Smoking
Behind the colloquial and rather succinct description of the activity smoking is the absorption or enjoyment of tobacco in the form of smoke by inhaling it through the respiratory tract. When smoking, the nicotine contained in tobacco smoke as well as other harmful substances enter the organism via the upper respiratory tract and the lungs during gas exchange. When smoking, the addictive substance nicotine accumulates on special receptors in the brain, which initially suggest a feeling of well-being.
How does smoking affect the organism?
Smoking is based on different tobacco products, which include cigarettes, cigarillos and pipe tobacco as well as the use of shisha tobacco. When smoking, the inhalation of smoke is voluntary, which means that smokers are consciously and willingly consuming tobacco.
Smoking is characterized by a wide variety of types and effects that are both general and specific in nature. First of all, it has been proven that numerous substances are ingested when smoking, which are considered both triggering and excitatory factors for the development of cancer.
Smoking affects various organs and organ systems of the organism, which include the respiratory and nervous systems in addition to the cardiovascular system . Smoking leads to thickening of the blood because the bone marrow produces an increased production of red blood cells, which have to guarantee an additional supply of oxygen.
When smoking, clear signs appear that indicate that the body’s immune system is no longer perfectly healthy and is rather characterized by a weakening of its ability to function. Smoking leads to an increase in the concentration of fats dissolved in the blood and impairs enzyme-related functions.
Consequences and Effects
Since smoking leads to a significant reduction in the body’s performance, fitness and resilience, there are specific limitations in sport. Smoking causes shortness of breath or shortness of breath to be felt during intense and prolonged physical exertion, and in heavy smokers even during brief physical exertion.
Dizziness, a drop in performance and a lack of oxygen supply due to lung diseases can lead to a massive reduction in sporting activities due to smoking. Smoking and exercise are incompatible. For heavy smokers, exercise even poses an increased risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack.
Risks and dangers
Not only active, but also passive smoking poses major health risks and dangers that contribute to people becoming ill and having to accept a severe loss in terms of their quality of life.
If cardiovascular diseases , the development of the smoker’s leg, cancer in the lungs and in the upper areas such as in the nasopharynx and larynx do not immediately lead to tumors, then heavy smokers still lose a lot of performance.
The dangers of smoking await a smoker in particular if no health checks such as lung function tests and blood tests are carried out. The risks and dangers in this context are heart attack or stroke , shortness of breath , acute attacks of suffocation and cancer.
Moreover, these physical risks and dangers are just one negative facet suffered by people who smoke long-term, heavily, and from a very young age.
The other risks and dangers relate to the changes in psychological and neurological terms, because nicotine is addictive. For this reason, smoking carries with it a strong risk of addiction and, in the context of scientific surveys, is often even regarded as the starting point for the consumption of inhalable drugs.
Finally smoke-free – How do I become a non-smoker?
Smoking is unhealthy. Smoking causes fatal lung cancer. Smokers die earlier. Smoking causes strokes, heart attacks and high blood pressure. There are numerous reasons to quit smoking. Here’s how you can do it:
Create a motivation list
When you’ve decided to quit smoking, the first thing you should do is create a motivational list of all the benefits of a smoke-free life. Because a life without cigarettes means a better quality of life. They no longer complain about coughing in the morning , their life expectancy is increasing, they no longer draw attention to themselves because their clothes smell of smoke and they finally taste good again!
Try to increase your motivation by using the money you save now to do things that you would otherwise have done without. You will be amazed when you see how much money is left in the account at the end of the month. They can always refer to this list of benefits whenever there is a risk of relapse.
breaking rituals
After considering this long list of benefits, they get rid of everything they associate with smoking and avoid stressful situations. While there’s never a right moment to quit, make sure you’re not finding yourself at a predictably stressful time when you’re quitting cigarettes.
In order to avoid the feeling of having to do without something, they break through previous rituals that they associate with smoking and form new habits. Instead of the usual coffee and cigarette in the morning, they could, for example, make a nice cup of tea. You leave nothing out, but replace the cigarette.
avoid weight gain
To celebrate the new phase of life as a non-smoker and to prevent weight gain , a healthy diet in combination with exercise is recommended. On the one hand, they do not relapse because they are frustrated by the extra kilos and, on the other hand, they release happiness hormones when they exercise, which makes it easier for them to give up cigarettes. In addition, the sport will also be easier for them again, since the body can now be supplied with more oxygen.
avoid relapse
In order to prevent a relapse, it is best to inform your family and friends about your intention to stop smoking from now on. Because that increases the pressure to persevere. However, they should not forget that, first and foremost, they are of course doing themselves a favor by quitting smoking.
In order to finally rule out relapses, they should reflect on their own behavior in relation to smoking. Change your reaction to critical situations by rethinking your attitude as a precautionary measure. And the most important thing:
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.