Can tobacco affect our brain?

I read about tobacco and brain from NIDA Info Facts. Everybody must read this. How Does Tobacco Affect the Brain?

Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco—including cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, and chewing tobacco—contain the addictive drug nicotine. Nicotine is readily absorbed into the bloodstream when a tobacco product is chewed, inhaled, or smoked. A typical smoker will take 10 puffs on a cigarette over a period of 5 minutes that the cigarette is lit. Thus, a person who smokes about 1 1/2 packs (30 cigarettes) daily gets 300 “hits” of nicotine each day.

Upon entering the bloodstream, nicotine immediately stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Glucose is released into the blood while nicotine suppresses insulin output from the pancreas, which means that smokers have chronically elevated blood sugar levels.

Like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, nicotine increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which affects the brain pathways that control reward and pleasure. For many tobacco users, long-term brain changes induced by continued nicotine exposure result in addiction—a condition of compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative consequences. Studies suggest that additional compounds in tobacco smoke, such as acetaldehyde, may enhance nicotine’s effects on the brain. A number of studies indicate that adolescents are especially vulnerable to these effects and may be more likely than adults to develop an addiction to tobacco.

When an addicted user tries to quit, he or she experiences withdrawal symptoms including powerful cravings for tobacco, irritability, difficulty paying attention, sleep disturbances, and increased appetite. Treatments can help smokers manage these symptoms and improve the likelihood of successfully quitting.

Apart from this the risk of lung cancer and other cancers are also there. All these are good arguments to stop smoking or to avoid all forms of tobacco.

I want to stop smoking. Could you give me tips?

The adverse effects from smoking include:

• Various Cancers
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Passive smoking is a risk factor for others including pregnant and children

Smoking is an addiction and you must have the will to stop it and you must believe that also. The best way is to stop it immediately. If you want to reduce it slowly it is difficult to stop. Every individual is different. If you cannot stop it immediately it is better to try to stop it gradually. It is never late stop smoking.

Once you quit smoking, the health benefits could be felt by you immediately, within 24 hours, which could motivate you to be free from smoking.

Many million people want to stop smoking in our world, but 2% to 3% only quit successfully for 3 to 12 months. If we think about stop smoking scientifically, at first, we must know all the adverse effects of smoking. The decision to stop smoking is the next step. You must always remember there are no safe tobacco products.

The tips to stop smoking include:

• Set a stress free date for stopping
• Find a partner who may be a friend, relative or colleague for motivation and support
• Inform all so that nobody offers you a cigarette
• Make a plan for deep breathing exercise or other physical activities; consult with your doctor. Exercises give you more energy and help to reduce stress
• Healthy food and consult with your doctor or dietician about the possible weight gain also
• Avoid the triggers to smoke. They are stress, after a meal, after a coffee or after a drink. You must decide how you deal with the triggers.
• Very dangerous are the cravings which can last for 3 to 5 minutes. Deep breathing, a walk, your music or a telephone call to somebody can help to overcome the cravings. If possible avoid chips, other snacks and chocolates or take in small quantities.
• Everyday be proud of you and this gives you positive energy to master this.
• You must be in a position to manage the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. There are few helps for that – nicotine nasal sprays, nicotine inhalers, nicotine patches and nicotine gum.

Other therapy forms like psychological therapy may also be useful. The first fourteen days are very difficult and here you may need help. The risk of relapsing is the first three months after stopping. But with a strong will you can stop completely. It takes ten years for your body to recover completely from the effects of smoking. So stop smoking now.

Chewing Tobacco, Smokeless Tobacco, Dip, Snuff, Oral Tobacco & Spit Tobacco

Is this form of tobacco consumption safer than smoking? No, it is not at all safer than smoking. All forms of tobacco consumption are dangerous to our health.

Chewing or dipping has the risks like mouth cancer, pulling away of the gum from the tooth, decay of the exposed roots and white patches or red sores in the mouth which may turn to cancer. It plays also a vital role in heart disease, stroke and in other cancers.

Chewing tobacco brings more nicotine into blood because they reach the stomach and the absorption takes place in the intestines. It is much more efficient than from the inhalation of the smoke.

The different kinds of smokeless tobacco include:

Chewing tobacco is a loose leaf, twists or plugs and it is chewed.

Snuff is the dry or moist loose leaf or in small pouches like tea bags and a pinch of snuff is placed between lower lips and gum or the cheek and the gum. It is inhaled also into the nostrils.

Betel quid is a product of India, Asia and Africa. It consists of a dried paste which includes tobacco, areca nuts, catechu and different scent or flavouring. It is placed in the mouth, between the cheek and gum and gently chewed or sucked.

