We have all had the “horrors” of smoking presented to us many times. Many of us listened but there are still a sizable group, and their families, that continue to be exposed to cigarette smoke (or its especially lethal new cousin, e-cigarette smoke) each day.
Science has not given up on smoking. Each month there are new discoveries published on both the negative effects of smoking and the new inroads being found to help smokers kick the habit.
Here are a few articles from the last few months:
Smokers’ brains biased against negative images of smoking
Given the positive reinforcement that smoking provides the smoker, it is not a big reach to find that biology follows suit. Nicotine addiction is a powerful thing and the study found that brain chemistries were altered such that pro-smoking messages were more readily accepted by the smokers’ brains and the anti-smoking messages rejected.
Twitter helps smokers kick the habit
In a study from the University of California, Irvine, individuals who used the Social Media platform, Twitter, as part of a smoking cessation program were more successful in quitting smoking. The experiment engaged the participants on a daily basis and lent social support to those who were abstaining from smoking.
As many as two in three smokers will die from their habit
The sobering numbers have not improved over the years. This large study provides more evidence for what we have known. With continued smoking, you die younger.
Smokers who use e-cigarettes less likely to quit
E-cigarettes continue to demonstrate lots of bad news as studies track their performance. Still touted as a safe smoking cessation option, e-cigarettes trade higher nicotine levels, as well as heavy metals and other contaminants, for the only slightly less hazardous cigarette smoke. Add to that e-cigarettes not fulfilling the promise of aiding actual smoking cessation and the benefit is still to be seen.
Male smokers at higher risk than females for osteoporosis, fractures
Given the macho image of tobacco ads over the years, this recent finding is rather ironic. (Picture the Marlboro man with a walker.) Osteoporosis is the term that describes a loss of bone density that can lead to fractures, disability, and even death. More commonly found in elderly females in the general population due to hormonal changes of aging, a smoking history reverses the trend and the condition becomes found more often in male smokers.
Smokers and those exposed to passive smoke require more anesthetic and painkiller during operations
We have all heard about the lower success rates of surgeries performed on smokers such that some surgeons will not perform some surgeries on patients who smoke. Now comes this new evidence that it takes more of the drugs to take the patients who smoke down to the anesthetic level needed to perform surgery. This adds considerable risk to the patient.
Unfortunately, the same increased need for drugs goes for those who live around the smoker.
So if you are a smoker, understand that your choice of habit affects not only yourself but those around you. And most importantly, know that we are all pulling for you to quit smoking and enjoy the wonderful things that go with a Healthful lifestyle.
As noted in the Twitter article above, the use of Social Media is ever increasing. Please take advantage of resources that use these tools. It may make the difference in becoming a non-smoker.
Here are some additional resources for help in quitting:
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.”
-Seneca
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