Why does a person smoke? The body of a smoker. Happy people don't smoke or how to quit smoking forever Quit once and for all

The number of smokers has exceeded 1.3 billion people and continues to grow. And this despite the fact that almost 5 million people die from smoking every year. No war or epidemic can cause such damage to humanity as a cigarette. But people persist in paying millions of dollars for something that is killing them.

Nobody enjoys their first cigarette. After smoking, unpleasant sensations appear: dizziness, nausea, cough. But if for some reason a person decides to continue smoking, then the body gets used to nicotine and other components of tobacco smoke. During the first months, smoking can cause mild euphoria, mobilize internal resources, or, conversely, calm you down. But over time, these sensations disappear. Nicotine, although it is a poison (toxin) in nature, is included in the metabolism. Simply put, the body gets used to the fact that this substance is constantly in the blood. When its concentration decreases, the nervous system signals that it is time to replenish reserves. Then the desire to smoke another cigarette arises. Most often, it takes 1 year from the first cigarette to the formation of nicotine addiction or tobacco addiction.

How does smoking affect the human body?

How do harmful substances enter the body?

When you take a drag, the temperature at the tip of the cigarette reaches 800 degrees. Under such conditions, dry distillation of tobacco occurs. This means that the inhaled air, passing through a layer of heated tobacco, carries with it volatile substances and tiny solid particles. They enter the mouth, trachea, bronchi and the alveoli of the lungs with the air flow. Due to the fact that tobacco smoke is an aerosol of small particles, they quickly reach the most remote areas of the respiratory system. Through the wall of the alveoli, penetrated by blood vessels, harmful substances easily penetrate the blood and spread throughout the body. So, 8 seconds after the first puff, the brain already feels the effect of nicotine.

What are the harms of smoking?

Development of caries. The flow of hot air with resin particles damages tooth enamel. It turns yellow and becomes covered with microcracks. Gradually, the cracks increase in size and bacteria and acids penetrate into them, destroying the deeper layers of the tooth and causing caries. This leads to the fact that 45% of smokers over 65 years of age are missing teeth. Among non-smokers this figure is 2 times lower.

Inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. Tobacco smoke, saturated with caustic particles, irritates the mucous membrane of the mouth, larynx, trachea and bronchi, causing its atrophy. It becomes thin and performs its protective functions worse. The villous epithelium, which is supposed to remove foreign particles and microorganisms, does not cope with its task. The lungs become clogged, creating favorable conditions for bacteria to multiply. Therefore, smokers often suffer from bronchitis and pneumonia. Thus, 90% of people who have smoked for more than 7 years suffer from “smoker’s bronchitis.”

Chronic pulmonary emphysema. Tobacco tar is deposited in the small bronchi and alveoli of the lungs. This substance leads to cell destruction. Small bronchioles collapse and when you exhale, the pressure in the lungs increases sharply. The walls of the alveoli become thinner and collapse, leading to the formation of cavities. The lung tissue ceases to be elastic and stretches, which leads to an increase in the volume of the chest. Gas exchange in the lungs is disrupted. They do not sufficiently enrich the blood with oxygen, and the body experiences oxygen starvation. According to statistics, 9 out of 10 people with emphysema are smokers. The disease develops over 10-15 years if you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.

Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. Smoking reduces the production of saliva, which partially neutralizes the effect of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Tobacco smoke causes the secretion of digestive juices in the stomach and small intestine, even when there is no food there. Active substances corrode the mucous membrane of the digestive organs, leading to the appearance of erosions. These minor injuries do not heal, but turn into ulcers due to deterioration of blood supply and decreased immunity. Therefore, gastric ulcers occur 2 times more often in smokers than in their peers.

Poisoning of the nervous system. Nicotine is a poison that has a toxic effect on the nervous system. This toxin affects the nervous system: the brain and the cells of the intermediate nerve ganglia, which control the functioning of internal organs. Nicotine disrupts the passage of nerve impulses from the brain to organs and muscles. This leads to a decrease in all types of sensitivity. Smokers do not sense taste and aroma as clearly, their sense of touch is impaired, and they often experience chills. Violation of nervous regulation leads to digestive disorders: constipation and painful intestinal spasms.

