Smoking: The facts

There's a very good case to be made for giving up smoking. (Image: S. Schmidt [Benutzer: lonestar84, eigenes Foto], via Wikimedia Commons)

While smoking rates at the national level are lower than in previous years it is estimated that 35.1% of men smoke compared to 10.2% of women. However, while it is well known that smoking causes various cancers (lung, mouth, oesophagus, larynx, pharynx, stomach and pancreas), heart disease, stroke, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other fatal diseases in both men and women, women who smoke are particularly at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer and osteoporosis than non-smoking women.

Pregnant women courting trouble by smoking

According to Strauss, pregnant women who smoke are more likely to have birth complications while infertility, painful menstruation and premature menopause are commonly found in woman smokers. Women who use oral contraceptives also have a significantly higher risk of heart disease and strokes if they smoke than those who do not smoke.

"One in two lifetime smokers will die from their habit. Half of these deaths will occur in middle age," says Strauss.
"Most people do not understand the link between smoking and heart disease," says Strauss. "The mixture of nicotine and carbon monoxide in each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure, straining your heart and blood vessels. Smoking causes around one in five deaths from heart disease, while in younger people; three out of four deaths from heart disease are due to smoking."

Drink a cup of tar and see how you like it

"As for your lungs, the tar in a cigarette coats your lungs like soot in a chimney and causes cancer. A 20-a-day smoker breathes in up to a full cup (210g) of tar in a year. Changing to low-tar cigarettes does not help because smokers usually take deeper puffs and hold the smoke in for longer, dragging the tar deeper into their lungs," says Strauss.

Your body can recover from the damage of smoking to a large degree if you quit, says Strauss.

• Within about 2 hours of stopping, there is no more nicotine in your blood system. However, it may take 2 days for nicotine by-products to leave your body;
  
• Within 6 hours your heartbeat slows down and your blood pressure drops slightly. It may take from 3 to 30 days for blood pressure to return to normal;
  
• Heart rates slow down and blood pressure slightly drops after six hours;
  
• Between 12 and 24 hours, carbon monoxide is eliminated from your body. Lung efficiency improves. Taste buds and sense of smell improves after two days;
  
• Blood flow to the hands and feet improves after two months;
  
• After few months the lungs work more efficiently and are able to remove mucus;
  
• The incidence and progression of lung disease including chronic and bronchitis are reduced; and
  
• After 15 years the risk of heart attacks and strokes are almost the same as those of a person who has never smoked.

Tips to quit

According to Dr Strauss, smokers can plan to quit by using the START method. This entails:
S = Set a quit date.
T = Tell family, friends, and co-workers that you plan to quit.
A = Anticipate and plan for the challenges you'll face while quitting.
R = Remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from your home, car and work.
T = Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit.

"It's very important to manage cravings associated with meals, alcohol and social smoking and manages withdrawal symptoms with the following," says Strauss.

Keep a craving journal
Get support from others
Keep the kilos off
Manage changes in mood

Talking to an ex-smoker can be a great help or you can call the tobacco help line on: 011 720 3145. "Quitting is the single best thing you can do for your long-term health," Strauss concludes.