Weight Loss

Some Harmful Components of Cigarette Smoke

If you thought that nicotine is the only harmful component of cigarettes, you are sadly mistaken. There is a whole array of them present to harm your body. Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of compounds produced by the burning of tobacco and additives. Apart from the usual stimulant nicotine, cigarette smoke contains tar, which is made up of more than 4000 chemicals including around 60 known carcinogenic chemicals. Nearly all of them are deadly. Some are also the cause of lung & heart disease and emphysema. Some are known for their adverse effects on bones and skins. You might be surprised to find the names of some of the deadly chemicals in your cigarette smoke. Some of them are as follows: 

• Cyanide: It is a chemical compound that contains a cyano group.
• Benzene: also known as Benzol is an organic chemical compound that is a flammable and colorless liquid.
• Methanol (wood alcohol): is the simplest alcohol that is also known as methyl alcohol.
• Acetylene (the fuel used in welding torches): is an unsaturated chemical compound that is also the simplest alkyne hydrocarbon.
• Ammonia: is found everywhere in the environment but is very toxic in combination with certain elements.
• Formaldehyde: is a compound in the form of gas that has a very pungent smell. 

Cigarette smoke also contains some of the deadly and poisonous gases such as nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide which can be very harmful for a person’s health.

The above given list gives a clear picture that no threat dimension is left when it comes to the components of smoke. Anything and everything that is bad for health is a part of smoke. So, just beware when you light your next cigarette.

Don’t Expose Your Kid to Second Hand Smoke

When most smokers spend their free time puffing away little do they realize that they are not only endangering their own lives, but also those of other people who are also present in the vicinity.

The second hand cigarette smoke affects the health of non-smokers present in the same immediate environment as that used by a smoker. Some of the people around them include little children who may not be even aware of the dangers of inhaling cigarette smoke passively.

Cigarette smoke contains some of the most dangerous toxins known to man including nicotine. When children breathe in the same hazardous air that smokers exhale (mainstream smoke) or that from still burning cigarettes (sidestream smoke), they are subject to the same health dangers that active smokers are.

Health dangers from second hand smoke or what is known as passive cigarette smoke basically arise from cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Active smokers may tend to erroneously think that since they are the ones who are actively inhaling cigarette smoke, it would not affect the health of non-smokers in the same room.

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Tips For Those Ready To Quit Smoking

If you are a smoker, there will come a time when you will want to quit. The main reason for quitting is ultimately the long-term health of yourself, as well as those around you. There is also the added benefit of money saved from no longer feeding your habit. This may not seem like a big benefit at first, but over time, the savings can be HUGE.

Most people who have quit smoking will tell you that it is a very difficult step to take. In many cases, it can be one of the most difficult tasks someone may undertake in their lifetime. There are steps you can take though, that may help you in your quest to quit.

The first step in quitting is to establish a time to quit and stick to that date. If you know of someone who is also looking to quit, join forces with this person and quit at the same time. That way you can establish a support system between the two of you, which can make it a little easier to stay the course.

Before quitting try to establish where, when, and why you smoke. Look for patterns that lead you to smoke. Routines you engage in that involve your smoking. That way when you’re ready to quit you can try to avoid these routines to help eliminate the urge to smoke.

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