Smoking is the inhalation of smoke from tobacco or other burning plant components.The most common is smoking cigarettes, many people replace them with electronic cigarettes, hookahs, which work on the same principle. Teenagers often smoke so-called "electronics" because they consider them a fad. Nicotine and other substances with psychoactive effects enter the body. Through the fine tissue of the alveoli, toxins are absorbed into the blood and travel through the bloodstream to the brain, causing relaxation.A slight state of euphoria occurs., which is what smokers are looking for.
Why addiction occurs
When smoking, nicotine, a pyridine alkaloid, enters the human body. It binds to the receptors of the nervous system and blocks the breakdown of dopamine, which accumulates in the brain, and the person feels euphoria and pleasure.There is an increase in the frequency and force of heart contractions, increased intestinal motility and salivation.When you stop smoking, dopamine levels will return to their previous levels, but dopamine receptors will perceive its amount distorted.
One cigarette contains between 0. 1 and 1 mg of nicotine and the lethal dose for a person is 0. 5 g. A few days of regular tobacco use are enough to cause addiction.Many teenagers start smoking, imitate adults and try to look older. , without realizing that they are already developing an addiction and, perhaps, for life.
Signs of addiction:
- headache during a long break from smoking;
- the desire to quickly smoke a cigarette in the morning;
- Decreased performance without a bad habit.
Harm of smoking
In addition to nicotine, cigarettes also contain dangerous chemicals and compounds.: arsenic, methane, toluene, carbon monoxide, cadmium, methanol and others. People consciously inhale the strongest carcinogens.
a smoking womanThe ovaries produce many defective eggs., making it more difficult for you to get pregnant, especially after age 30. During pregnancy, the risk of stillbirth increases by 23%, low fetal birth weight (less than 2. 5 kg) is 2 times more likely, and children with congenital malformations are born more often. To the girl who found out about her pregnancy,you need to stop smoking immediately: Every cigarette will negatively affect the health of the fetus. A woman who smokes increases the risk of her child developing bronchial asthma, mental retardation and dental problems.
But it is better, both for men and for non-pregnant women with a bad habit, to "quit it. "Resins are deposited in the alveoli and bronchial tree, which is a factor in the development of chronic bronchitis, COPD and lung cancer.Nicotine consumption causes osteoporosis due to increased removal of calcium from the body.The spread of carcinogens through blood throughout the body increases the risk of oncology of all organs and systems. Hot smoke and the removal of calcium are the cause of periodontitis and cavities. Smokers experience bad breath and a constant feeling of dry mouth. It has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system due to the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels.All of this is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.Your options: angina, heart attack.
Often at fun parties we combine smoking and alcohol, but the body is not having fun at all at that time. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and ethanol dilates them: the risk of rupture increases, which is especially dangerous in the brain. Bleeding in the brain affects its function. A stroke often results in death or disability.Therefore, after drinking alcohol, even after a glass of wine, you should not smoke.
Passive smoking is also harmful: often there is only one smoker in the family, but there are also others who suffer from harmful substances.Young children and pregnant women, who should not breathe tar at all, are especially vulnerable to tobacco smoke.
How to quit smoking
From all of the above, it is easy to conclude: it is necessary to stop smoking.Many people have probably tried it, but for some reason it didn't work for them and they came to the conclusion that it was impossible to quit smoking at home and that the problem had to be solved in another way. There is no time or money to see a doctor and undergo procedures, so they decide to continue "for now. "But this is completely wrong: you can and should quit smoking yourself and at home.
Those who have smoked for a short time will be able to do so quickly and without suffering, but those who have been living with an addiction for many years need more time and moral strength.When a smoker suddenly gives up his addiction, withdrawal syndrome occurs.: It is accompanied by irritation, headache and decreased performance.
How to quit smoking:
- The simplest and most common way is to simply quit smoking., show your willpower. It works and many people use it to quit smoking forever. It requires moral and physical effort, which is not always possible for the weak-willed.
- Nicotine patches are good advice for those who want to get rid of addiction at homewithout going to the doctor. The patch saves you when your hand reaches for the backpack, it helps you overcome this moment easily and without suffering and to face the addiction faster. But there's a catch: The patches also contain nicotine, so it will take time to stop using them.
- Aerosols containing nicotine.They work on the same principle as patches. They help you quit smoking quickly, but quitting also takes time.
- Nicotine gum.It has a very unpleasant taste, so some try to get rid of it faster and many return to addiction.
All of these methods, except quitting smoking completely, have their side effects.All nicotine-containing cigarette analogues contain nicotine in small doses.This is also harmful, although much less harmful than cigarettes.
The easiest way
But what to do if there is no willpower and smoking is no longer harmful, but simply dangerous? Type the query "how to quit smoking easily" into an internet search and select the appropriate audio recording from the long list. In a few hours it will motivate you so much that it will last you at least a week. The most important thing you will learn after the lectures is the feeling of joy of not smoking for an hour, two, a week. . . Each new day without tobacco will increase self-esteem and a sense of pride in oneself. . The motivation is so strong that it helps to cope with the physical ailments that accompany withdrawal.The more you smoke, the more unpleasant the sensation, but the joy of finally being ashamed of yourself and not smoking sometimes even acts as an anesthesia, drowning out bodily suffering.
Usually, when people quit smoking, they look at smokers with envy: "they feel good, but I. . . ". After the lectures, you will look at them with pity: "unfortunate, he still smokes. "
The main thing when smoking is not physical dependence, but psychological., that's what pushes you to seditious thoughts: "take a puff", "it starts on Monday", "everyone smokes and nothing". Each smoker can continue the list of excuses himself.
Once the impact of audio lectures wears off, listen to them again. The most difficult thing is to get through the first week, when not only do you feel a lot of pain, but your health also worsens. Then every day will be easier., and knowing that it has finally happened will give you strength and energy.
When the urge to smoke arises, respond to your body with physical activity. On the advice of a doctor who treats without drugs: "I wanted to smoke, I fell and did push-ups. "
Tips for motivation:
- the best time to start is todaywithout trying to convince you to do it tomorrow or in a week;
- tell your friends and family. This way, you will embarrass yourself in front of them if you decide to lose your temper. Perhaps one of your family members accepts the refusal together with you, but together it is always easier;
- Remove all packages, ashtrays and lighters from sight.and everything that makes you think of cigarettes;
- start counting:Multiply the price of a package by its quantity per week and find out how much money is spent on systematic self-poisoning. You can start saving them and promise to buy yourself something that you have wanted for a long time, but that you cannot afford;
- practice sports- good exercise causes a physiological lack of oxygen and you want to smoke less; Plus, you'll have a new hobby.
The most difficult thing is to overcome those 5-10 minutes in which an irresistible desire to smoke arises. To do this you can:
- distract yourself, do something interesting;
- to meditate;
- do a small series of exercises;
- chews gum;
- brushing teeth;
- taking a shower.
The idea of devouring the urge to smoke is not very correct: you can quit smoking this way, but you will develop the habit of overeating.Therefore, it is better not to replace the desire to smoke with another habit., unless it is useful.
Replacing strong cigarettes with lighter ones also does not work: unconsciously, due to the lack of nicotine in the body, a person begins to take deeper drags or begins to visit smoking areas more often.Dependency persists and sometimes intensifies.
In any case, the suffering of health problems associated with smoking is much greater than that of being addicted to the habit.It is necessary to hold out for a certain moment, give the dopamine receptors the opportunity to react normally to the amount of dopamine available and everything will return to normal. But, of course, it is better not to start and set a bad example for your children.