In India many are addicted to chewing tobacco wrapped in betel leaves, all social categories are represented here in large numbers. Even the majority of the college students have this bad habits and the health risk is high.

Even doctors use this and this is a bad habit which we export very well because the young Indian migrating to other countries use this also throughout the world.

Gutka is industrially manufactured smokeless tobacco product which is a specifically an Indian problem. Areca nut, an important constituent of gutka causes oral mucous fibrosis, a dangerous disease with no cure, which also the precursor of oral cancer.

In cigarette smoking this may take years to reach this but in gutka this happens within short time and with the popularization of gutka the oral cancer rate among young persons are increasing in India. It is never too late to stop using tobacco.

It is difficult to ban because they get their rights from the court of law because we do not have strict laws. The public must ask for the ban and put pressure on the political parties for which they vote. It is also advisable to put extra tax which could be used to patients for their medical treatments and rehabilitation. Increase the prices of the ingredients so drastically that gutka becomes very costly for many people.

There is no safe tobacco product in our world.

Cigars

Which are more dangerous to our health, cigarettes or cigars? Both are dangerous but cigars are more dangerous than cigarettes. 75% of the cigar smokers are occasional smokers than cigarette smokers and this is the reason why cigar smokers are exposed to smaller amounts of the poisons and carcinogens. It is the only reason for the fewer instances of disease and fatality due to cigar smoking.

Normally a single cigarette contains less than a gram of tobacco, but cigars vary in size and may have between 5 and 20 grams of tobacco. So to say, one cigar, in extreme case, may be equal to one pack with 20 king size cigarettes.

The manufacturing process of cigars differs from cigarettes and the tobacco must be fermented and this produces more tobacco specific nitrosamines which are the most carcinogenic (cancer causing) compounds known. Moreover, cigar wrappers are not as porous as cigarette wrappers which make the combustion incomplete. These two factors are the reason for higher concentrations of ammonia, carbon monoxide, tar and nitrogen oxides in cigars than in cigarettes.

Cigar contains much more nicotine than a cigarette, an average cigarette contains between one to two mg of nicotine and that of an average cigar has 100 to 200 mg, some with more than 400 mg. Cigar smoke is more alkaline than cigarette smoke; it readily breaks down in saliva which allows the easy absorption of nicotine through the lining of the mouth in quantities sufficient to cause addiction.

Smoking one cigar a day increases the risk for cancer; the cancers noted include lip, tongue, mouth, throat and larynx, so to say the whole oral cavity. Lung cancer and pancreas and bladder cancers are the other diseases which are often noted.

The risk for early tooth loss is very high.

Cigar smokers have twice the risk to have erectile dysfunction or impotent as non-smokers. This is because of the adverse effects of the smoke on circulation, nervous system and hormones.

Passive smoking has the same adverse effects, including the erectile dysfunction; the best solution is stop smoking cigar.

There is no safe tobacco product in our world.

Beedi

Tobacco, hand rolled in Tendu leaves, are called Beedies. It is the cheapest cigarettes produced in Asia and more than 85% is produced in India and from the 240 millions of tobacco users approximately more than 100 million people are smoking beedies.

Beedies are more dangerous than cigarettes because they contain more tar, nicotine and other cancer producing substances, carbon monoxide, ammonia and also contain the cancer producing nitrosamines. One third of 6,00,000 TB deaths in India go to the account of Beedi smoking. But, surprisingly, they have less tobacco than in cigarettes.

Beedies have three times more nicotine, produce three times more carbon monoxide and have 5 times more tar than cigarettes. The lack of filter and also the lack of porosity of the leaves used for wrapping may be the reason for this.

The risk of the cancer of the lung, mouth, oesophagus and stomach is higher than those of a non-smoker.

The risk for chronic bronchitis is four times increased and there is also three times higher risk of heart attack than the non-smokers.

The illiterate and poor in India are the majority of beedi smokers. Others also smoke beedies.

The argument of economy and jobs allow us to produce tobacco, opium from poppy seeds e.g. in Afghanistan and also cocaine in South America. Who all earn huge money out of this nobody knows but the poor man is suffering and dying. Unfortunately money and moral starts with “m”. Try to be clean and if many think like this we could solve any problem.

That is why it is very important to generate awareness.

The risk of passive smoking is same like in cigarettes; it is equally bad or more than bad as in normal beedi smoking. Particularly, it is very bad for children and pregnant.

There are more than 2,90,000 beedi growers in India and around 4.5 million people are employed in beedi industry, without suitable alternative job opportunities, it is impossible to ban it immediately. Moreover, these are the jobs of rural India. But, it should be started slowly with right projects so that within a decade we could ban it.