Stroke. In smokers, the risk of ischemic stroke (associated with poor circulation) increases by 2 times. This is the result of a sharp narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain or blockage of one of them by a blood clot. Weakness of blood vessels and a short-term increase in blood pressure during smoking cause a rupture of a vessel, accompanied by hemorrhage in the brain - hemorrhagic stroke. It occurs 4 times more often in people who smoke than in their peers.

Cancerous tumors. Carcinogenic components of tobacco smoke penetrate the blood and spread throughout the body. They damage the DNA of cells. Such cells with altered genetic material become the basis of a cancer tumor. Suppression of the immune system leads to the body producing insufficient killer cells. Their task is to recognize and destroy mutated cells. In smokers, this mechanism of protection against cancer is impaired, and they often become victims of cancer. So 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Cancer often affects other organs: lips, larynx, esophagus, stomach, liver, kidneys, prostate, rectum, pancreas and thyroid glands.

Osteoporosis. Tobacco toxins stimulate the production of two proteins that are responsible for leaching calcium from bones. These substances activate osteoclast cells, which are responsible for the destruction of old bone tissue. Therefore, in smokers, bones are destroyed faster than they are restored.

Vascular dysfunction. Under the influence of tobacco combustion products, the walls of blood vessels become dense, insufficiently elastic, brittle and covered with cracks. The content of cholesterol in the blood increases, which is deposited on the walls in the form of atherosclerotic plaques. They narrow the lumen of the vessel. The likelihood of a blood clot and inflammation of the vein wall around it increases. The rupture of a blood clot can cause sudden death. The narrowing of the coronary vessels that supply the heart causes the development of coronary heart disease and heart attack.

Obliterating endarteritis. In smokers, blood flow in the extremities is reduced by 35-40%. The reason lies in chronic vasospasm and the deposition of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels. In addition, disruption of the conduction of nerve impulses leads to a decrease in sensitivity. The disease begins with rapid fatigue and intermittent claudication. Later, deprived of blood supply and innervation, the tissues die and gangrene begins.

Slow wound healing. Poor blood circulation and decreased metabolism lead to the fact that skin cells do not divide actively enough. As a result, wound healing occurs more slowly. It has been noticed that smokers have a 50% greater width of the scar formed at the site of surgical sutures.

Blurred vision and tearing caused by the irritating effects of tobacco smoke and optic nerve atrophy. With increased sensitivity, smokers may experience swelling of the eyelids. Constriction of the vessels of the eyeball disrupts the functions of the retina, leading to the death of its cells, which negatively affects visual acuity.

Sexual problems. Premature ejaculation, decreased potency, deterioration in sperm quality - these problems are associated with impaired blood supply to the genital organs. Due to vasoconstriction and damage to the arteries, blood flow to the penis is impaired, which reduces the quality of erection. The sperm of smokers are not motile enough and are less capable of fertilization, as they have been exposed to nicotine and other substances. If the fusion of the egg and the sperm damaged by nicotine does occur, then the fetus is less likely to attach to the wall of the uterus.

What are the social and psychological reasons for smoking?

Sociologists conducted research to identify the social and psychological reasons for smoking. Young people were asked “Why did you start smoking?” Opinions were divided approximately this way.

Curiosity 40%. The thought periodically arises in the minds of most non-smokers: “What kind of pleasure does a smoking person get, what sensations does he get?”
Desire to join the company - 20%. A person is driven by the fear of becoming an outcast in a smoking company. This applies to both groups of teenagers and adults who have joined a new team. It seems that the most important issues are resolved in the smoking room. And whoever does not smoke remains outside of public life.
Peer pressure - 8%. Peers who smoke often encourage them to “try it” and ridicule those who do not smoke.
Stress relief - 6%. The life of teenagers is full of stress, internal conflicts and quarrels with others. Their nervous system is not yet stable and young people resort to smoking to relax.

Psychologists who study nicotine addiction identify a number of other socio-psychological reasons.

