Words of Wellness: Time to kick some butt(s)
Jen Diprete, Staff Columnist
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Opinion
The American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout was Thursday, November 19. Colleges Against Cancer along with Health Services provided awareness programming on Wednesday, November 18. Research indicates that quitting a tobacco habit is as difficult as quitting a heroin addiction. That in itself speaks volumes.
I speak with many students who are fearful of quitting cigarettes anticipating unwelcomed weight gain. The average former smoker may put on an initial 5 lbs, but that can be quickly burned with a sound exercise plan! While it may be more culturally acceptable in many parts of the world to use tobacco products, from a health and well being standpoint, there are far more negatives that outweigh the positives.
During the spring of 2004, the Surgeon General released a report indicating that, "cigarette smoking significantly harms almost every major organ of the body." It is hands-down, the worst habit that anyone can pick up.
Most major illnesses list tobacco use as a major contributing factor. Here are some to name a few: heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and autoimmune illnesses.
Many women who have been smokers find it hard to conceive a baby once they reach a point in their life when they are ready to become pregnant. Women also shouldn't smoke if they are on birth control. Individuals with asthma will find that smoking restricts breathing and may incite or exacerbate an asthma attack.
As a result of the Surgeon General's Report, the list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, periodontitis, and stomach cancer. I don't know about you, but that is one list I want to be sure I stay off of!
Here are some examples of how smoking impacts the human body:
The brain - Arteries leading from the heart and lungs carry oxygen and other chemicals to the brain. Smoking a cigarette sends chemicals to the brain, changing its chemistry and affecting a smoker's mood. Nicotine reaches the brain ten seconds after smoke is inhaled.
I speak with many students who are fearful of quitting cigarettes anticipating unwelcomed weight gain. The average former smoker may put on an initial 5 lbs, but that can be quickly burned with a sound exercise plan! While it may be more culturally acceptable in many parts of the world to use tobacco products, from a health and well being standpoint, there are far more negatives that outweigh the positives.
During the spring of 2004, the Surgeon General released a report indicating that, "cigarette smoking significantly harms almost every major organ of the body." It is hands-down, the worst habit that anyone can pick up.
Most major illnesses list tobacco use as a major contributing factor. Here are some to name a few: heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and autoimmune illnesses.
Many women who have been smokers find it hard to conceive a baby once they reach a point in their life when they are ready to become pregnant. Women also shouldn't smoke if they are on birth control. Individuals with asthma will find that smoking restricts breathing and may incite or exacerbate an asthma attack.
As a result of the Surgeon General's Report, the list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, periodontitis, and stomach cancer. I don't know about you, but that is one list I want to be sure I stay off of!
Here are some examples of how smoking impacts the human body:
The brain - Arteries leading from the heart and lungs carry oxygen and other chemicals to the brain. Smoking a cigarette sends chemicals to the brain, changing its chemistry and affecting a smoker's mood. Nicotine reaches the brain ten seconds after smoke is inhaled.
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