The tobacco industry tries to lure women and youth to smoke in India. As a clinical toxicologist I have seen lot of problems in these groups. With the ban in different countries, they do still very aggressive advertisements to get young, new customers.

Beedies are banned in some countries and in most of the countries it is available even with different flavours. I used to laugh when they try to convince me by saying that it is healthy because it is not rolled in paper but in a leaf, a natural product. Of course, it is with a natural product, but brings unnatural death for most of the smokers.

What are the occupational hazards of the beedi industries? Mostly the women and the girls in rural India do this job; they suffer a lot, not because they are smoking but because they breathe the dust there. Moreover, this is the most unorganized industry in India without any control from any side. Most of this work is done in the home by women and girls and the result is child labour and large number of school dropouts among girls. Boys are not at all involved in this work, what a funny world?

Here it is not only the beedi smokers who should be helped but also the girls and women engaged in this industry. It is our national duty to do lot for the health of women and girls who may be the double losers as passive smokers as well as due to their occupational risks.

There is no safe tobacco product in our world.

What are dangerous, smoking cigarettes, pipes, cigars, beedies or use of chewing tobacco?

All are dangerous to our health. It depends how much and how often you smoke. With cigars, beedies or chewing tobacco you absorb more nicotine than cigarettes. Pipes are usually not smoked very often and so the absorption of nicotine is low compared to other forms. If the tobacco reaches our stomach most of the nicotine is absorbed in the intestine and this is the case with chewing tobacco.

Nicotine is one among several substances and tar which is a mixture of several active chemical compounds in tobacco smoke. There are about 3000 chemicals which are found in tobacco smoke and many are dangerous to our health. Out of these 50 are considered cancerous. Long time exposure to the substances like carbon monoxide, cyanide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons cause the damage of lungs, arteries and responsible for several other complications including cancer.

The poisonous metal cadmium is present in tobacco and it is deposited in kidneys and bad to our health. There are radioactive carcinogens also present in tobacco smoke and they are lead-210 and polonium-210.

Although the paper is bad in cigarettes beedi is worse than cigarettes. In many countries beedies are banned. Beedies are more dangerous than cigarettes because they contain more tar, nicotine and other cancer producing substances, carbon monoxide, ammonia and also contain the cancer producing nitrosamines. One third of 6,00,000 TB deaths in India go to the account of Beedi smoking. But, surprisingly, they have less tobacco than in cigarettes.

Beedies have three times more nicotine, produce three times more carbon monoxide and have 5 times more tar than cigarettes. The lack of filter and also the lack of porosity of the leaves used for wrapping may be the reason for this.

Passive smoking is more dangerous than active smoking. Do not smoke when there are non-smokers. If children are present then smoking should be avoided completely. This is applicable strictly to your visitors also.

Tobacco - Cigarettes

Everybody knows that tobacco or tobacco products are not good for our health, cancer producing and passive smoking are worse than smoking. I have also seen proud men who didn’t even want to stop smoking although there are small children in their families. These are false prestige. Here I write about cigarettes and the dangers connect to it. In the coming days I will write about the other tobacco products like Beedies, cigars and pipe smoking. It is never too late to stop smoking and I too stopped smoking when I got my heart attack in February 2004.

Cigarettes - Active and passive smoking

What are the health effects of tobacco using?

Tobacco is used in different ways, smoked, snuffed or chewed and the major health effects from smoking are lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The cause of worldwide premature death is a preventable risk.

What are the other diseases connected to smoking?

These are:

• Several forms of cancers including lung, kidney, larynx, breast, bladder, pancreas, stomach, liver, cervical, colorectal, gall bladder, blood and small intestine cancer
• Cardiovascular diseases are stroke and heart attack.
• Respiratory diseases like cold, chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Birth defects by pregnant smoker’s baby.
• Blindness because of cataracts
• Increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease
• Brain shrinkage
• Impotence because of narrow arteries

Is pipe or cigar smoking as harmful as smoking?

The risk of lung cancer is lower because they inhale less smoke than cigarette smokers but their risk of lung cancer is several times higher than the non-smoker.

The paper used to roll the tobacco contributes also to the bad effects of the cigarettes.

What about chewing tobacco?

The risk of chewing tobacco is mouth and jaw cancer.

What are the immediate benefits of non-smoking?

The blood pressure, pulse and body temperature become normal, heart attack risk decreases and also blood circulation improves. The smell and taste nerves are working better and this ability is enhanced.

What are the substances from tobacco which makes it dangerous?

