Whether we like it or not, smoking is a part of our culture, and has been for hundreds of years. Trying to get rid of something on a personal or societal level that has been around so long isn't easy. Anyone who is trying to stop smoking is better off taking some time to understand a few facts about it.
History of Facts about Smoking.
Tobacco and tobacco smoking was common in the Americas long before the time of Columbus. It was first brought to Europe by a few of Columbus' sailors, and was popularized by a monk Ramon Pane.
By the time of Sir Walter Raleigh, pipe smoking was the fashion throughout all of Europe. Even then, there were people who felt it was a dangerous and unhealthy habit.
In the late 1800's Queen Victoria banned smoking from Buckingham Palace. In 1912 Dr. Isaac Alder presents the first strong link between smoking and lung cancer. And in 1942 the Lancet publishes a paper by researcher L.M. Johnston describing addiction for the first time.
Health and Facts about Smoking.
Tobacco is addictive, whether smoked, chewed or used as snuff. Since the early 1940's a correlation has been noted between increases in cigarette smoking and increases in lung cancer.
There are different hazards for different forms of smoking. Cigarette smoking is most likely to cause lung cancer, as opposed to cigar smoking, which normally causes cancer of the mouth and throat.
Because cigars contain no tar, they are sometimes incorrectly thought to be safer than cigarettes. There is no such thing as a 'less unhealthy' form of cancer. Cigarette smoke in a confined space is unhealthier for the people nearby then the smoker.
There is no filter on this 'second hand smoke' the way there is inside the cigarette. Smoking has been found to increase risks of high blood pressure and heart disease. Statistic show that on average, a smoker who quits by the age of 35 can extend their lifespan up to 8 year. (American Journal of Public Health, 2002)
Quitting and Facts about Smoking.
The addictive effect of nicotine makes it very difficult to stop smoking. There are two standard techniques for quitting: going 'cold turkey' and weaning off.
Going cold turkey refers to abruptly stopping all use of nicotine products, and avoiding future exposure as much as possible.
Going cold turkey is the more difficult method for many people, but some find that it is the only way that works. Heavy smokers who go cold turkey will experience nicotine withdrawal.
For smokers who go cold turkey, having something to occupy the hands and mouth in place of a cigarette or cigar can help. The use of substitutes such as hard candies or "plastic cigarettes" are popular.
Weaning off refers to gradually reducing nicotine intake until intake ceases entirely. Weaning off reduces the risk of withdrawal symptoms, and is frequently considered the easier means of quitting.
However, weaning off can take a long time, and people with certain medical conditions, or people who are simply impatient, may not have time to wean off gradually.
Weaning off can involve a variety of options, including gradually increasing the amount of time between smoking and the use of nicotine substitutes, such as gum or the patch.
Both techniques have a variety of tools developed to make quitting easier. Some smokers who have been smoking for years have been as much 'addicted' to the familiar feeling of having a cigar or cigarette in their mouths, as to the nicotine.
These smokers sometimes form the habit of holding an unlit cigar or cigarette in their mouths, to have the familiarity and taste, without the smoke. While this is certainly better then smoking, and will reduce or eliminate most of the dangers of smoking, it is unclear whether it will reduce the occurrence of mouth and gum cancers in users.
Non-smokers are now inhaling less secondhand smoke. This development was reported by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This is owed to the efforts of lawmakers to ban smoking in specific public areas. However, there is still a need to strengthen local and international laws against cigarette smoking. Public awareness about the facts about smoking helps too.
The self-destructive habit of millions of Americans had officials scurrying to pass anti-smoking laws. The Surgeon General is getting full support from governments worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which took effect on February 28, 2005, banned smoking in workplaces, bars, restaurants, and public transport.
But the real sting is the higher taxes to be imposed and the ban on advertising. The battle against cigarette smoking will create quite a stir in the tobacco industry, which supports millions of workers worldwide. The tobacco industry, which is a major source of government revenues, will do their best to protect their interests.
US Laws
In the US, stringent laws banning cigarette smoking in indoor public areas are put into effect. In California, three cities ? Calabasas, Burbank, and Santa Monica are regulating non-smoking and smoking areas outdoors. This is to protect residents and tourists from secondhand smoke, which has contributed to several health issues.
In the enclosed workplace, smoking is banned. The law requires employers to designate smoking and non-smoking areas. The smoking and non-smoking signs should be prominently displayed and should be strictly enforced. Violation of the law will cost employers stiff fines.
As laws are enacted, public support is necessary to air the facts about smoking that can help the public, especially the youth, to understand the health implications of smoking cigarettes and secondhand smoke. Schools are enlisting to support non-smoking campaigns on the campus.
In Florida, USA the state will be spending $55 million to prevent teenage smoking. The strategy is to stop nicotine addiction before it starts. It can be recalled that Florida was one of the first American states to win a lawsuit against tobacco companies for misleading the public about the dangers of smoking amid warnings and facts about smoking.
Why Cigarette Smoking Should Be Banned
Smoking is a vicious habit that should be nipped in the bud before it can start. It causes a host of deadly heart and lung conditions and affects non-smokers through secondhand smoke. There are better and less known facts about smoking but the strongest argument for quitting the lethal tobacco is the early grave and the overwhelming medical expenses for cancer treatments.
Tobacco companies are targeting the youth with candy flavored cigarettes and slick packaging. Addiction can start with the first puff and continue for a lifetime with dire results. The best time to quit the habit is to nip it before it can even start.
Tobacco Backlash
Smoking kills. This is a fact, and there are emerging issues about it. Desperate tobacco companies are taking up arms against anti-smoking campaigns. According to them, loss of revenues will also affect millions of workers worldwide. Other negative developments are cigarette smuggling and dumping the tobacco products in third world countries. But should these be considered in the light of the dangers smoking exposes to the public?
Smokers are also up in arms about the violation of their right to smoke, but efforts continue to educate the public on facts about smoking ? in schools, in the internet, print media, and other forms of interactive media. The debate reasons that if smokers have the right to smoke and kill themselves, they should not include the unsuspecting public.
Both Wayne Cooper & Rory Herts are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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