Smoking for human health. How did smoking come about?

The number of smokers has exceeded 1.3 billion people and continues to grow. And this despite the fact that almost 5 million people die from smoking every year. No war or epidemic can cause such damage to humanity as a cigarette. But people persist in paying millions of dollars for something that is killing them.

Nobody enjoys their first cigarette. After smoking, unpleasant sensations appear: dizziness, nausea, cough. But if for some reason a person decides to continue smoking, then the body gets used to nicotine and other components of tobacco smoke. During the first months, smoking can cause mild euphoria, mobilize internal resources, or, conversely, calm you down. But over time, these sensations disappear. Nicotine, although it is a poison (toxin) in nature, is included in the metabolism. Simply put, the body gets used to the fact that this substance is constantly in the blood. When its concentration decreases, the nervous system signals that it is time to replenish reserves. Then the desire to smoke another cigarette arises. Most often, it takes 1 year from the first cigarette to the formation of nicotine addiction or tobacco addiction.

How does smoking affect the human body?

How do harmful substances enter the body?

When you take a drag, the temperature at the tip of the cigarette reaches 800 degrees. Under such conditions, dry distillation of tobacco occurs. This means that the inhaled air, passing through a layer of heated tobacco, carries with it volatile substances and tiny solid particles. They enter the mouth, trachea, bronchi and the alveoli of the lungs with the air flow. Due to the fact that tobacco smoke is an aerosol of small particles, they quickly reach the most remote parts of the respiratory system. Through the wall of the alveoli, penetrated by blood vessels, harmful substances easily penetrate the blood and spread throughout the body. So, 8 seconds after the first puff, the brain already feels the effect of nicotine.

What are the harms of smoking?

Development of caries. The flow of hot air with resin particles damages tooth enamel. It turns yellow and becomes covered with microcracks. Gradually, the cracks increase in size and bacteria and acids penetrate into them, destroying the deeper layers of the tooth and causing caries. This leads to the fact that 45% of smokers over 65 years of age are missing teeth. Among non-smokers this figure is 2 times lower.

Inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. Tobacco smoke, saturated with caustic particles, irritates the mucous membrane of the mouth, larynx, trachea and bronchi, causing its atrophy. It becomes thin and performs its protective functions worse. The villous epithelium, which is supposed to remove foreign particles and microorganisms, does not cope with its task. The lungs become clogged, creating favorable conditions for bacteria to multiply. Therefore, smokers often suffer from bronchitis and pneumonia. Thus, 90% of people who have smoked for more than 7 years suffer from “smoker’s bronchitis.”

Chronic pulmonary emphysema. Tobacco tar is deposited in the small bronchi and alveoli of the lungs. This substance leads to cell destruction. The small bronchioles collapse and when you exhale, the pressure in the lungs increases sharply. The walls of the alveoli become thinner and collapse, leading to the formation of cavities. The lung tissue ceases to be elastic and stretches, which leads to an increase in the volume of the chest. Gas exchange in the lungs is disrupted. They do not sufficiently enrich the blood with oxygen, and the body experiences oxygen starvation. According to statistics, 9 out of 10 people with emphysema are smokers. The disease develops over 10-15 years if you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.

Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. Smoking reduces the production of saliva, which partially neutralizes the effect of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Tobacco smoke causes the secretion of digestive juices in the stomach and small intestine, even when there is no food there. Active substances corrode the mucous membrane of the digestive organs, leading to the appearance of erosions. These minor injuries do not heal, but turn into ulcers due to deterioration of blood supply and decreased immunity. Therefore, gastric ulcers occur 2 times more often in smokers than in their peers.

Poisoning of the nervous system. Nicotine is a poison that has a toxic effect on the nervous system. This toxin affects the nervous system: the brain and the cells of the intermediate nerve ganglia, which control the functioning of internal organs. Nicotine disrupts the passage of nerve impulses from the brain to organs and muscles. This leads to a decrease in all types of sensitivity. Smokers do not sense taste and aroma as clearly, their sense of touch is impaired, and they often experience chills. Violation of nervous regulation leads to digestive disorders: constipation and painful intestinal spasms.

Stroke. In smokers, the risk of ischemic stroke (associated with poor circulation) increases by 2 times. This is the result of a sharp narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain or blockage of one of them by a blood clot. Weakness of blood vessels and a short-term increase in blood pressure during smoking cause a rupture of a vessel, accompanied by hemorrhage in the brain - hemorrhagic stroke. It occurs 4 times more often in people who smoke than in their peers.

