The Health Effects of Smoking

Posted by Sri On Sunday, February 14, 2010 0 comments

What’s in a cigarette?
There  are  more  than  4000  chemicals  contained  in  tobacco
smoke,  many  of  which  are  harmful  when  inhaled  by  smokers
and those around them.

Nicotine
This  is  the  drug  that  causes  addiction.  It  is  very  powerful  and  fast  acting,
hitting  the  brain  seven  seconds  after  each  drag.  Nicotine  causes  higher
than  usual  neurotransmitter  activity.  When  the  activity  starts  to  drop  back
to ‘normal’ level, smokers finds themselves craving the next cigarette.

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon    monoxide  is  a  colourless,  odourless    gas  found    in  high  concentrations
in  cigarette  smoke.  It  is  also  produced  by  car  exhausts  and  faulty  gas  fires
and boilers.

When  inhaled,  carbon  monoxide  combines  readily  with  haemoglobin  in
red  blood  cells  to  form  carboxyhaemoglobin.  This  decreases  the  blood’s
oxygen-carrying  capacity,  depriving  the  organs  and  muscles  of  oxygen.
The  smoker  may  experience  fatigue,  shortness  of  breath  and  low  energy
levels.

To  try  and  get  more  oxygen  in,  the  heart  beats  faster  and  more  red  blood
cells  are  produced.  The  heart  has  to  work  harder  which  increases  the  risk
of  heart  attack  or  heart  failure.  Smoking  just  three  cigarettes  a  day
doubles the risk of having a heart attack.

The  extra  red  blood  cells  produced  cause  the  blood  to  become  thicker
and  more  sticky.    Carbon  monoxide  also  interacts  in  the  blood  vessels  to
increase  fatty  deposits  on  the  arterial  walls.  The  effect  of  these  fatty
deposits  and  blood  becoming  stickier  is  to  increase  the  chance  of  blood
clots  and  strokes  (clot  in  the  brain)  and  heart  attacks  (clot  in  the  arteries
of the heart).

Carbon  monoxide  is  particularly  harmful  during  pregnancy.  In  addition  to
the  damage  to  the  woman,  the  oxygen  supply  to  the  uterus  and  fetus  is
reduced.  One  cigarette  can  reduce  fetal  blood  flow  by  60%,  restricting
growth, repair and exchange of essential nutrients in the evolving cells.


