Posts Tagged ‘Smokers’

What are the side effects of smoking? Difference between active and passive smoking?

Smoking is injurious to health. There is hardly a part of the body that is not affected by smoking.
Immediate side effects of smoking a cigarette includes:
- raised blood pressure
- decreased blood flow.
- nausea and dizziness.
- Hyper-acidity
- Loss of appetite
- Chronic cough
- Breath shortness
- Yellowish teeth and fingers

The withdrawal symptoms include:
- lack of concentration
- coughs
- headaches
- strong cravings
- changes in sleep patterns

How smoking affects different parts of the body?
- If we start from the top, risk of developing mouth cancer is increased. Tobacco can cause mouth ulcers, bad breath and tooth decay. Headaches
also caused by smoking.
- Chemicals like hydrogen cyanide and others damage the bronchi causing inflammation which results in cough. In lungs, the mucous secretion is affected causing chronic cough.
- Nicotine present in tobacco affects the heart as it raises the blood pressure and carbon monoxide leads to the development of cholesterol deposits on artery walls.
- Smoke tars can cause esophagus and throat cancer. The stomach acid increases which leads to ulcers and heartburn.
- Carcinogens in tobacco case damage to genes that control the cell growth.
- The chemicals present in smoking affects the immune system of the body and makes it weak.
- Smokers have low level of anti-oxidants in blood as compared to non smokers.
- Heart diseases and heart attack are very common among smokers as compared to non-smokers.
- During pregnancy, the risk of premature baby, low birth weight, spontaneous abortion are observed.
- Tobacco is responsible for cancer of lungs, mouth, pharynx, larynx, stomach, urinary bladder, gall Bladder, penis.
- Tobacco consumption reduces estrogen levels in women.
- Vitamin D metabolism decreases resulting in slow absorption of calcium in the body. Deficient calcium absorption can lead to osteoporosis or thinning of the bones.
- Antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids help the body fight off diseases ranging from cancer to heart disease, and help stave off the degenerative effects of aging.

TYPES OF SMOKING
In active smoking, the person is lighting up the cigarette actively and smoking it.
Passive smoking is also called involuntary or second hand smoking as it involves people in your surrounding to inhale certain toxic gases which in turn could harm more than active smoking. In this type of smoking, people are forced to smoke.

The health risks that a passive smoker may occur are considerably less than those of an active smoker, secondhand smoke still contains many of the chemicals and carcinogenic compounds that are also breathed in by the active smoker.

Indoor air pollution is ranked as one of the top five major environmental health risks that affect us today.

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What is Pancreatic Cancer (a gland present in the abdomen) ?

The Pancreas is a gland present in the abdomen between the spine and the stomach. The Pancreas is partially present behind the stomach and partially in the small intestines (the duodenum). The pancreas acts as an endocrine gland as well as an exocrine gland. As an endocrine gland the pancreas produces hormones like glucagon, insulin, and somatostatin whereas as an exocrine gland it secretes juices which are helpful in the digestion of food. This article will deal about pancreas cancer, its symptoms and the causes of the pancreatic cancer.
Cancer is basically the improper growth in the cell. Pancreas cancer is considered to be one of the most dangerous and serious cancers, where the pancreas tissues are layered by the cancerous cells which form lumps and this causes pancreatic cancer to occur. Pancreatic cancers are of two types. First one is the endocrine pancreatic cancer and the second one is the exocrine pancreatic cancer. The cancer which grows in the endocrine pancreas is called the pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma as well as islet cell tumor, whereas the exocrine pancreas can be affected with the adenocarcinoma cancer.
Pancreatic cancer does not show any symptoms in the initial stages and hence it is also called a “silent disease”. But at a later stage pancreas cancer may show some symptoms which one should not ignore. These symptoms may vary from person to person, depending upon the type of pancreas cancer that person is suffering from. The symptoms indicating a pancreatic cancer are as follows:
• The most common symptom indicating pancreas cancer is abdominal pain. You tend to feel this pain after about 2 to 3 hours of having food and may also increase while you are lying down. The pain mostly occurs in the upper abdomen and sometimes the back.
• The next symptom which persists is the swelling up of the abdomen or a person feeling full even with a little intake of meal.
• People suffering from jaundice, with or without the abdominal pain, is another symptom indicating the pancreatic cancer. Jaundice causes the skin to become yellow, eyes to become white, bowel motions, severe itching and darkened urine.
• A person losing weight at once may be suffering from pancreas cancer. As weight loss is one of the most common symptoms for almost all the cancers, therefore it is always preferred that a person losing weight without any work out should get a checkup done.
• Other symptoms showing existence of pancreas cancer are diabetes, vomiting/ nausea, diarrhea, fever and shivering.
The most common causes and risk factors which may increase the chances of the pancreas cancer in a person are the regular use of tobacco, increasing age, the race and also gender (more common in men) of the person, obesity, diabetic history, inflammation of the pancreas, a diet which is rich in harmful fats and many more.
If a person is a smoker then he can can decrease his chances of pancreas cancer by quitting smoking, people who are more into a fatty diet should control their diet and people who are obese must keep a check on their obesity in order to prevent the chances of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreas cancer is not a contagious disease i.e. it is not transferred from one person to another person by means of communication of physical contact. Pancreas cancer can be treated depending on its severity. It is best treated at its earlier stages but technologies now have changed and it is quite possible to treat pancreas cancer at a later stage also. Surgery may be performed in order to remove the tumor growing inside your pancreas.
Pancreas cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers and can cause a person to suffer seriously. Therefore, all the factors leading to it must be taken care of in order to reduce or totally eliminate the chances of pancreas cancer.

