Indoor Air Pollution 355
Cigarette smoke
Smoking tobacco can cause many health problems for
the smoker and for other people exposed to the smoke.
Health problems from smoking include:
• serious lung diseases, such as lung cancer,
emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
• heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and
high blood pressure.
• cancer of the mouth, throat, neck and bladder.
Second-hand smoke is the mixture of smoke that comes
from cigarettes, pipes, and cigars, plus the smoke breathed out by the smoker.
Second-hand smoke makes smoking dangerous for everyone who lives with a
smoker, especially children. It causes the same health problems as does smoking.
To stop or help someone stop smoking
People who smoke become addicted to a drug in tobacco called nicotine.
Without a cigarette, they may feel sick or nervous. As every smoker knows, it is
difficult to stop smoking because nicotine is a very addictive drug.
Because tobacco companies market their products aggressively, many
people begin smoking at a young age and continue smoking because of the
addiction to nicotine. Cigarette companies say smoking is a personal choice,
not an addiction. This is not true. Understanding that smoking is a harmful
addiction and not a personal choice is the first step toward stopping.
Telling people “DO NOT SMOKE,” is rarely
successful in helping smokers to stop. Some ways
to help break the addiction and stop smoking
include:
• Practice deep breathing every time
you crave a cigarette.
She looks
so cool
when she
smokes!
But smoking
cigarettes
makes you sick.
What is so cool
about that?
• Exercise daily.
• Replace smoking with
a healthy habit such as
drinking a cup of tea or
walking.
• Drink plenty of water
to flush nicotine out of
the body.
• Ask for support from
friends and family.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012