Women know better, help men quit smoking

Posted by Sri On Saturday, February 13, 2010 0 comments

In 2007, 80 percent of the 5,319 male residents of kampung Keparakang, Mergangsan, Yogyakarta, were smokers. A year later, the number dropped to 70 percent and by 2009 to less than 65 percent.
Who do we have to thank for this? Women, of course.
The data comes from a survey conducted by members of an anti-smoking group in Keparakan made up of women.
"Information was initially collected from ten households at the Rukun-Tetangga *RT - basic community association* level, and the Rukun-Warga *RW - next highest administrative unit* level," said Rajwan Taufiq, Keparakan's village head, adding it ended up including the whole kampung.
The decreasing number of smokers in Keparakan is the result of a successful war waged on many fronts by brave women, more precisely wives of officials from the family welfare education department (PKK), against cigarette smokers, Rajwan said.
Wives began putting their foot down, tired of having to arrange various activities in the village chief's tiny, stuffy office, always full of smoke. Many of the men and officers who went there liked to puff on cigarettes while discussing matters of family welfare.
Sure enough, after six months of discussions, the citizens of Keparakan came up with a charter, signed by all the chairmen in the RW, totalling 13 people.
The charter declared residents would not smoke in the village head's office, and that every RW should choose two people from the group to conduct an anti-smoking campaign.
As many as 26 members from the newly formed anti-smoking group - recruited from 13 RW - received training at Gadjah Mada University school of medicine.
They received ample literature warning of the dangers of smoking, and were coached about the psychology reasons for cigarette addiction.
After this training, the war against smoking began on separate fronts. The first step was to free the village office environment and public places from cigarette smoke.
"Although the benefits *of people giving up cigarettes* were clearly positive for health and family finances, we couldn't prohibit smoking. All we could do was change people's mindsets," Rajwan said.
Soon enough, smokers were given a shed outside the village head's labelled "SMOKING AREA", a convivial to fill their lungs with nicotine, while sitting on easy chairs.
Alluring prospect, except for the multitude of posters stuck on the walls of the smoking area flashing images of various diseases caused by smoking and diatribes of information on all the toxins contained in cigarettes.
"We thought we had better inform smokers *of the harm they caused themselves and their families*. Now it's rare to see people smoking in smoking areas," Rajwan said.
Once the village head's office became smoke free, an attrition war against cigarettes continued at the heart of each family environment.
Take Andriyani for example; for the sake of her child's health, she forbade her husband from smoking in the house.
After some deliberation - and probably much pillow talk, Andriyani's husband agreed to only smoke on the veranda or when he was travelling. A small concession, but nonetheless a victory.
"Two weeks later my husband stopped smoking," said the mother of two.
Since Andriyani husband gave up smoking, her family has been able to save Rp 17,000 (US$1.7) per day - the equivalent of two packets of cigarettes a day.
"At the weekend, the whole family can now eat out or watch a movie using funds from the previous cigarette budget," she said.
Having rid themselves of cigarette smoke at home, members of the anti-smoking group took their fight to their immediate environment. The members asked their husbands not to smoke at the residents' meetings both at the RT and RW levels, and at other meetings.
Fitri Astuti, a member of the community in 1 RW Keparakan, suggested the women form a united front.
So whenever a meeting was scheduled, dozens of women would come carrying fans, pretending to cough when one of their husbands dared to pull a cigarette out. Wives grumbled, complaining of the dangers of passive smoking.
Chaos ensued. the head of the RW, a heavy smoker, lost his temper and stopped coming to meetings. But the chairman of the RW eventually saw the light, and caved in to the anti-smoking group's demands.
"The situation became uncomfortable but eventually the anti-smoking group's cause was embraced, and cigarettes were no longer permitted at any RT and RW level meetings, and in other kampung meetings," Fitri Astuti said.
The war for people's minds continued, with the anti-smoking group putting up posters reminding people of the dangers of smoking everywhere around the kampungs. Lists of the toxins contained in cigarettes were printed on posters and mounted in public places.
Women also organized events such as the healthy food festival at the end of each year and organized poster contests with an anti-smoking theme.
Not only did resident's wallets become thicker, but people's behaviour also began to change.
"Every cooperation type of activity always included cigarettes. Now when we undertake communal activities without a cigarette budget," said 47-year-old Ning Kuswantoro.
Yuli Kis, 50, who sells food near one of the leading private schools in Yogyakarta, decided to stop selling cigarettes a year ago.
"Selling cigarettes was a lucrative business, but when I realized the dangers of smoking, I no longer wanted to sell cigarettes. It's such pity that when they are still young and, still going to school, children are already consuming poison," Yuli Kis said.
It would seem the psychological warfare succeeded, as even chairman of the RT Slamet Widodo, 53, who at the beginning of the campaign refused to support or sign the Keparakan Charter, has become an active member of the anti-smoking group.
"I used to smoke an average of two packets a day since 1974. So in the past, I was completely against the anti-smoking group," he recalled.
But in 2009, he suffered a stroke due to his heavy consumption of cigarettes, and stopped smoking as a result. Now Slamet is glad he gave up sucking on the slow-killing machines, and willingly became a member of the anti-smoking group.
"The entertainment industry also supports the campaign. For example the Pura Tour, one of the attractions in this kampung, promised not to accept sponsorship from tobacco companies," Rajwan said.
There are now 39 anti-smoking groups of volunteers in Keparakan.
"We are not paid and receive no reward *for our campaigning*. We are often out of pocket. We pay our *operational* costs ourselves," Fitri Astuti said.
A clinic to help people stop smoking and support the improvement of public health was recently opened. Since November 12, 2009, the city government of Yogyakarta has established a special consultation clinic to help people who want to give up smoking.
Those clinics have now spread to 18 community health centers throughout Yogyakarta. Each clinic is staffed with one doctor on stand by.
Dr. Ndaru Rosanbantolo, a doctor in the community health center at Megergangsan, Yogyakarta, said 17 doctors has received specialist training at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) to handle people who wished to give up smoking.
"The training was more focused on understanding the psychological techniques to deal with patients," Ndaru said.
The clinic is open twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays during working hours.
For that 65 percent of people still smoking, the clinic will gladly open every day.
As well as providing consultation services, the community health centers also put up posters about the dangers of smoking, giving them for free to every visitor.
"We are also making a movie about cigarettes and will screen this in the waiting room to remind people of the dangers of cigarettes," Ndaru said.