1. Self-affirmation in the eyes of peers, the desire to become cooler.
2. The desire to be an adult. Prove your “maturity” to yourself and others.
3. Extra fun. They start smoking in a comfortable situation: on vacation with friends, drinking alcoholic beverages.
4. Nothing to do with myself. Smoking helps pass the time and replaces computer games.
5. Make an impression and meet expectations. To create a tough guy image, young people have to smoke.
6. According to Freud, smoking is a consequence of “oral fixation.” Up to a year, all pleasant moments are associated with sucking. If for some reason you deprive him of a child, then psychological trauma remains for life and oral fixation occurs. An adult who has experienced such a situation continues to suck a pen, bite his nails or smoke.
7. The pleasure of the process, playing with a cigarette, the opportunity to purchase beautiful accessories: ashtrays, lighters, releasing smoke in rings.
8. Increased concentration and performance. The first 15-20 minutes after smoking a cigarette, the brain works more productively. Some use this effect to improve performance.
9. Conditioned reflex. For some, taking a break from work, drinking alcohol, or drinking coffee may be associated with smoking. A person reaches for a cigarette only in these situations.
10. Fear of gaining weight. Smoking activates metabolism. Therefore, people who try to lose excess weight at any cost resort, among other things, to smoking.
11. Lack of awareness about the dangers of smoking. So most young women do not know how dangerous smoking is for their future offspring.
12. Heredity. There is a theory that if a mother smoked during pregnancy, then her child, as he matures, will be prone to smoking, as he constantly experiences a lack of nicotine.

Smoking ban law

• protect non-smoking citizens from the effects of passive smoking;
• protect young people from the temptation to join the ranks of smokers;
• help those who already smoke to get rid of the bad habit.

What methods are used to combat smoking, according to the law?

• Ban on smoking in public places, which came into force on June 1, 2014. Smoking is prohibited in workplaces, in areas where teaching, treatment and various services are provided. The ban applies to trains, platforms, stations, airports, restaurants, clubs, beaches, playgrounds, stairwells of apartment buildings, and places of trade. Smoking a cigarette is allowed only in specially designated areas or rooms equipped with ventilation. Although such restrictions caused a storm of indignation among the smoking part of the population, they still helped to significantly reduce the number of cigarettes smoked.
• Rising prices for cigarettes. Minimum prices for cigarettes have been established and excise taxes on tobacco products have increased. The government believes that a standard pack of cigarettes should cost at least 55 rubles in order for the demand for them to decrease significantly.
• Marking on a pack of cigarettes. Each pack must contain truthful information about the content of nicotine and other harmful substances, as well as one of the warning labels about the dangers of smoking. They are placed on the front side and occupy 50% of the area. The inscription on the back of the pack must occupy at least 30%.
• Information fight against smoking. Education should be carried out in the family, at school and at work, as well as in the media. The goal is to teach people to take care of their health and provide comprehensive information about the dangers of smoking.
• Ban on tobacco advertising. Commercials and promotions aimed at promoting smoking or any brand of tobacco products are prohibited. Smoking is prohibited in films and programs for children. But in programs for adult audiences, smoking scenes should be accompanied by captions with anti-advertising.
• Medical assistance aimed at combating nicotine addiction. Doctors are required to diagnose smokers with psychological and physical dependence on nicotine. It is the duty of the health worker to explain to the person what risks he is exposed to and help him get rid of the bad habit.
• Restriction of trade in tobacco products and prohibition of illicit trade. Tobacco products can now only be sold in stores or trade pavilions. It is prohibited to place packs of cigarettes on display. Instead, there should be an alphabetical list indicating prices, but without product logos or other advertising elements. It is prohibited to sell cigarettes one hundred meters from educational institutions. Trading is prohibited at train stations, service enterprises, in premises occupied by authorities and organizations working with youth.
• Protecting children from tobacco use. It is prohibited to sell cigarettes to minors. Therefore, the seller has the right to demand a passport to ensure that he is not committing a crime.

How to quit smoking?

E-Sigs

• light indicator – imitates the fire of a cigarette;
• battery that powers the cigarette;
• steam generator - a spraying device that creates steam;
• a replaceable cartridge that contains a liquid that determines the taste of the vapor. One cartridge replaces a pack of regular cigarettes.

When you take a puff, air flows through the steam generator and produces aromatic vapor made up of tiny particles of smoking liquid. Its advantage over a regular cigarette is the absence of tobacco combustion products: tars, carcinogens. In addition, those around you do not suffer from tobacco smoke.

Electronic cigarettes are considered by some to help people quit smoking. It can help reduce physical dependence on nicotine. In the initial stages, e-cigarette liquid with a high nicotine content is used. After some time, it is replaced with another liquid with a lower nicotine content. Thus, they are gradually switching to nicotine-free filler.

Negative aspects of electronic cigarettes

Experts say that these devices are no less harmful than traditional tobacco products. It is possible that they are much more dangerous than expected.