Cancerous tumors. Carcinogenic components of tobacco smoke penetrate the blood and spread throughout the body. They damage the DNA of cells. Such cells with altered genetic material become the basis of a cancer tumor. Suppression of the immune system leads to the body producing insufficient killer cells. Their task is to recognize and destroy mutated cells. In smokers, this mechanism of protection against cancer is impaired, and they often become victims of cancer. So 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Cancer often affects other organs: lips, larynx, esophagus, stomach, liver, kidneys, prostate, rectum, pancreas and thyroid glands.

Osteoporosis. Tobacco toxins stimulate the production of two proteins that are responsible for leaching calcium from bones. These substances activate osteoclast cells, which are responsible for the destruction of old bone tissue. Therefore, in smokers, bones are destroyed faster than they are restored.

Vascular dysfunction. Under the influence of tobacco combustion products, the walls of blood vessels become dense, insufficiently elastic, brittle and covered with cracks. The content of cholesterol in the blood increases, which is deposited on the walls in the form of atherosclerotic plaques. They narrow the lumen of the vessel. The likelihood of a blood clot and inflammation of the vein wall around it increases. The rupture of a blood clot can cause sudden death. The narrowing of the coronary vessels that supply the heart causes the development of coronary heart disease and heart attack.

Obliterating endarteritis. In smokers, blood flow in the extremities is reduced by 35-40%. The reason lies in chronic vasospasm and the deposition of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels. In addition, disruption of the conduction of nerve impulses leads to a decrease in sensitivity. The disease begins with rapid fatigue and intermittent claudication. Later, deprived of blood supply and innervation, the tissues die and gangrene begins.

Slow wound healing. Poor blood circulation and decreased metabolism lead to the fact that skin cells do not divide actively enough. As a result, wound healing occurs more slowly. It has been noticed that smokers have a 50% greater width of the scar formed at the site of surgical sutures.

Blurred vision and tearing caused by the irritating effects of tobacco smoke and optic nerve atrophy. With increased sensitivity, smokers may experience swelling of the eyelids. Constriction of the vessels of the eyeball disrupts the functions of the retina, leading to the death of its cells, which negatively affects visual acuity.

Sexual problems. Premature ejaculation, decreased potency, deterioration in sperm quality - these problems are associated with impaired blood supply to the genital organs. Due to vasoconstriction and damage to the arteries, blood flow to the penis is impaired, which reduces the quality of erection. The sperm of smokers are not motile enough and are less capable of fertilization, as they have been exposed to nicotine and other substances. If the fusion of the egg and the sperm damaged by nicotine does occur, then the fetus is less likely to attach to the wall of the uterus.

What are the social and psychological reasons for smoking?

Sociologists conducted research to identify the social and psychological reasons for smoking. Young people were asked “Why did you start smoking?” Opinions were divided approximately this way.

Curiosity 40%. The thought periodically arises in the minds of most non-smokers: “What kind of pleasure does a smoking person get, what sensations does he have?”
Desire to join the company - 20%. A person is driven by the fear of becoming an outcast in a smoking company. This applies to both groups of teenagers and adults who have joined a new team. It seems that the most important issues are resolved in the smoking room. And whoever does not smoke remains outside of public life.
Peer pressure - 8%. Peers who smoke often encourage them to “try it” and ridicule those who do not smoke.
Stress relief - 6%. The life of teenagers is full of stress, internal conflicts and quarrels with others. Their nervous system is not yet stable and young people resort to smoking to relax.

Psychologists who study nicotine addiction identify a number of other socio-psychological reasons.

1. Self-affirmation in the eyes of peers, the desire to become cooler.
2. The desire to be an adult. Prove your “maturity” to yourself and others.
3. Extra fun. They start smoking in a comfortable situation: on vacation with friends, drinking alcoholic beverages.
4. Nothing to do with myself. Smoking helps pass the time and replaces computer games.
5. Make an impression and meet expectations. To create a tough guy image, young people have to smoke.
6. According to Freud, smoking is a consequence of “oral fixation.” Up to a year, all pleasant moments are associated with sucking. If for some reason you deprive him of a child, then psychological trauma remains for life and oral fixation occurs. An adult who has experienced such a situation continues to suck a pen, bite his nails or smoke.
7. The pleasure of the process, playing with a cigarette, the opportunity to purchase beautiful accessories: ashtrays, lighters, releasing smoke in rings.
8. Increased concentration and performance. The first 15-20 minutes after smoking a cigarette, the brain works more productively. Some use this effect to improve performance.
9. Conditioned reflex. For some, taking a break from work, drinking alcohol, or drinking coffee may be associated with smoking. A person reaches for a cigarette only in these situations.
10. Fear of gaining weight. Smoking activates metabolism. Therefore, people who try to lose excess weight at any cost resort, among other things, to smoking.
11. Lack of awareness about the dangers of smoking. So most young women do not know how dangerous smoking is for their future offspring.
12. Heredity. There is a theory that if a mother smoked during pregnancy, then her child, as he matures, will be prone to smoking, as he constantly experiences a lack of nicotine.