Artikel by Slamet Susanto

Source


Smoking causes 1 fire a month in West Jakarta

Posted by Sri On Friday, February 12, 2010 0 comments

Smoking is not only bad for the health but also causes fires, as shown by recent data revealing that cigarettes caused around one fire per month in West Jakarta last year.

Data from West Jakarta Fire and Disaster Management Subagency shows that cigarettes were responsible for at least 12 of the 261 fires in the area in 2009.

Electrical faults were the single biggest cause of fires, accounting for 135 of the cases. Stove explosions caused another 18, while the causes of the remaining 49 were unknown.  

The areas most prone to fires were Kalideres district with 37 cases, followed by Cengkareng with 35, Kembangan (34), Tambora (32) and Grogol Petamburan (24), subagency chief Sudjadi told The Jakarta Post.

Most of the fires occurred in densely-populated areas and affected semi-permanent buildings, he said.

Sudjadi said his office faced several problems, but particularly because traffic jams made it difficult for his limited number of personnel to reach sites in a short amount of time.

“Ideally a unit includes six officers, comprising a chief, a driver and four crew,” he said. However, Sudjadi’s office has only three or four officers per unit.

The subagency now has around 500 officers — half of the ideal figure, he said.

Sudjadi claimed that since 2001 his office had empowered up to 3,000 members of the public by holding regular fire simulations and training volunteers in community units. The office had also distributed extinguishers and alarms to assist in controlling fires in several community units.

The office also faced malfunctioning and limited numbers of fire hydrants. A big city should have one hydrant in every 200 meters, subagency’s operations staff Syukri Bahanan said.

“In West Jakarta not all areas have hydrants,” Sudjadi said. In such cases the fire fighters must use vehicles with pumps, to obtain water from ditches, rivers or lakes. (lnd)

source: The Jakarta Post


Table Gender Specific Smoking Prevelance

Posted by Sri On Thursday, February 11, 2010 0 comments

Gender Specific Smoking Prevelance by WHO Regions


Stage Stop Smoking

Posted by Sri On Wednesday, February 10, 2010 0 comments

Yesterday, I chatted with one of my friends who want to reduce smoking. Previously, he had stated that to reduce and even stop smoking. What I wonder, she was still smoking despite being promised to stop.
Out of curiosity, I asked him why still suck "God 9 Cm" it. Apparently, he has his own opinion about the steps to quit smoking. There are distinct stages before a person really quit smoking. Here are the stages to quit smoking according to my friend:
1.Stage not buy their own cigarettes. If you want to reduce smoking, do not buy cigarettes. Cigarettes are addictive for some people.. By not buying cigarettes, you may have "managed" to reduce the habit.
2. Stage did not ask for a cigarette. Although you have not bought their own cigarettes, but could have friends around you have a cigarette. Typically, potential ex-smokers can not refrain from smoking again. He could ask for a cigarette from someone who has a cigarette. If you have not asked for cigarettes, then you can realize your dream to quit smoking.
3. Stage refused when offered a cigarette. Persuasion and suggestion from other people is usually more severe than drive yourself. So, when you are able to refuse a cigarette, you have virtually free of smoke.
That's all the stages to quit smoking according to my friend's opinion. Long enough and need to struggle in my opinion. If the above three stages can be passed, you'll be out of the circle of "God" called cigarettes. Congratulations!


Simple Way Stop Smoking

Posted by Sri On 0 comments

Before reading this article I want to ask first, whether now you want to stop smoking? If there really was a desire from your heart most deeply, personally my congratulations. Decisions you make are very appropriate for the health of yourself and the people around you. Seeing the high price of a pack of cigarettes recently, the decision was also very beneficial for the health of your pocket.

Once you have settled on that decision, begin to remove everything related to cigarettes. Not only cigarettes and penghisapnya tools, as well throw matches, an ashtray and everything associated with smoking. Currently you are no longer a smoker so you do not need it anymore objects.

