FAQ on Smoking and Health (Part IV)

16. Does stopping smoking reduce health risks?

Yes, it does. The sooner a smoker kicks his habit, the healthier he will become. Stopping smoking can reduce the risk of contracting cancers, lung diseases, cardiovascular problems, and other serious health conditions. Already an hour after smoking the last “lung rocket”, the body starts a regenerating process in order to exterminate residual poisons and restore damaged organs and tissues. Elevated blood pressure starts returning to normal. The blood levels of carbon monoxide and other tobacco-derived poisons start dropping to normal parameters. After one day, the risk of getting cardiovascular disease decreases. For those who already have heart problems, chances of having heart attack diminish. After a year, an ex-smoker reduces his chances of contracting coronary heart disease in almost a half. In addition, a year of smoke-free life clears the respiratory tract and eliminates chronic bronchitis, shortness of breath, and coughing. Sinus congestion diminishes and chronic fatigue often resolves. After a decade, the ex-smoker’s risk of dying from lung cancer decreases significantly and the risk of cardiovascular disease reduces to that of people who never smoked.

17. Is it dangerous to puff without inhaling the smoke?

Yes, it is. When tobacco smoke comes in contact with living tissues, it harm the cells. Smokers of cigars, cigarettes, or pipes, who do not inhale tobacco smoke, still run an increased risk of contracting rare types of mouth cancers, including tongue and lip malignancies. Since some amounts of tobacco smoke reach the lungs anyway, non-inhaling smokers are still in an increased danger of getting tobacco-induced lung cancer.

18. How dangerous is it to smoke for only a short period?

Smoking starts causing health damage immediately. Besides, smoking, even for “some time”, can be extremely addictive. A number of studies have shown that nicotine is more addictive than alcohol and many hard drugs, such as heroin. Tobacco smoking is, in fact, the most widely spread form of drug addiction. The best way never to get addicted to nicotine is never to try smoking. Even one cigarettes can lead to a full-blown, and sometimes life-long tobacco dependency.

19. What is the best way to stop smoking?

Different people require different smoking cessation methods. In order to permanently stop smoking, some people need a combinational therapy: nicotine patches, counselling, family support, acupuncture, etc. Quitting smoking, especially for long-time smokers, is difficult, yet perfectly possible. Every year, more than 17 million Americans attempt to stop smoking, and about ten percent of them succeed. Most people who attempt smoking cessation apply the method of “cold turkey”, while others try gradual reduction, nicotine replacement therapies, and other approaches.

20. How do nicotine patches help in smoking cessation?

Nicotine patches, as well as nicotine-containing gums and other types of smoking-replacement therapies, are used to ensure a constant supply of reduced doses of nicotine into the system of an ex-smoker, in order to help him cope with acute and highly unpleasant symptoms of tobacco withdrawal. Nicotine patches work as a medication that contains small doses of nicotine but free from other harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Tobacco-replacement therapies help people overcome physiological dependency on tobacco, but they do not address psychological addiction to smoking.

Composed by staff writers