Smoking ban law

• protect non-smoking citizens from the effects of passive smoking;
• protect young people from the temptation to join the ranks of smokers;
• help those who already smoke to get rid of the bad habit.

What methods are used to combat smoking, according to the law?

• Ban on smoking in public places, which came into force on June 1, 2014. Smoking is prohibited in workplaces, in areas where teaching, treatment and various services are provided. The ban applies to trains, platforms, stations, airports, restaurants, clubs, beaches, playgrounds, stairwells of apartment buildings, and places of trade. Smoking a cigarette is allowed only in specially designated areas or rooms equipped with ventilation. Although such restrictions caused a storm of indignation among the smoking part of the population, they still helped to significantly reduce the number of cigarettes smoked.
• Rising prices for cigarettes. Minimum prices for cigarettes have been established and excise taxes on tobacco products have increased. The government believes that a standard pack of cigarettes should cost at least 55 rubles in order for the demand for them to decrease significantly.
• Marking on a pack of cigarettes. Each pack must contain truthful information about the content of nicotine and other harmful substances, as well as one of the warning labels about the dangers of smoking. They are placed on the front side and occupy 50% of the area. The inscription on the back of the pack must occupy at least 30%.
• Information fight against smoking. Education should be carried out in the family, at school and at work, as well as in the media. The goal is to teach people to take care of their health and provide comprehensive information about the dangers of smoking.
• Ban on tobacco advertising. Commercials and promotions aimed at promoting smoking or any brand of tobacco products are prohibited. Smoking is prohibited in films and programs for children. But in programs for adult audiences, smoking scenes should be accompanied by captions with anti-advertising.
• Medical assistance aimed at combating nicotine addiction. Doctors are required to diagnose smokers with psychological and physical dependence on nicotine. It is the duty of the health worker to explain to the person what risks he is exposed to and help him get rid of the bad habit.
• Restriction of trade in tobacco products and prohibition of illicit trade. Tobacco products can now only be sold in stores or trade pavilions. It is prohibited to place packs of cigarettes on display. Instead, there should be an alphabetical list indicating prices, but without product logos or other advertising elements. It is prohibited to sell cigarettes one hundred meters from educational institutions. Trading is prohibited at train stations, service enterprises, in premises occupied by authorities and organizations working with youth.
• Protecting children from tobacco use. It is prohibited to sell cigarettes to minors. Therefore, the seller has the right to demand a passport to ensure that he is not committing a crime.

How to quit smoking?

E-Sigs

• light indicator – imitates the fire of a cigarette;
• battery that powers the cigarette;
• steam generator - a spraying device that creates steam;
• a replaceable cartridge that contains a liquid that determines the taste of the vapor. One cartridge replaces a pack of regular cigarettes.

When you take a puff, air flows through the steam generator and produces aromatic vapor made up of tiny particles of smoking liquid. Its advantage over a regular cigarette is the absence of tobacco combustion products: tars, carcinogens. In addition, those around you do not suffer from tobacco smoke.

Electronic cigarettes are considered by some to help people quit smoking. It can help reduce physical dependence on nicotine. In the initial stages, e-cigarette liquid with a high nicotine content is used. After some time, it is replaced with another liquid with a lower nicotine content. Thus, they are gradually switching to nicotine-free filler.

Negative aspects of electronic cigarettes

Experts say that these devices are no less harmful than traditional tobacco products. It is possible that they are much more dangerous than expected.

Facts about the dangers of electronic cigarettes:

To create liquids, synthetic components and flavors are used that penetrate deep into the lungs. Regular inhalation of such substances can lead to bronchial asthma and other undesirable consequences.

It has been proven that vapor contains glycerin and its esters, propylene glycol, combustion products of flavorings and substances emitted by the materials from which the cigarette is made. These components are harmful to health, they have a toxic effect on the body and cause kidney pathologies.

Smoking is a bad example for children. They don't care what their parents smoke. Therefore, there is a high risk that children will become addicted to this bad habit.

WHO experts propose banning the use of electronic cigarettes until serious clinical trials are carried out and a law regulating their production is finalized.

