Dr Joe Kosterich talks about ways you can stop smoking. He also addresses concerns you may have about possible side effects, such as increased coughing and weight gain.
The effect nicotine has on the brain and the body is complex. It is an addictive drug, making cigarette smoking the most prevalent form of nicotine addiction.
Tobacco contains an addictive chemical called nicotine that when ingested gives the consumer a rush of adrenaline. Tobacco is most commonly ingested by inhaling the smoke from burning it using a cigarette, cigar or tobacco pipes. It is associated with many, severe adverse health effects.
Cigarettes are a small roll of porous paper containing a rod of chopped up tobacco leaf. Cigarettes are designed so that the tobacco can be smoked, by lighting the cigarette and breathing in the smoke. Cigarettes also contain additives such as chemical compounds, sugars and flavourings which are used to increase shelf life, control the rate at which the cigarette burns and control the delivery of the chemicals.
Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 different chemical compounds. Many of these are toxic, and at least 43 are known carcinogens. In Australia, around 19,000 smokers die each year from diseases caused by their smoking. One in two smokers will die of a smoking related disease. Still, one in five Australians aged 14 or over smoke on a daily or weekly basis.
There is an increased risk of a number of eye disorders, not only in those who smoke, but also in those who are frequently exposed to tobacco smoke. Passive smoking can damage children's eyes, causing strabismus or allergic conjunctivitis. Adults who smoke can develop many eye conditions, including cataracts, uveitis, and thyroid eye disease.
In many cases, changes to skin due to smoking are not life threatening, though they can change the physical appearance of the smoker. For example, smoking is associated with premature ageing, wrinkles, dry skin and skin discolouration. Smoking is also associated with very serious skin conditions, including skin cancer and psoriasis.
Smoking also has a part to play in several diseases and lesions in the mouth, the most common being gum disease. The chance of dental implant failure is more common among smokers than among non-smokers, and gum disease around these implants in those who smoke is also more prevalent.
Tobacco smoking is associated with male infertility and/or suboptimal sperm production. On average, sperm concentration for smokers is 13% lower than for non-smokers. Smoking men also have a lower average proportion of motile and morphologically normal sperm compared to non-smoking men.
Smoking or being exposed to tobacco smoke, either before or during pregnancy is associated with a range of poor pregnancy outcomes, including reduced fertility, an increased risk of pregnancy complications and impaired infant and child development. Tobacco smoke exposure is considered one of the few, preventable causes of poor pregnancy outcomes in developed countries like Australia.
Even though smoking carries serious health risks, a significant proportion of the Australian population continues to smoke. Many smokers attempt to quit at some stage, and each year many individuals choose quitting smoking as one of their New Year's Resolutions.
What's in a cigarette?
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Created: 14/5/2009
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