Introduction On Cigarette Smoking.docx

INTRODUCTION ON CIGARETTE SMOKING Cigarette/Tobacco smoking is the practice of burning tobacco and inhaling the smoke (it simply means taking tobacco smoke in the mouth and then releasing it, it done using tobacco pipes and cigars). The practice may have begun as early as 5000-3000. Cigarette smoking remains a leading contributor to death and illness among people in society today. Smoking is responsible for several diseases, such as cancer, long-term (chronic) respiratory diseases, and heart disease, as well as premature death. Scientists say there are over 4,000 compounds in cigarette smoke. A sizeable number of them are toxic - they are bad for us and damage our cells. Smoking is harmful to pregnant women because the smoke they inhale goes into their blood stream directly towards the baby affecting the baby’s health, it can also affect breastfeeding. Cigarette smoking produces a greater relative risk in persons under age 50 than in those over 50.Recent studies have found that smokers can undermine the health of non-smokers in some environments. Regular smokers exhibit higher and lower levels of stress and arousal. Many smokers begin during adolescence or early adulthood. Smoking is the most common method of consuming tobacco, and tobacco is the most common substance smoked. However smoking tobacco can lead to smoking marijuana (a preparation of the cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and sometimes as a medicine) and any other drugs and becoming an alcoholic. Tobacco kills half its users every year which is about nearly 6 million people each year. Statistics show that there are 1.1 billion tobacco users in the world and if it continues, that number is expected to increase to 1.6 billion by the year 2025.

A DIAGRAM OF WHAT CIGARETTES CONTAIN

ABOUT $23 MILLION IS SPENT MAKING CAGRETTES

9 WAYS CIGARETTE COMPANIES MAKE THE CIGARETTE MORE ADDICTIVE, ATTRACTIVE AND DEADLY

THE EFFECTS OF CIGARETTES SMOKING

One of the effects of cigarette smoking is hay fever, the main topic I will be focusing on today.

WHAT IS HAY FEVER? Hay fever is the common name for a condition called allergic rhinitis, which means an allergy that affects the nose. Most people associate hay fever with spring, when airborne pollens from grasses are at their peak. However, hay fever can occur at any time of the year as it is an allergic reaction to dust mites, mould and animal fur or hair. Research suggests that pollution such as cigarette smoke or car exhaust fumes can make the allergy worse. Your nose acts as a filter. The tiny hairs and mucus that line the nasal passages trap dust, pollens and other microscopic particles. A person with hay fever is allergic to some of the particles that get trapped in the nose, such as pollen. An allergic reaction means the immune system treats a harmless substance as if it is dangerous, and launches an ‘attack’. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, frequently include nasal congestion, a clear runny nose, sneezing, nose and eye itching, and excess tear production in the eyes. Postnasal dripping of clear mucus frequently causes a cough. Loss of the sense of smell is common, and loss of taste sense occurs occasionally.

Risk Factors There are several factors that can increase your risk of hay fever. They are: 1. Having asthma or another allergic condition such as eczema (an allergic skin condition) 2. Having a family history of hay fever 3. Being exposed to tobacco smoke during early childhood.

Prevention It is very difficult to avoid pollen but however reducing the exposure to the substance can help lower the risks of attracting hay fever. Staying indoors If possible, try to stay indoors when the pollen count is high (over 50). The following tips may help reduce your exposure to pollen:  Keep windows and doors shut in the house. If it gets too warm, draw the curtains to keep out the sun and keep the temperature down.  Don't keep fresh flowers in the house.  Vacuum regularly, ideally using a machine with a HEPA (highefficiency particle arresting) filter.  Damp dust regularly. Dusting with a wet cloth, rather than a dry one, will collect the dust and stop any pollen from being spread around.  Keep pets out of the house during the hay fever season. If your pet does come indoors, wash them regularly to remove any pollen from their fur.  Don't smoke or let other people smoke in your house. Smoking and breathing in other people's smoke will irritate the lining of your nose, eyes, throat and airways, and can make your symptoms worse.

 If possible, avoid drying clothes outside. This will help prevent bringing pollen into your house. Avoiding pollen outside If you need to go outside or are travelling, the following tips may help reduce your exposure to pollen:  Avoid cutting grass, playing or walking in grassy areas and camping – particularly in the early morning, evening and at night when pollen counts are highest.  Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes.  Change your clothes and take a shower after being outdoors to remove the pollen on your body.  Keep car windows closed. You can buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car. This will need to be changed every time the car is serviced.

Diagnosis A diagnosis for hay fever would usually only be required:  If your symptoms were particularly severe  The pattern of symptoms was unusual, such as having symptoms during the winter or while indoors  You experienced complications of hay fever.

Treatment Natural treatment for hay fever:  Honey-cure hay fever because the bee pollen in honey can desensitize your body to other pollens. Increasing honey in your daily dietary intake should reduce hay fever symptoms significantly. Make sure you use local honey to your area to see the best results.  Vitamin C-a known natural antihistamine (a drug or other compound that is used to cure allergies) and can be found in oranges, lemons and grapefruit. Also present are bioflavonoids

(any of a group of compounds occurring mainly in citrus fruits and blackcurrants, formerly regarded as vitamins), which have powerful anti-allergy effects. The combination of vitamin C and bioflavonoids provides a natural antihistamine for sufferers and helps alleviate symptoms effectively. Oranges are a good dose of vitamin C or you can take a supplement.  Red peppers and chilli peppers-contain an active component called capsaicin. When eaten, this component opens nasal passages and helps reduce congestion brought on by hay fever, alleviating symptoms significantly.  Garlic-Increasing your dietary intake of garlic can help boost your body’s immune system, while also acting as a decongestant and helping to alleviate minor hay fever symptoms. It’s also a natural antihistamine.  Onion skins-a good source of a natural antihistamine and antiinflammatory proven to reduce symptoms in hay fever sufferers.

Medical treatment for hay fever     

Allegra Astelin Benadryl Deltasone Nasonex