In Russia, from June 1, 2013, the sale of electronic cigarettes is prohibited in accordance with the smoking ban law. These devices fit the description of “imitation tobacco products” and are therefore subject to the ban.

Medicines to help you quit smoking

Psychological help to quit smoking

Think about which of the consequences of smoking scare you most. There are a lot of them:

• Gangrene and leg amputation;
• Cancerous tumors;
• Lung decomposition;
• Sudden death due to stroke or heart attack;
• Asthma and bronchitis in children who become victims of passive smoking.

Don't look for signs of withdrawal symptoms. Studies have shown that the likelihood of developing withdrawal syndrome is not that high. If you nevertheless notice that your memory has deteriorated and it has become more difficult to concentrate, then take tincture of ginseng or eleutherococcus. These natural stimulants, no worse than nicotine, activate the nervous system and metabolic processes, and in addition will help to quickly cleanse the body of toxins.

Who can help in the fight against nicotine addiction?

For individual or group psychotherapy, you can contact a drug treatment clinic or a psychologist who specializes in addiction recovery. Statistics say that psychotherapeutic assistance increases the chances of success by 1.5 times.

Get help from a psychotherapist for free possible in state and municipal medical institutions. A prerequisite is a referral from your attending physician from the clinic. In addition, free consultations are available at rehabilitation centers.

Paid consultations can be obtained from public medical institutions without a referral. And also in non-state psychiatric and psychoneurological institutions and with a private practicing psychotherapist.

Many effective psychological techniques have been developed to help people quit smoking.

1. Methodology of Vladimir Zhdanov

   The technique is known as “Four Stinking Breaths.” Its goal is to cause a lasting aversion to smoking. To do this, you need to taste the tobacco smoke and chew it.

   When you want to smoke, do not inhale the smoke into your lungs, but hold it in your mouth. Throw back your head, close your nose, and chew the smoke intensively with your mouth closed. After 20 seconds, a nasty taste will appear in your mouth. Continue chewing for another 10 seconds and then push the smoke into your lungs. Unpleasant sensations and the urge to cough will appear - this is due to the activation of receptors that are designed to protect you from tobacco smoke. To consolidate the result, take 2 more puffs of “chewed” smoke.

   Fourth inhale – inhale with full lungs. After this, cough out the smoke, tensing your abdominal muscles. Then write down on the packet the date and time you took 4 stinky breaths. After this you can't smoke. If the desire to inhale becomes irresistible, then repeat the technique of chewing smoke.

   Video lectures by Professor Zhdanov help strengthen motivation. They act in two directions: they clearly demonstrate the harm from smoking and create the necessary psychological mood.

2. Allen Carr "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking"

   The technique was developed more than 30 years ago. Statistics say that every year it helps 1 million people quit smoking. The purpose of the technique is to help a person quit smoking without exerting willpower, drugs or other aids.

   The essence of the technique is outlined in the book of the same name. This method can be briefly described in 2 points.

   1. Make a firm, conscious decision that you will never smoke again.
   2. Enjoy your new life and don't get depressed.
   The book shows in a very well-reasoned way why you should quit smoking and what benefits you get by making a choice in favor of a healthy lifestyle. This helps get rid of doubts and temptations to smoke the “last cigarette.”
   
3. Smoking code

   This method is based on hypnotic suggestion and bio-electrical influence on the subconscious. Coding helps develop a conditioned reflex against smoking.

   The purpose of coding is to instill in a person an aversion to smoking. Coding is carried out by psychologists and psychotherapists. In some cases, priests and traditional healers use this method.

   You can only code a person who has already decided to quit smoking. In the event that he came following the persuasion of relatives, then the effect of coding will be short-lived. Another condition for successful coding is the qualifications of a specialist.

   Hypnosis and acupuncture help enhance the effect on the psyche. Some people use the placebo effect successfully. The patient is told that after he has taken a mega-effective drug, he will never have the desire to smoke again. And although the capsule may contain ordinary sugar under the guise of medicine, the idea that there is no longer any craving for tobacco is firmly rooted in the mind.

4. Neurolinguistic programming. Swing technique

   This technique is based on reprogramming the subconscious. Its goal is to create in the subconscious a vivid image of what you want to become. It is suitable for almost all people and helps to get rid of different types of addiction at the same time. NLP is used by psychologists, but you can get rid of bad habits yourself.

   The swing technique consists of five stages.

   Stage 1. Answer the questions.

