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Whether you smoke or chew tobacco, these are bound to have negative effects on your body and overall health. In extreme cases, people may end up with diabetes, heart disease or even lung cancer. While cigarette is a popular tobacco product, people also resort to cigars, roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco, and beedis. You may wonder if one is less harmful than the other, or what makes smoking so addictive. On World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on May 31, we got an expert to answer some of the frequently asked questions about smoking!.
The tobacco epidemic is a major public health threat, as more than eight million people around the world are killed in a year, according to the World Health Organization.
Since cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use across the globe, we have put together top 10 facts about smoking, and their answers!
Smoking is addictive primarily because of nicotine, a chemical found in tobacco. Nicotine stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine in the brain, which creates pleasurable sensations and reinforces the behaviour. Over time, the brain becomes dependent on nicotine to release dopamine, leading to cravings and withdrawal symptoms when nicotine levels drop. This cycle of pleasure and withdrawal makes quitting difficult, explains pulmonologist Dr Rohan Aurangabadwalla.
While smoking fewer cigarettes is less harmful than smoking many, there is no safe level of smoking. Even a few cigarettes a day significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, respiratory issues, and other health problems. The risks are dose-dependent, meaning they increase with the number of cigarettes smoked, but even light smoking carries serious health risks.
Quitting smoking involves a combination of strategies
E-cigarettes are sometimes used as a smoking cessation aid, but their safety and effectiveness are still debated and not recommended. While they can deliver nicotine without some of the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, e-cigarettes are not risk-free and their long-term health effects are not fully known.
Several medications can aid in smoking cessation:
But be wary of using them without a doctor’s recommendation or prescription.
When you quit smoking, your body starts to recover almost immediately. Here’s a detailed timeline of the health improvements you can expect:
Quitting smoking brings rapid improvements to your health, some of which start within minutes of your last cigarette. The long-term benefits significantly enhance the quality of life and reduce the risk of serious health conditions.
Regardless of age or smoking history, quitting can significantly improve your health, so it is never too late. Former smokers experience reduced risks of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and various cancers compared to those who continue to smoke, says Dr Aurangabadwalla. The sooner you quit, the greater the benefits, but even quitting later in life can extend and improve the quality of your life.
Some people do gain weight after quitting smoking. It may vary between 5 to 10 pounds or 2-5 kgs. This happens because nicotine suppresses appetite and increases metabolism. After quitting, your appetite may increase, and your metabolism may slow down. However, not everyone gains weight, and the health benefits of quitting far outweigh the risks associated with a modest weight gain. Eating healthy and exercising every day can help manage weight gain.
Quitting smoking offers numerous health benefits:
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Natalia Ningthoujam has written on various subjects - from music to films and fashion to lifestyle - as a journalist in her career that started in 2010. After getting stories from the crime scene, police headquarters, and conducting interviews with celebrities, she is now writing on health and wellness which has become her focus area. ...Read More