Nicotine is one among several substances and tar which is a mixture of several active chemical compounds. There are about 3000 chemicals which are found in tobacco smoke and many are dangerous to our health. 50 of these chemicals are cancer producing. Long time exposure to the substances like carbon monoxide, cyanide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons cause the damage of lungs, arteries and responsible for several other complications.

What about the risk of chewing tobacco?

Similar chemicals for the health dangers are present in chewing tobacco and they are generated during the curing of tobacco. Here the tobacco reaches our stomach all the nicotine present goes into our blood and in this case it is worse than the cigarettes.

Are there radioactive chemicals in tobacco smoke?

There are radioactive carcinogens also present in tobacco smoke and they are lead-210 and polonium-210.

What are the reasons of nicotine addiction?

The rest nicotine which is in the cigarette smoke after burning is very small and it is enough for physical and psychological dependence. Amount of nicotine absorbed is dependent on the quality of tobacco, inhalation of the smoke and use of filter. Nicotine is a stimulant and it is a main factor for continuous smoking.

The chain smokers hate the cigarettes because it is only addiction, but no enjoyment. But they smoke further to supply nicotine to the body only.

Many want to stop smoking, but without success, why?

If you want stop smoking, stop drinking or regulate diet you must have the strong will power. With this power only you can convince your brain to stop. If this could not be done, it is lost from the beginning. When you stop smoking, the first 14 days are very difficult. Nicotine is normally produced in small quantities in our body to make nicotine amide which is very important for our metabolism. In smokers, it is no more produced in the body because it is available from the cigarette. Once the body’s own production is started you have the feeling or urge not to smoke. There is nicotine patch or nicotine gum to supplement nicotine for these 14 days.

Are low tar or light or ultra light cigarettes better than the normal cigarette?

There is no evidence that low tar, light and ultra light cigarettes are safer than normal cigarettes. This is also a way to attract young women to smoke because many think light means safe. Many think, like reduced fat or coca cola light, light cigarettes are safe and so the acceptability becomes more and more. It is a marketing strategy, only one product is less attractive. We may not like it if one product is available, many varieties with light labels and many may accept and become a prey for that. If you attend some of these marketing seminars, you may think that you are in Mars that is entirely a different world.

In Western countries the young women and men are not very much interested in smoking because of the strong campaign from the governments and NGOs. The result is fewer cigarettes are sold. The big cigarette companies are planning to attract Indian, Chinese and other Asian young women to explode their sales. Many young women think it a fashion to smoke like in the Western countries during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Now many young women hate cigarettes because they have understood the dangers of smoking. 2.6% Indian women in India smoke regularly cigarettes. If we take our population is 1150 millions, it is nearly 3 crores women smoke. Compare the total population of Germany is 8.1 crores.

Men, don’t be happy, you must also stop it.

Has cigarette contains only tobacco or some other chemicals also?

Few years ago there was a big discussion between scientists, government agencies and the tobacco industry about these foreign substances in cigarettes. There are several additives used by the tobacco industry which make a person addict to cigarettes. The opinion of the scientists is that it is not only the nicotine but also other added substances cause addiction. Nothing came out at last because the interests of the different groups are different. The billions of VAT played a vital role here.

Has cigarette smoking influence on human reproduction?

There are evidences of the poisons from tobacco smoke damage the sperm cells. Tobacco plants contain cadmium, a poisonous heavy metal which replaces the essential element zinc from DNA polymerase which plays a role in sperm production. It also damages testes.

Are pregnant woman affected by tobacco smoke?

Spontaneous abortions happen often when the pregnant woman smoke and there are other dangers to the health of the foetus.

Passive smoking has the same danger to the foetus.

Is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) connected to tobacco smoking and passive smoking?

Passive smoking is connected to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Infants who die in SIDS have nicotine and cotinine, the metabolite of nicotine in their lungs and it is from passive smoking. Smoking during pregnancy and passive smoking of infants are equally harmful. Passive smoking is dangerous even the parents are non-smokers to the infant.

The nicotine goes to the mother’s milk and so also it reaches the infant. Passive smoking means you inhale the smoke present in the room which is smoked by others and it is equally or more dangerous like normal smoking because you inhale continuously.

Positive smoking is a big environmental problem.

What is the relationship between smoking and drinking alcohol?

The simple rule is if you drink alcohol you smoke more and if you smoke more, and then you drink more alcohol. The risk of oral cancer and other cancers increase very rapidly. Smokers drink in average 2.5 times more than the non-smoker. It is a devil’s circle.

What is the reduction of life of smokers?

Smokers live 2.5 to 10 years less than the non-smokers.