   • Why do I smoke?
   • How does this change my life?
   • What benefits does smoking bring me?
   Stage 2. Determine the motive for quitting smoking.
   • What will I achieve by quitting smoking?
   • What benefits will it bring me if I quit smoking?
   Stage 3. Formation of a negative image of the “starting key”

   Imagine a not very pleasant picture associated with smoking. For example, a yellow bony hand holding a cigarette.

   Stage 4. Formation of a “positive image”

   Imagine a positive picture of yourself proudly telling your friends that you managed to overcome your addiction.

   Stage 5. Change of images.

   Imagine a negative image, and then replace it with a positive one. Take a short break and repeat the exercise. Gradually increase the pace of changing pictures. You can accompany them with a wave of your hand or a snap of your fingers. The positive image should become more and more vivid in your mind, and the negative one should dim until it completely disappears.

5. Acupuncture

   This anti-smoking technique was developed more than 40 years ago by Chinese neurosurgeon H.L. Venom. It is based on the fact that smoking is a conditioned reflex - the path that a nerve impulse travels in the brain. When nervous excitement once again passes along this path, the desire to smoke arises.

   The goal of acupuncture is to eradicate this reflex. By influencing reflex points on the auricle or wrist, the specialist interrupts the passage of impulses along the reflex path.

   The sessions should be conducted by an experienced reflexologist. Duration of sessions is 20-80 minutes. To obtain lasting results, some people need 2 sessions, while others need 10-20.

Remember that the only condition that will allow you to quit smoking once and for all is your firm and conscious desire to get rid of this bad habit. If you are determined to get rid of addiction, then success will definitely await you!

Smoking code

Smoking is the process of inhaling decay products formed during the smoldering of dried and fermented tobacco leaves. The definition of the term looks harmless enough, but this is far from true. Despite the claims of many smokers about the relative harmlessness of this activity, doctors are confident of the opposite. The extremely negative attitude towards smoking is due to many reasons.

One of them is the understanding that this is the entry into the lungs of many very harmful substances from which cigarettes are made - the remains of burnt tissue paper, tar, carbon monoxide, tar and thousands of other volatile compounds. The result is an explosive mixture with carcinogenic properties.

Just a bad habit or something more?

In fact, the answer to the question of what smoking is is not limited to just a description of the action itself. Most smokers become dependent on cigarettes, both physically and psychologically, so tobacco is considered a drug. The reasons for addiction are mainly as follows: children and teenagers often start smoking because they want to look “cool” in the eyes of their peers or older friends; someone is simply interested in what smoking is, but quickly gets involved and begins to increase the number of cigarettes they smoke.

At first, stopping nicotine use is quite simple, since addiction at the physiological level has not yet formed.

However, teenagers are afraid of being branded as weaklings and continue to smoke periodically in the company of friends, thereby aggravating the situation.

Today, smoking in children and adolescents under 16 years of age is one of the most global problems that causes concern among doctors and scientists from all over the world. In a fragile body exposed to the harmful effects of tobacco, various pathological processes begin to occur, from delayed physical and mental development to the formation of many diseases.

Many people claim that smoking has a calming effect on them. There is some truth in this statement, but in reality everything is much more complicated. If cigarettes really acted as a sedative, they would be used for medical purposes.

In fact, nicotine, which penetrates into all organs and tissues through the bloodstream, provokes the adrenal glands to release large doses of hormones such as adrenaline and norepinephrine. At first, they are able to strengthen the work of the heart muscle, increasing the level of pressure. At this time, the smoker feels a state of peace and vigor.

However, smoking is a kind of vicious cycle that can be very difficult to break. The effect of nicotine quickly stops, hormonal balance is restored, and the person’s mood worsens again. To increase it, he again grabs a cigarette.

Health implications

Of course, the most dangerous diseases are cancer. Smoking can provoke the development of 9 types of cancer in women and 7 in men. Neoplasms can appear not only in the lungs, but on any mucous membranes, for example, in the mouth or genital area. Here lies the danger of identifying the most terrible type of oncology - melanoma, skin cancer.

In addition, more than 90% of tuberculosis patients can “thank” their addiction for this disease. Moreover, the age level of those affected is rapidly decreasing, since the number of children and adolescents who smoke in the modern world is simply enormous. Non-smoking young men and women often become infected with tuberculosis from relatives and friends who do not know about the disease.

Passive smokers also risk a variety of illnesses from inhaling cigarette smoke.

At the same time, pipes and cigars are no less harmful. They do not contain paper, but the content of toxic resins is much higher. Smoking is extremely dangerous for pregnant women, since toxic toxic substances penetrate the placenta, slowly killing the child.

