TOBACCO FACTS

More than 4,000 hazardous chemicals in cigarettes.

NICOTINE

Addictive substance in tobacco. Causes severe withdrawal Liquid form… one drop will KILL you! VERY POWERFUL Stimulant!!!

Physically and Psychologically addicting.

Decreases appetite just as all stimulants do

NICOTINE CONT’D

When smoked:

Nicotine enters the bloodstream by passing through the tiny air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) into the surrounding capillaries.

- Inhaled into the lungs- Bronchioles into the alveoli - Enters bloodstream - Travels to brain (seconds) - Delivered throughout the body- Initially epinephrine and adrenaline hormones

released- Heart rate increases, blood pressure increases, shallow

breathing- Endorphins and dopamine released

- Pleasant, happy feelings, euphoria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCqJjYHidc4

NICOTINE CONT’D

When used as SMOKELESS TOBACCO Nicotine enters the bloodstream through The

mucus membrane of the mouth and gums. Some of the saliva ends up in the stomach and

small intestines as well. A white leathery patch may form on the

gum/lip where the tobacco is placed. LEUKOPLAKIA- can be cancerous.

LEUKOPLAKIA

When nicotine mixes with saliva, compounds called nitrosamines are produced.

CARCINOGENIC!!!!!! Cancer of the:

Jaw Lip Gums Tongue Throat Digestive System

CAN OCCUR FROM SMOKELESS TOBACCO USE!

EFFECTS OF NICOTINE ON THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

Increases Heartbeat… Raises BLOOD PRESSURE

Constricts blood vessels… increases BLOOD PRESSURE even more!

HIGH BP can burst blood vessels= heart attack and stroke

Increases likelihood of blood clots Especially if a person is using Birth Control Clots get stuck in blood vessels causing heart

attack and stroke.

TAR

THE MOST HARMFUL COMPOUND IN TOBACCO SMOKE! IT CONTAINS ALL

THE CARCINOGENS!

TAR

It sticks in the lungs & trachea increasing risk for cancer of the lungs and larynx (voice box)

Major cause of Emphysema Contributing factor to bronchitis and

smoker’s cough Tar reduces the lungs’ ability to

supply oxygen…AND…nicotine increase the heart’s need for it!

CO- CARBON MONOXIDE

Steals oxygen (O2) from the red blood cells, causing a lack of O2 to the heart, brain and body

This causes heart attacks and stroke! The lack of O2 in the body and brain

causes the lightheaded, “buzzed”, RELAXED feeling smokers enjoy.

Smokers are depriving their body of O2 in order to feel ‘good’…

AMMONIA

Paralyzes the cilia of the respiratory tract allowing the mucus and tar to slide into the lungs.

This causes a wet, hacking ‘SMOKERS COUGH’

DISEASES RELATED TO SMOKING

Smokers are more likely to catch colds than nonsmokers because the paralyzed cilia allows more bacteria & viruses to enter the lungs.

EMPHYSEMA

Tar from tobacco smoke lines the air sacs in the lungs, (alveoli).

O2 can’t get through, so a person has a difficult time getting enough O2 in the body.

This can be reversed if a person stops smoking… But if the tar is allowed to stay in the lungs, it becomes hard an brittle.

Once the tar hardens, the alveoli burst and become ineffective at allowing O2 into the bloodstream.

EMPHYSEMA

At this point, the damage is irreversible.

A person with emphysema may be put on supplemental O2 just to survive.

Quality of life is diminished. Eventually emphysema can kill a

person because of their inability to get enough O2 into their body.

CHRONIC BRONCHITIS

The erosive chemicals in smoke constantly irritate and inflame the lining of the bronchial tubes.

The chemicals and tar also cause the respiratory system to create abnormally thick mucus.

This, along with the paralyzed cilia, helps to create a sometimes painful, wet cough.

CANCERS

The tar and it’s carcinogens stick in the lungs

The longer they are allowed to stay in contact with the lining, the greater the chance of lung cancer.

Many of the warning signs for lung cancer are symptoms normally experienced by smokers, so often the cancer is left too long. It metastasizes (spreads) and may become

very deadly.

EFFECTS of SMOKING on the FETUS

Significantly increases the likelihood of: Low birth weight Premature birth

Small babies get sick more, and have a higher chance of mental and physical complications.

Severe asthma Miscarriages Stillbirths SIDS

NEVER SMOKE WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT! NEVER SMOKE AROUND A PREGNANT PERSON, BABIES, OR CHILDREN!

SECONDHAND SMOKE

The smoke off the burning end of a cigarette. There is no filter, so the smoke/tar is directly inhaled

It can still decrease the amount of O2 in the blood, and puts sticky tar in the lungs

Over time, it can build up just as it does in a smoker.

Children/babies lungs are more susceptible

Causes the same respiratory illnesses in nonsmokers who are exposed to smoker’s smoke.