8/21/2014 Diagnostic Assignment Is smoking really all that bad for adolescents? Some say that it does not affect the teenagers because they will stop before they are 20, however, that is not the case. Once you start smoking it is almost impossible to stop and you have already infested your lungs with the puffs of smoke. The moment the tobacco enters your lungs you are putting your health in danger. Lung cancer, bronchitis, and heart diseases are all effects of smoking tobacco.
Although legalization activists and marijuana supporters believe that hemp is completely safe, scientific research shows that marijuana can cause health problems. When marijuana is smoked it instantly affects the body, and last approximately one to three hours. When consumed in food, it takes more time to affect the body. Short term effects cause distorted perception (sight, touch, sound and time), problems with memory and learning, loss of coordination, trouble solving problems, anxiety, fear, and panic. The long term affects causes the heart to beat 20 to 50 beats per minute.
Long-term cigarette smoking is the most common risk factor for COPD. Also pipe smokers, cigar smokers (especially when inhaled) and people exposed to large amounts of secondhand smoke are at risk. Long-term exposure to chemical fumes, vapors and dusts often found in the work field can also irritate and damage your lungs. With the exception of a rare genetic disorder known as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, COPD is 100% preventable by not smoking and taking proper precautions in regards to inhalation of lung irritants. All of the preventable risks factors listed are irritants that damage the lungs over a period of years.
Stress also increases the heart rate and can lead to the increase of blood pressure, thus Hypertension and can lead to Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). Although this disease can be caused by the indirect effects. Indirect effects of stress are associated with the bad habits that stress causes us to take part in, these included smoking, poor diet and alcohol abuse. These poor habits can thus lead to ill-effects on one’s health. These issues are more related to chronic stress rather than acute stress and it occurs for a long period, thus affecting health for a longer period.
While I was on active duty I smoked. The asbestos could have mixed with the smoke that I was inhaling which would greatly increase my risk for developing lung cancer (Workplace Advantage,
Much like cigarette smoke, this will also increase dangers to secondhand smokers. This implies that all the above problems will be experienced by a greater number of people and this will just be breeding a sick society. Medical professionals find it troubling that parents who deliver a "don't smoke cigarettes" speech to their children do not realize the toxic properties of carcinogens in marijuana. New Zealand researchers found that smoking one joint is equivalent to 20 cigarettes in terms of lung cancer. The European Respiratory Journal revealed, "In the near future we may see an 'epidemic' of lung cancers connected with this new carcinogen.
This is because chronic exposure to the nicotine eventually results in a chronic stress situation for the addict, characterised by withdrawal symptoms. This is effective at explaining why the smoking is maintained because as the withdrawal symptoms affect the user so negatively if the substance is stopped, the addiction is maintained to avoid this negative experience. Similarly the explanation is also as effective at explaining why the addicts relapse after giving up smoking. This is because as the withdrawal symptoms are so hard to resist and lead to such a negative experience, the user eventually takes the substance again to feel better. Also as the user’s brain is expecting a pleasurable experience from the addiction, it creates difficult to resist cues that the addict finds hard to
There currently is no cure for COPD however, treatment and lifestyle changes can help patients to feel better and slow down the advancement of the disease. The leading causes of COPD are smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, and chemicals. People who suffer from COPD have blocked tubes that carry air back and forth from the lungs. Side effects caused by the disease include coughing that causes large amounts of phlegm, wheezing, shortness of breath, frequent respiratory infections, and chest tightness (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute,
It cost families more money because of medication and the unexpected visits to the emergency room, hospitalization, or doctor office to see a specialist. The medical cost for asthma can contribute to unexpected medical cost, and can put a family at financial risk. Asthma can have a great impact on someone social life as well by limiting them to exercise or physical activities. The developing of asthma is on the rise, and more people are developing asthma, whether it is due to hereditary, environmental factors, allergens, and the use of tobacco products, exercise or pollutant that may have occurred while in the workplace. The demand for medications and physicians will increase due to the rising of asthma.
Smoking has also be found to effect fertility and the risk of stillbirth. The smoking of tobacco also causes cancer; organs such as the bladder, pancreas, stomach and many more have been shown to develop cancer in smokers. Those against the banning of tobacco, however, argue that tobacco also comes with its health benefits. Smoking has for years been glamourized as a weight-loss tool; indeed lowering the likelihood of obesity, tobacco suppresses appetite. The nicotine found in tobacco was found to decrease appetite by affecting the hypothalamus.