Smoking Withdrawl Symtoms

Recovery is a temporary journey of re-adjustment during which the mind and body are allowed to undergo an amazing healing process. Withdrawal effects of giving up smoking surface almost immediately after you have called it quits. During the initial phase the effects may present themselves in an intense shape. But, there is no need to worry much about it. These effects subside as time passes.
The first few weeks after quitting smoking are usually the most difficult and it’s safe to say that it normally takes at least 8-12 weeks before a person starts to feel comfortable with their new lifestyle change of being an ex-smoker.

Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms :

- Cravings to smoke : Cravings for a cigarette are frequent and intense within the first two to three days after stopping. The cravings become less frequent over the next four or five days, but they may increase again and persist for many weeks. Deep breathing and immediate activity will help distract you from your craving. The worst of the cravings usually end within a couple of weeks after breaking free.
- Irritable, cranky : When the nicotine level declines, your body begins to sense the loss. This can cause tension and be symptomatic of the grief process. Deep breathing and exercise will help relieve irritability.
- Insomnia : Your sleeping patterns may be affected once you stop smoking. Difficulties in sleeping will occur due to the absence of nicotine in the brain. Furthermore, lack of sleep will affect your moods in the daytime and also leave you feeling tired and drained.
- Inability to Concentrate : Take regular short breaks from what you are doing, try to eat healthy energizing foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, drink lots of water to keep the brain hydrated, exercise or keep active and get plenty of fresh air.
- Headache : Half an aspirin should do the trick, but beforehand try to relieve the tension by carrying out a few deep breathing exercises, drinking a glass of water, taking a relaxing bath, going for a gentle walk in the fresh air or lying down for 15 minutes or so. As a last resort take the aspirin.
- Cough : Drinking water and sucking boiled sweets may help to ease the cough, loosen the mucus in your lungs, keep your throat moist and flush the toxins out of your system.
- Tiredness : To boost your energy levels, avoid sugary and processed foods, drink lots of water, snack on seeds, nuts or dried fruit, go for a short but brisk walk if you are feeling tired, take a break from what you are doing and relax and make sure that you eat a good healthy breakfast, which will keep you going at least through the morning.
- Sore throat : A small number of people who stop smoking are affected by chemical changes in their mouths and may suffer minor problems including blisters, sores, and inflammation.
- Constipation, gas, stomach pain : Try to eat fiber-rich foods and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables; prunes are good, drink 8 glasses of water a day and carry out some gentle exercise to stimulate your bowels. Some say that eating chocolate helps too.
- Tightness in the chest : This happens because your body is getting more fresh air than usual. The extra air fills the lungs and makes them feel tighter. This symptom should last for only a day or two after stopping. See your doctor if it persists.
- Tingling sensations : After giving up smoking, your circulation will improve, as more of your smaller blood vessels will open up allowing more oxygen to flow through you body.
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Sore tongue and/or gums
- Postnasal drip