Clear all the objects in your house that still had the smell of cigarettes. This aims to avoid the appearance of more memory will be the smell of cigarettes. Wash clothes, sheets, towels, blankets and all of them. When there is money, buy a room air freshener that you really did change, and no longer smell the smell of cigarettes could lead to longing for a cigarette.

Do not try to try to find a replacement cigarettes containing nicotine. Many are sold on the market that contain gum nicotine so you can be free from cigarettes, but you will be more bound by nicotine. Indeed many experts who advocate this way, only to be done in accordance with the advice and the right dose.

It would be nice if you replace the nicotine gum with gum or candy Mints, eliminating the smell of cigarettes in your mouth. Loss of cigarettes in the mouth a long time will make you forget about cigarettes for good.

Usually smokers have a smoking schedule that is not written. For example they smoke after eating, smoking while blogging, smoking while another queue and another vehicle. Make other activities at that time so you do not fill that time with smoking. For example after every meal you can chew gum or dessert. When blogging you can eat snacks, when lining up your vehicle can browse or read a book. Not easy but if done with full determination you will be able to do.

Exercise and drinking enough water will help you forget about cigarettes. This activity will make your body healthy and helps add remove toxins and bad materials from the cigarette out of the body. Exercise also makes you forget about cigarettes because exercise fun sport especially when done in an environment with many people so you can get along well.

So a bit of a way to get rid of cigarettes from your life. All of the above ways will be successful if there is commitment from yourself to stop smoking.


Diseases Caused By Smoking

Posted by Sri On Tuesday, February 9, 2010 0 comments

As per the World Health Organization statistics, it has been established that 7 people die due to tobacco use. Tobacco consists more than 400 toxic substances and a further 4,000 chemical compounds.

The most hazardous substances are tar, a carcinogen substance and nicotine which is addictive and increases cholesterol and carbon monoxide levels in the body. Carbon monoxide decreases the amount of oxygen in the body and this gives rise to different health problems. Smoking decreases the levels of oxygen reaching tissues because it constricts and damages blood vessels, giving rise to different health problems.

Smokers are more likely to suffer from respiratory infections and other minor complaints such as colds and coughs. Smokers suffer from severe diseases such as heart diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, lung disease, respiratory problems and other problems related to pancreas, kidneys, and liver. Hereunder is a breakdown of smoking related diseases:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): This is a group of health conditions that blocks airflow and thus one will have difficulty in breathing. The COPD causes health dysfunctions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Emphysema is when one has breathlessness because alveoli or air sacs have been damaged. Chronic bronchitis leads to frequent coughing with a lot of mucus. Smoking is 80% responsible for about 80% of COPD cases. The lungs decline at a faster rate, 3 times in fact in smokers than normal rate. Breathlessness starts due to the lungs dysfunction.

Cancer: Smokers are more likely to get cancer; cancer of the lungs, throat, gullet and mouth is caused by Carcinogen that is present in tobacco smoke. It is approximated that 90% of lung cancer cases are associated with smoking.

Other cancer diseases associated with smoking is cancer of the bladder, pancreatic, kidneys and esophagus, cervical cancer is more prevalent in female smokers.

Cardiovascular Diseases: These are diseases of the heart, the blood vessels, including veins and arteries. Major causes of smoke related deaths fall in this category. As it had earlier been established that nicotine increases the cholesterol levels in the blood, these cholesterol and other fats are deposited in the arteries. The arteries therefore become rigid, narrow or blocked. Due to the narrowing of these arteries, there will be blood clots and thus the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Common cardiovascular diseases are peripheral vascular disease, coronary thrombosis, coronary heart diseases, cerebral thrombosis and cerebrovascular diseases like stroke.

The lining of blood vessels are damaged, this affects the level of fats in the bloodstreams, the risks of atheroma are increased; this is the major source of stroke, aneurysms and heart diseases. Additionally, smoking causes mouth ulcerations.

Smoking has been associated with sexual problems, from performance in sex to infertility. Further smoking increases the risk of high blood pressure. Pale skin and more wrinkles are caused due to decrease in vitamin A levels, smokers have a lower supply of blood to the skin.

During pregnancy, it is advisable not to smoke since it heightens the risk of miscarriage, complications such as bleeding, ectopic pregnancy, premature birth and detachment of placenta. Also still births, low birth weight or congenital defects such as cleft palate.

Basically the health of the smoker and those around them are affected; smokers don’t get old, they die young.