
- Coronary artery disease (clogged arteries)
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Blood vessel damage
- Pulmonary embolism
- Different types of cancer
- Oral and dental diseases
- Increased susceptibility to diseases and infections
The effect of smoking on the external appearance:
- Yellow and brown spots on the fingers, tongue, and teeth
- Increased risk of tooth loss
- Saggy skin and early wrinkles
- Bad breath
What are the effects and complications of smoking on a pregnant woman?
- Miscarriage
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight baby
- Stillbirth
- Smoking during pregnancy or exposure to smoke causes a number of negative effects on the health of the fetus.
Types of tobacco
- All forms of tobacco are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure.
- Cigarette smoking is the most common type. Other products include:
- Hookah tobacco
- Smokeless tobacco products
- Cigars, cigarillos, hand-rolled tobacco
- Pipe tobacco, bidi rolls, and kretek rolls
Midwakh (Dokha or pipe tobacco):
- Mixture of tobacco smoked in a pipe called "medwakh," often used by young people.
- Contains nicotine levels five times higher than cigarettes.
- Considered as harmful as cigarettes and hookah.
New and emerging tobacco and nicotine products:
- Heated tobacco products
- Generate sprays containing nicotine and toxic chemicals when tobacco leaves are heated.
- Expose users to carcinogenic toxic emissions.
- Electronic cigarettes (vape):
- Heat a liquid to generate aerosol/vapor for inhalation.
- Often flavored and can harm health, increasing the risk of heart disease and lung disorders.
- Dangerous for children and teens due to brain development.
- Not approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation treatment.
Does smoking cause addiction?
- Nicotine in tobacco causes changes in the brain, leading to addiction.
- Quitting is difficult due to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and the positive feelings nicotine provides temporarily.
What are the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal?
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Violence
- Frustration
- Difficulty concentrating
- Insomnia
- Low heart rate
- Increased appetite
Passive or secondhand smoking
- Inhaling smoke from another's cigarette poses health risks to non-smokers.
- Passive smokers face the same health risks as actual smokers.
Risks for children
- Irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat
- Increased chest infections
- Breathing difficulty
- Decreased lung growth
- Sudden infant death
Risks for adult non-smokers
- Higher risk of heart attacks, lung cancer, sinus cancer, and strokes.
How to protect non-smokers from passive smoking?
- Do not smoke around non-smokers, especially children and pregnant women.
- Respect laws against smoking in enclosed public spaces.
- Avoid smoking in workplaces, public transportation, and schools.
Smoking cessation tips
- Set a date to quit smoking and stop completely.
- Inform friends and family to gain support.
- Dispose of ashtrays, lighters, and cigarette packs.
- Avoid triggers and change daily routines.
- Be prepared for withdrawal symptoms, which peak 12–24 hours after quitting and decline over 2–4 weeks.
- Consider medications such as nicotine gum, sprays, patches, or pills under a doctor's supervision.
- Visit smoking cessation clinics and try again if you fail.
Benefits of quitting smoking
- Reduces the risk of disease.
- Protects the health of those around you.
- Improves fertility, breathing, and fitness.
- Enhances food taste and appearance of skin and teeth.
- Eliminates tobacco odors and reduces fire risks
When you're ready to quit, remember
- Nicotine addiction takes weeks to overcome, but many succeed daily.
- It may take several attempts to quit completely.
- Identify triggers (stress, boredom, anger) and avoid them.
- Find activities to keep busy and prevent relapse.
- Avoid social situations with smokers initially.