TOBACCO SMOKING AND LUNGS HEALTH
It is often said, “the value of a thing is not known until it is lost”. However, must we allow this to happen to our health too? Tobacco smoking has posed a great threat to public health for decades now. It has begun to call our attention by laying claims to over 6million deaths yearly, 40% of cancers across virtually every part of the body and plaguing every age group down to even the unborn child. Man has battled with the menace of tobacco smoke for a long time and it is time we take it serious.
The lungs remain one of the most vital organs of the human body necessary to live a normal and a healthy life. The pair of spongy, air-filled organs located on either side of the chest (thorax) serves as the primary organs of the respiratory system. They are solely responsible for “extracting” oxygen from the atmosphere and transferring it into the blood stream and release carbon dioxide from the blood stream back into the atmosphere in a process termed gaseous exchange.
As vital as the lungs is to our health, it’s function is been threatened by tobacco smoking either directly on the smoker or by passive smoking, often referred to as second hand smoking. Tobacco contains more than 7,000 different chemical substances with about 50 of them being carcinogens (having the ability to cause cancer).Some of these chemicals include: Nicotine, Tar, Carbon monoxide, Cyanide, arsenic, cadmium, lead, cobalt and nickel which are known to be very toxic substances. Nicotine is known to be a highly addictive psychoactive drug. When a puff of cigarette is taken, nicotine immediately travels to the brain within seconds and binds to nicotine receptors of the brain causing Dopamine release-a chemical that plays an important role in pleasure sensation. Once this happens, the user begins to experience feelings of pleasure and calmness. However, this effect soon wears off, causing a craving for the same feeling hence an urge for tobacco use. Eventually, there is an increase in the number of nicotine receptors of the brain so that more and more and even more sticks of cigarette is required to produce such effect on the user, causing a chain of addiction.
Tobacco use remains the single greatest cause of preventable death globally. World Health Organization estimates that each year tobacco causes about 6 million deaths with over 600,000 of these occurring in nonsmokers due to second hand smoking. The effect of tobacco cuts across virtually every system of the body. In the central nervous system, it causes a reduction in cognition, leads to addiction, causes anxiety, depression headache and dizziness. In the cardiovascular system, it increases heart rate and blood pressure, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure. In the excretory system it induces kidney failure by reducing blood flow to the kidneys. In the reproductive system there is an increase in the risk of erectile dysfunction and poor quality of sperm in men, affects female hormones necessary for menstruation, pregnancy and gestation and even affect the fetus in the mother’s womb. The effect in the digestive System include; contribution to heartburn, gastro esophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcers, and liver cancer. It’s long term effect on the respiratory system plays a major role in the development of diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Emphysema, Lung cancer, cancer of the mouth and larynx, and generally reducing the life expectancy of smokers.
Tobacco Smoking threatens the future of every society, as the bulk of its patronage is from youths, beginning from as early as 12years for active smokers, and even lesser for passive smokers. For a global epidemic with such prevalence, swift action is required to curb its menace.
Firstly, individuals who are directly involved in tobacco smoking should begin to think of quitting as it affects not just one individual but also members of the general public. Remarkable improvement is seen in the health of smokers as early as 24hours after cessation of smoking- the blood pressure drops to normal, pulse rate normalizes, carbon monoxide level of the blood returns to normal. After 2weeks to 3months of cessation, lung function improves by 30%, blood circulation improves. After 9months, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath decreases. The cilia of the lungs re-grow. One year in, the risk of coronary heart disease reduces by half. 5years in, the stroke risk is that of a non-smoker. After 10years, the risk of cancer reduces by half and 15years later, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of nonsmokers.
Secondly, smoke-free laws that ban individuals from smoking in public areas such as workplaces, theatre, and bars should be enacted to reduce the chances of second hand smoking and also to discourage smokers.
Government can also discourage the production as well as importation of tobacco products by increasing the tax duty on them. This will strangle the tobacco market until it is reduced to the barest minimum. A public ban should be placed on advertisement of tobacco products and individuals that wish to quit should be encouraged and aided by government in order to quit. We must continue to strive to achieve a tobacco free society as it affects every one of us either directly or indirectly. Protect Your Lungs, Stay away from Tobacco smoke.
#Say no to tobacco Smoking. #WorldNoTobaccoDay #ElitePharmacists #PLSP #2019Cohort
Contributors: Team Synergy: Peer Group 1. Pharm. Abosede Akinkuowo., Pharm. Adenike Adelakun., Pharm. Aminu Kende A., Pharm. Ayoola Olowoeshin., Pharm. Abdulbasit Olaniyi., Pharm. Christopher Yakubu., Pharm. Edidiong Orok., Pharm. Emebradu Ohwoodo., Pharm. Joshua Awulu., Pharm. Kesiena Eluor., Pharm. Onyekachi Nwakoby., Pharm. Vivian Oyebade.