Month: November 2014

Chewing tobacco, snuff or plugs are products that have enjoyed fairly widespread use for decades. They have never achieved the massive popularity of cigarettes, but many people use them as an alternative to smoking. As we examine the health risks involved with chewing tobacco, we will see that it is definitely not a safer choice and shares many similar health risks as smoking does. Short-Term Effects It doesn't take very long for chewing tobacco to start to have negative side effects. Because it injects nicotine directly into the bloodstream through the mouth, it starts the addiction process right away. Some people will become severely addicted after just a few uses, while others will be more resistant. But eventually, any user will suffer addiction to the nicotine within the tobacco. Nicotine…

It is now common knowledge that a cigarette isn’t just rolled tobacco; there are some 599 other ingredients in your average cigarette other than the tobacco leaf. Additionally, there are a mind-boggling 4,000+ chemicals in cigarette smoke, 250 of which are harmful, and another 69 are known to cause cancer. Despite the fact that these figures are repeated over and over again, the numbers seem meaningless to many. Placing a numeral on a problem gives it anonymity, when what is needed is clarity and explanation. So, how do we get from a tobacco leaf to an additive laden, poison producing cigarette? To start with, the tobacco plant picks up naturally occurring contaminants as it grows. Pollutants like pesticides also contribute to the chemical content of tobacco. Before it is ever…

Although originally prescribed in 1985 with the name Wellbutrin® for the treatment of clinical depression, bupropion hydrochloride has been FDA approved under the name Zyban® to assist smokers in their effort to kick the habit since 1997.  The effect on a smoker is not the same as the effect on a patient with depression.  The oral tablet, taken daily, is thought to decrease a smoker’s cravings for nicotine while also easing withdrawal symptoms associated with nicotine addiction.  It is intended for adults who smoke 10 or more cigarettes per day. What Zyban Does It is not known precisely how Zyban works in the body as part of a smoking cessation program.  It is not a nicotine replacement therapy like the patch or gum, but may be used in combination with…

Protecting the Youngsters Not far behind us, May 31st marked the World No Tobacco Day. Prior to this date, there were introductions of many new laws. The main actors included health commissioners, practitioners, lawmakers, and legislators. East Point, Georgia, banned smoking from its parks and recreational areas in order to honor this important date. Moreover, with this law East Point aspires towards continuous education. With this initiative, the city sees great potential in battle against smoking. Soon afterwards, there were tests on places where there was a ban on smoking. The results showed up to 10 times cleaner air than they had before the ban on smoking. It is not a wonder then that air pollution caused by smoking, and leading to health damage was a concern for researchers from San Diego. They identified smoking as the number one indoor…

You think with cars and factories, the outside air might be bad for your health. A University of California, San Diego study shows that indoor air can be just as deadly. Do you have any guesses why? Let’s investigate. Cigarette Smoke Damages Air Quality When it comes to indoor air, we might think that it is surely healthier and less polluted than those outside. It is facing environmental crisis. Anyway, the comfort of our own home certainly should not have all the threats and toxins of the outside air. Right? Actually, this belief is rather false. Our indoor environment is full of hidden hazardous particles. They include dust, decorative sprays, asbestos, fireplace, heaters, paint, and rug fibers. Any one of these can be a threat to our body and overall health. Believe it…