Week 6 Flashcards
What are the different forms of smoking?
cigarette, cigar, pipe
- burned or inhaled
snuff
- inhaled, chewed, absorbed
chewing tobacco
- chewed, absorbed
What are the trends in smoking between males and females?
males smoke more than females
males: mostly light smoking, not as much of a spread between light, moderate, and heavy
females: vast majority light smokers. less moderate and heavy
Why have smoking rates declined?
restrictions smoking both indoors and outdoors
taxation
less socially acceptable
What percentage of smokers start before the age of 16? What are the effects of this?
85% start before 16
younger age -> increased difficulty quitting
What are the main risk factors for smoking among 15-17 year olds?
males
lower income
someone in the home regularly smokes
What is in a cigarette?
primary dried tobacco leaves, but also 4000+ other harmful chemicals (tar, cyanide, DTT, formaldehyde)
What is tar’s role in cigarettes?
formed from burning tobacco
sticky, brown residue that can stain teeth, fingers, clothes
can remain in your lungs and cause damage to cells
main cause for lung and throat cancer
What is carbon monoxide’s role in cigarettes?
replaces oxygen in RBC - binds more easily to O2 than to hemoglobin
increases HR and stresses the CV system
- contributes to CV problems
What is nicotine’s role in ciagrettes?
found naturally in tobacco leaves
addictive component in a cigarette (can be as addictive as cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and sugar)
both a stimulant and depressant
takes 10 seconds to reach the brain (very fast)
- increases HR and breathing
- relaxes dopamine
- relaxes muscles
How does nicotine addiction develop?
dopamine -> feelings of pleasure and calmness
nicotine (and therefore dopamine) levels decrease between cigarettes
- withdrawal symptoms and cravings
- symptoms may start within hours depending on addiction level
with continued use, brain becomes desensitized -> smokers develop a tolerance and increase smoking to get the same effects
What are the 2 main types of smokers?
daily/regular
- 10+ per day
- smoke in a variety of situations
- experience cravings
- may experience early signs of health effects
- believe they can quit anytime, until they try
occasional, social, or light smokers
- light = less than 10 cigarettes/day
- social/occasional = typically only smoke in social situations
- more common among students (college > university)
- STILL RISKY
What are some characteristics of the social smoking group?
dont fulfill criteria for tobacco dependence, not threatened by health-related warnings
strongly influenced by social situations
often don’t relate to ideas of quitting, may not self-identify as smokers
pretty common in students
tend to move into light/moderate/heavy smoking groups
What are commonly reported pros of smoking?
decreases boredom improves concentration controls appetite reduces stress, tension, anger, frustration, etc. facilitates social interaction boosts energy
What are commonly reported cons of smoking?
smell of breath and clothes shortness of breath social/societal pressure stains teeth, fingers, etc. premature aging and wrinkling impaired fertility and impotence
Why don’t smokers want to quit?
they like it fear of weight gain when quitting don't want withdrawal symptoms change in their routine losing friends who smoke, loss of enjoyment of smoking-related activities learning to handle stress differently
Why do smokers want to quit?
financial cost influence of family/friends fewer public places left to smoke improved health prevents premature aging of the skin improved health prevent premature aging of the skin
What are emotional and physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal?
emotional
- depression, anger, boredom, irritability, anxiety, frustration
physical
- cravings, cough, headaches, fatigue, hunger, lack of sleep, lack of focus
How can you manage withdrawal symptoms?
plan! drink lots of water use cessation aids (nicotine patch or gum) exercise spend time with non-smokers reminders for why quitting
How can you manage triggers to smoking?
remember urges to smoke are short-lived
avoid activities associated with smoking (i.e. drinking)
change routines (i.e. replace cigarette with gum/sucker)
keep busy
use relaxation techniques
don’t be around others when they smoke
plan how to deal with tempting situations
How can health professionals help with smoking cessation?
individual counselling assess appropriate cessation approaches assist in setting a quitting date give free nicotine gum write prescription for medications that assist in quitting
counselling + medication = increased quitting rate
What is COPD?
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
lungs obstructed or blocked, making it hard to breathe
80-90% of cases are from smoking
- other cases typically associated with some type of air pollution
develops over time, slow progression
- typically diagnosed in people over 40