One of the negative consequences of nicotine use is the effect on blood thickness, which can slow blood flow, reduce oxygen supply and form blood clots. Blockage of veins and blood vessels leads to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and blockage of the aorta, which is almost always fatal. Thick blood stretches the venous walls, disrupting their tone and causing the development of varicose veins.

Conclusion

To the question of what smoking is, there is a clear answer - it is poison. Getting rid of nicotine addiction is difficult, but quite possible. The main thing is to realize how serious harm a smoker causes to his health, shortening his life by years. Nowadays, there are many means to help overcome a bad habit both on a psychological and physiological level.

In addition to all these factors, the psyche of a smoker is seriously affected by chronic intoxication, which causes an increasing craving for smoking. The nervous system becomes unstable, a person is constantly irritated, angry, and aggressive, which gradually has a detrimental effect on relationships with friends, relatives and colleagues, so it is better not to start smoking at all, but to get rid of the slowly killing habit as soon as possible.

Today, no one is surprised when meeting a person with a cigarette in his hand on the street. Only sometimes old women stop to scold a young lady for harming her health. But as practice shows, even warnings from the Ministry of Health are of little help in the fight against this addiction. The ban on smoking in public places has also had no effect yet. All this only means that the fight against smoking is a personal matter for each smoker. And every time you take out another cigarette, you should remember the consequences of your actions. We will tell you about them in more detail.

Negative effects of smoking

The main danger of dependence on cigarettes lies in the fact that their destructive effects cannot be seen with the naked eye. Yes, and it happens at a slow pace. It’s not for nothing that nicotine is called a slow killer. The effects of smoking primarily affect the cardiovascular system. Then the lungs, brain and internal organs begin to suffer. Let’s look at what exactly happens inside a person, and what consequences almost every victim of an addiction can expect from smoking:

1. The cardiovascular system. Each time you inhale tobacco smoke, the delivery of oxygen to the heart is sharply reduced, and hemoglobin is blocked in the blood. This can lead to blockage of blood vessels, the so-called “sticking”, when the walls of the vessels close and they can no longer pass blood. The result is increased blood pressure and myocardial infarction.
2. Lungs. After smoking two or more packs a day for 20 years, the risk of cancer increases. In addition, almost every smoker suffers from chronic pulmonary bronchitis (inflammatory disease of the bronchi and damage to the mucous membrane), and can also get pulmonary emphysema, the main symptoms of which are cough and shortness of breath.
3. Brain. Today, smoking is the cause of most strokes. Oxygen does not reach the brain in sufficient quantities, the blood vessels become clogged, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, and hemorrhage may occur. In 90% of cases this has irreversible consequences.
4. Other organs. The consequences of smoking always affect almost the entire body. The extent of problem areas depends on the number of cigarettes smoked per day. For example, smoking on an empty stomach can lead to stomach ulcers and cancer. Every tenth smoker is at risk of developing chronic vascular disease of the extremities, which leads to gangrene and amputation of the extremities. Smokers over forty years of age are more likely to develop bladder cancer. The human reproductive system also suffers from smoking, which, under the influence of nicotine and tar, can completely lose the function of reproducing offspring.

The consequences of smoking almost always await anyone who cannot part with a cigarette. That's why it's worth thinking about. But even if a person has managed to overcome nicotine addiction, it is too early to relax. To maintain health, you need to overcome not only bad habits, but also their consequences.

How to get rid of the consequences of smoking?

Within a day after quitting smoking, blood pressure returns to normal, and tars and other harmful substances begin to leave the body. However, the cleansing process can take years. Today it is known that the body fully recovers after smoking after only seven years. To speed up this process, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle, play sports or at least do physical exercise, and eat healthy, nutritious foods rich in vitamins and minerals.

Smoking is inhalation of smoke from burned plants; the history of tobacco smoking dates back to the 21st-18th centuries BC. The oldest mentions of this ritual are frescoes on the walls of Indian temples and smoking pipes found during excavations in Egypt. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus (484-425 BC) described the habit of the ancient Scythians to inhale the smoke of burning plants.

Some researchers consider North America to be the birthplace of smoking. It is alleged that the ancient Indians chewed tobacco, then stuffed it into pipes and smoked it. The practice of smoking began to be used as a cult tradition.

Appearance in Europe

On one of the ships of Columbus's expedition, which was returning from America to Europe, there were several tons of dried leaves. The smoking herb went down in history as tobacco because forwarders found it in the province of Tabago. Already 100 years later, the history of tobacco smoking began to take shape in the territory of Old Europe; the culture began to be grown in Spain, Italy, Belgium, and England.

