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Smoking - Symptom, Treatment And Causes

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2022

What is Smoking?

Smoking means a practice whereby people burn a substance which results in a smoke that can be breathed in, which is tasted and then absorbed into the bloodstream. The most common substance that is smoked is the dried leaves of the tobacco plant, which when rolled up inside a square piece of paper, creates a small round cylinder- called a cigarette.

More about Smoking :

Smoking is an age old tradition whereby this practice was primarily practiced as a route of administration for recreational drugs. It’s been because the combustion of the dried leaves and herbs vaporizes very fast and can deliver active narcotic substances into the pulmonary system, where they are absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream to reach our brain and other tissues in our body. In the case of cigarette smoking dried tobacco leaf releases aerosol, gasses and needless to say alkaloid nicotine, which, when absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs creates a feeling of satiety.In some cultures all around the world smoking is till used as a part of various traditional rituals , where participants use this practice to enter a trance like state, which some believe lead them to ‘spiritual enlightenment’. Generally any kind of smoking has negative health effects. As smoking poses a threat to various physiological processes, particularly to our cardio-respiratory system. Diseases that occurs out of smoking have shown mortality for approximately half of the long term smokers, when compared to the death rates faced by non-smokers.

Researches do confirm that smoking tobacco, is the most common recreational drug practiced by over one billion people in present times, of whom most are the citizens of the developing countries across the globe. Less common drugs that are smoked are marijuana (cannabis) and opium. Hard narcotic chemicals like heroin and others are also smoked, but their use is limited, as these chemicals are hard to be found commercially. Cigarettes, on the other hand, are manufactured industrially for commercial use, but then again, they can also be hand-rolled using loose tobacco and rolling papers.Some of the other things that are often smoked are pipes, bidis, vaporizers, hookahs and bongs.

In the present times many governments across the world is deterring their citizen from smoking and highlighting on anti-smoking campaigns, stressing on the harmful long-term effects of this age-old practice. Passive smoking, which affects the health of other non-smokers and children in the vicinity of the smokers, is one major reason for enforcement of this smoking ban. Especially in indoor public places, like bars, restaurants, and bars.

What are the 4 types of smokers?

It is worldwide known that smoking is extremely bad for health. There are so many materials available out there that support this notion. Some so many people smoke but not everyone is addicted to smoking. Some people smoke occasionally. Based on these differences smokers are divided into 4 types:

  • Addicted smokers: People who smoke regularly fall into this category. These people are nicotine addicts and cannot live without smoking. They smoke without any reason and they smoke all the time. They are most prone to deadly diseases like cancer, heart diseases, etc.

    This high level of cigarette smoking results in a high level of toxicity. Smoking withdrawal symptoms are also seen in them.

  • Social smokers: This is a small group of people who smoke occasionally. They usually smoke in public or at social gatherings like parties, clubs, etc. They always smoke with other people or groups. Since they do not smoke regularly they are not addicted to smoking but they are still prone to diseases.
  • Anxious smokers: This group belongs to those types of people who smoke when they are anxious or stressed about anything. This is a kind of psychological situation when people urge to smoke to feel relieved. This is because nicotine present in cigarettes activates the pleasure centre in the brain.
  • Skinny smokers: Some people start smoking to lose weight. Nicotine slower down the appetite which ultimately results in weight loss. But this kind of weight loss can affect your lungs permanently. Some people become regular smokers due to this reason.
Summary: A lot of people smoke around the world but not everyone is addicted to smoking. But it is important to remember that even a small level of smoking is dangerous for health.

How dangerous is smoking?

Smoking is hazardous. It damages almost every organ of our body. The list of smoking-related diseases is very long. Some of them are:

  • Cancer
  • COPD
  • Stroke
  • Emphysema
  • Heart diseases.
  • Lung diseases.
  • Chronic Bronchitis etc.

Smoking during pregnancy leads to many complications including stunted growth of the child. Millions of die in the world due to cigarette smoking.

Summary: Smoking is a threat to mankind. Smoking is not something that one can do quite easily. Quitting smoking involves different stages. Addicted people also get smoking withdrawal symptoms which if left untreated can be fatal.
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Why is it important to stop smoking?

It is important to stop smoking because the death rate due to smoking is increasing rapidly all over the world. Quitting smoking enhances health conditions. It increases life expectancy. It reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases like cancer, COPD, heart diseases, etc.

It reduces complications in pregnancy. People who quit smoking at any age have been proven to be beneficial for them.

Summary: It is well known that smoking is a silent killer. It is something that destroys our body slowly. Smoking does not only affect the smoker but also the people around them and the environment so it should be stopped.

Does smoking age your face?

Smoking negatively affects every part of the body including the skin too. It causes ageing of the skin. Smoking shows adverse consequences like:

  • Deeper wrinkles around the eyes.
  • Uneven pigmentation.
  • Baggy skin around the eyes.
  • Darken lips.
  • Yellowing of fingers etc.

Smoking makes you look older than your real age. It is important to quit smoking to have healthy skin.

Summary: Skin is known to be the largest organ of the body and smoking affects it directly by demolishing it. It causes the skin to look older than the person is.

Does smoking affect breast size?

Yes, smoking affects breast size. Women are always worried about their breast size. They think that it plays an important role in a woman’s physical appearance. So they do a lot of things to get an attractive breast size and smoking is believed to be one of them.

But it is not true because smoking does not give a single good thing to our body. Smoking results in the sagging of breasts. The skin loses its elasticity and breast tissue is damaged. This leads to a change in breast size.

Summary: Smoking does affect the size of breasts but it damages the breast areas. Skin gets folded and the breast sags. Smoking should not be accepted as a way to reduce breast size because it harms women.

Will I look younger if I quit smoking?

Yes once you leave smoking you will look younger. This is because smoking affects skin cells very badly and it causes pigmentation, blemishes, acne etc. If smoking is left untreated it can cause a deadly disease of cancer.

Skin is a very sensitive part of our body and due to smoking, it loses its elasticity and sags out.

Summary: People always want to look beautiful and they do try a lot of ways to look younger. If someone smokes then all the trials to look younger will go in vain because smoking alters the skin elasticity.

Does smoking make you skinny?

Smoking shows adverse consequences on our bodies. It also decreases life expectancy. It shows many unpropitious symptoms like:

  • Smoking decreases BMI.
  • It decreases caloric absorption.
  • It increases metabolic rate.
  • Smoking decreases metabolic efficiency.
  • It promotes leanness.

Smoking causes leaning of the body but not in a healthy way. It leads to many complications afterwards. Smoking does make us skinny by reducing BMI. Smoking affects the fat ratio of the body which is very dangerous.

Summary: Some people start smoking for losing weight but this is not the right way. They do become skinny but in the end, most of them acquire an addiction to smoking which is far more dangerous than obesity.

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Written ByDr. Goma Bali Bajaj Diploma in geriatric,MBBS,MEM,Diploma In GeriatricGeneral Physician
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