The history of tobacco might have been completely different if European scientists had not considered it a healing potion for many ailments. It is thanks to this myth that dried leaves have gained so much popularity. Even in the royal palaces, tobacco was used as a remedy for headaches, migraines, toothaches, stomach upsets and aching bones.

Soon the first alarm bells began to come in, doctors began to notice the deteriorating state of health of high-ranking smoking officials:

• At the end of the 16th century in Great Britain and the Ostman Empire, smokers were called sorcerers and their heads were cut off accordingly.
• In the 17th century, Russian Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich ordered smokers to be beaten with sticks. Within half a century, the death penalty could be imposed for smoking.

However, in 1697, Peter I softened his attitude towards smoking and the history of smoking in Russia changed its vector. During the First World War, tobacco became part of the soldiers' diet as a sedative.

In the post-war years of the 20th century, smoking became an extremely popular activity. Famous statesmen and actors become smokers; tobacco becomes widely available among the people. Tobacco suppliers are starting to make great money, and tobacco advertising continues.

Chronology in dates and facts

In the history of tobacco smoking, it is worth noting the following dates and events that changed attitudes towards tobacco:

• November 15, 1492 - Columbus first mentions his first impressions of tobacco in his diary.
• In 1496, tobacco first entered the territory of Old Europe.
• 1560 - a breakthrough in the mass distribution of tobacco in Europe.

“This vice brings the treasury 100 million francs in taxes a year. I would ban it right now if you find an equally profitable virtue.”

Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III).

• 1636 - the first tobacco company in history, Tabacalera, was founded.
• 1760 - the first private company producing cigarettes and cigars, P. Lorillard."
• The first store of the Philip Morris brand, known to this day, appears in England in 1847.
• After 2 years, another large brand appears, known to this day - “L&M”.
• Already in 1854, Philip Morris began producing cigarettes independently.
• 1864 - The first tobacco factory appears in the United States.
• 1881 is considered the date of the beginning of conveyor production of cigarettes. The world's first cigarette rolling machine was invented.

In 1902, Philip Morris continued its development in the United States. At the same time, a monopoly was formed on the tobacco market in Russia; it covered 30 factories in different parts of the country. But after a few years, all enterprises were subject to nationalization.

During the First and Second World Wars, the tobacco industry experienced great growth. Tobacco was an essential component of the soldiers' diet, like food.

To win the war we need tobacco as much as we need bullets.

The post-war period was quite successful for the history of tobacco smoking. There were practically no barriers for manufacturers. The enterprises provided a large stream of profit for states and no one was in a hurry to think about the harm to the health of smokers.

New time

In 1982, evidence of the harm of smoking was obtained. From that time on, an active struggle against this bad habit began. Facts about the negative consequences of addiction shocked the whole world. Countries one after another began to pass anti-tobacco laws, it all started with small inscriptions on packs: “Smoking is harmful to your health.”

On February 27, 2005, the WHO tobacco control convention was adopted. Finally, most countries of the world have come to a consensus in the fight against smoking, which history had never known before. The countries agreed to regulate the following indicators:

• An increase in prices for tobacco products will involve an increase in excise taxes and taxes.
• Ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.
• Combating illegal product trafficking.
• Limiting smoking in public places to combat second-hand (passive) smoking.

Today, more than 170 countries around the world participate in the convention. In the history of tobacco smoking, this is the darkest hour in the industry; smoking has become unfashionable.

Tobacco was grown in America long before Europeans discovered it. This plant was brought to Europe at the end of the 15th century and was initially used NOT to smoke tobacco; at first it was grown as an ornamental and medicinal product.
The French ambassador to Portugal, Jean Nicot, in 1560, brought tobacco leaves, crushed into powder for snuff, as a gift to his Queen Catherine de Medici. In his opinion, tobacco leaves had medicinal properties, in particular they saved from headaches. The name of the main active component of tobacco - nicotine (one of the most poisonous alkaloids) comes from the name of this ambassador. This is not the only mistake in the history of medicine; heroin is not used in medical practice now, but previously it was used to treat both tuberculosis and drug addiction.
At first, smoking was persecuted and smokers were severely punished. In England, smokers were severely punished for smoking, even to death; heads with a pipe in their mouth were displayed in public squares. In Turkey, heavy smokers were impaled for smoking. In Persia, people cut off their lips and nose for smoking. In Italy, Pope Urban VII excommunicated Catholics who smoked or took snuff. In Muscovy during the Khanate, Mikhail Romanov punished smokers for smoking - they beat the soles of their feet with sticks, and the nose of those who did not let them smoke was cut off. Alexei Romanov ordered smokers to be flogged, and tobacco sellers to have their nostrils flogged, their noses cut, and sent to places of exile.
Smoking essentially means inhaling the smoke of certain smoldering plant products. Tobacco smoking is one of the most common bad habits; it negatively affects the health of the smoker and loved ones; promotes the development of diseases of the heart, blood vessels, stomach, and lungs. Tobacco smoke contains carcinogenic substances.
Smoking has harmful consequences.
What does smoking give you? A cigarette contains about 6 - 8 mg of nicotine, of which 3 - 4 mg enters the blood... The smoke from one smoked cigarette weighs 0.5 g. Tobacco smoke contains more than a thousand different components. ... The smoke from 20 cigarettes contains about 0032 g of ammonia, and by volume - from 0.15 to 0.46%, which irritates the mucous membrane of the mouth, nose, throat, trachea, bronchi... Tobacco smoke from smoked 20 cigarette contains 369 ml of carbon monoxide, or 5% of the volume. Carbon monoxide interferes with one of the most important functions of the blood - carrying oxygen to various organs and tissues... and this is all when you smoke.
Tobacco tar (tars, especially benzopyrene), radioactive isotopes, arsenic and other components of tobacco smoke are carcinogenic substances, that is, capable of causing the development of malignant tumors. The radioactive isotope polonium-210 has especially strong carcinogenic properties... and you smoke.
A person who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day receives a radiation dose from polonium that is 3.5 times greater than the dose accepted by the international agreement on radiation protection... The smoke from the end of a cigarette is especially harmful. It contains more carbon monoxide - 5 times, benzpyrene - 4 times, nicotine and tar - 3 times, ammonia - 46 times, as well as high concentrations of other toxic substances... and this is also smoke. Tobacco smoke must be diluted 384,000 times with clean air to make it harmless to breathe.
The overall toxicity of tobacco smoke is 4.25 times higher than the toxicity of car exhaust gases, 248 times higher than the toxicity of exhaust gas from a gas burner and 1,100 times higher than the toxicity of human exhaled air. And all this if you smoke.
Smoking can cause the development of 7 types of cancer in men and 9 types of cancer in women. Smoking tobacco is associated with cancer not only of the lungs, but also of the lips, oral cavity, and trachea. The percentage of tuberculosis patients among smokers is almost twice as high as among non-smokers. Smoking is associated with 95% of tuberculosis cases that begin in adulthood.
It has been proven that smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer; for those who smoke more than two packs of cigarettes per day, it is 20 times more likely than for non-smokers. Among all lung cancer patients, more than 90% smoke.
There is a myth about smoking that cigars and pipes are safer to smoke because they do not inhale. These smoking accessories rarely cause lung cancer because their smoke is not inhaled. However, it is smoking cigars and pipes that contributes to the development of cancer of the throat and lips. By the way, cigars are leaders in tar content.
Smoking leads to addiction.
I will immediately feel better. I will have more energy and my brain will be able to concentrate better on work. Your sense of smell will become much better. My teeth will whiten and my breath will become fresh. I will cough less and breathe easier.
● My / husband / wife, family, children, grandchildren, loved ones, friends, colleagues will be proud of me.
● I will be proud of myself. It will be easier for me to manage my life, and I can be an example for others.
● I will no longer force other people to be passive smokers.
● My baby will be healthier (if you are pregnant).
● I will have more money.
● I will no longer be bothered by the question: “When should I smoke again?” Or “What will I do if I go to a place where smoking is prohibited?”
Like any drug, smoking tobacco causes a short-term stage of euphoria. Short-term stimulation of mental activity during smoking depends not only on nicotine, but also on the reflex effect on cerebral circulation of irritated sensory nerves of the oral cavity and respiratory tract by tobacco smoke. Smoking harms the health not only of smokers themselves, but also of those around them. Smoking is especially harmful for pregnant women - nicotine penetrates the mother’s blood and poisons the fetus.
And if you quit smoking, 20 minutes after your last cigarette, your blood pressure will normalize and your heart function will be restored.
And if you quit smoking, after 8 hours the oxygen level in the blood will normalize.
And if you quit smoking, after 2 days your ability to sense taste and smell will increase.
And if you quit smoking, in a week your skin color will improve, the unpleasant odor of your skin, hair, and exhalation will disappear.
And if you quit smoking, in a month it will become easier to breathe, the headache will go away, and the cough will stop bothering you.
And if you quit smoking, your athletic success will improve significantly within six months.
Smoking is not beneficial.
Smoke! Yes or no! You decide.