Facts about the dangers of electronic cigarettes:

To create liquids, synthetic components and flavors are used that penetrate deep into the lungs. Regular inhalation of such substances can lead to bronchial asthma and other undesirable consequences.

It has been proven that vapor contains glycerin and its esters, propylene glycol, combustion products of flavorings and substances emitted by the materials from which the cigarette is made. These components are harmful to health, they have a toxic effect on the body and cause kidney pathologies.

Smoking is a bad example for children. They don't care what their parents smoke. Therefore, there is a high risk that children will become addicted to this bad habit.

WHO experts propose banning the use of electronic cigarettes until serious clinical trials are carried out and a law regulating their production is finalized.

In Russia, from June 1, 2013, the sale of electronic cigarettes is prohibited in accordance with the smoking ban law. These devices fit the description of “imitation tobacco products” and are therefore subject to the ban.

Medicines to help you quit smoking

Psychological help to quit smoking

Think about which of the consequences of smoking scare you most. There are a lot of them:

• Gangrene and leg amputation;
• Cancerous tumors;
• Lung decomposition;
• Sudden death due to stroke or heart attack;
• Asthma and bronchitis in children who become victims of passive smoking.

Don't look for signs of withdrawal symptoms. Studies have shown that the likelihood of developing withdrawal syndrome is not that high. If you nevertheless notice that your memory has deteriorated and it has become more difficult to concentrate, then take tincture of ginseng or eleutherococcus. These natural stimulants, no worse than nicotine, activate the nervous system and metabolic processes, and in addition will help to quickly cleanse the body of toxins.

Who can help in the fight against nicotine addiction?

For individual or group psychotherapy, you can contact a drug treatment clinic or a psychologist who specializes in addiction recovery. Statistics say that psychotherapeutic assistance increases the chances of success by 1.5 times.

Get help from a psychotherapist for free possible in state and municipal medical institutions. A prerequisite is a referral from your attending physician from the clinic. In addition, free consultations are available at rehabilitation centers.

Paid consultations can be obtained from public medical institutions without a referral. And also in non-state psychiatric and psychoneurological institutions and with a private practicing psychotherapist.

Many effective psychological techniques have been developed to help people quit smoking.

1. Methodology of Vladimir Zhdanov

   The technique is known as “Four Stinking Breaths.” Its goal is to cause a lasting aversion to smoking. To do this, you need to taste the tobacco smoke and chew it.

   When you want to smoke, do not inhale the smoke into your lungs, but hold it in your mouth. Throw back your head, close your nose, and chew the smoke intensively with your mouth closed. After 20 seconds, a nasty taste will appear in your mouth. Continue chewing for another 10 seconds and then push the smoke into your lungs. Unpleasant sensations and the urge to cough will appear - this is due to the activation of receptors that are designed to protect you from tobacco smoke. To consolidate the result, take 2 more puffs of “chewed” smoke.

   Fourth inhale – inhale with full lungs. After this, cough out the smoke, tensing your abdominal muscles. Then write down on the packet the date and time you took 4 stinky breaths. After this you can't smoke. If the desire to inhale becomes irresistible, then repeat the technique of chewing smoke.

   Video lectures by Professor Zhdanov help strengthen motivation. They act in two directions: they clearly demonstrate the harm from smoking and create the necessary psychological mood.

2. Allen Carr "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking"

   The technique was developed more than 30 years ago. Statistics say that every year it helps 1 million people quit smoking. The purpose of the technique is to help a person quit smoking without exerting willpower, drugs or other aids.

   The essence of the technique is outlined in the book of the same name. This method can be briefly described in 2 points.

   1. Make a firm, conscious decision that you will never smoke again.
   2. Enjoy your new life and don't get depressed.
   The book shows in a very well-reasoned way why you should quit smoking and what benefits you get by making a choice in favor of a healthy lifestyle. This helps get rid of doubts and temptations to smoke the “last cigarette.”
   
3. Smoking code

   This method is based on hypnotic suggestion and bio-electrical influence on the subconscious. Coding helps develop a conditioned reflex against smoking.

   The purpose of coding is to instill in a person an aversion to smoking. Coding is carried out by psychologists and psychotherapists. In some cases, priests and traditional healers use this method.

   You can only code a person who has already decided to quit smoking. In the event that he came following the persuasion of relatives, then the effect of coding will be short-lived. Another condition for successful coding is the qualifications of a specialist.

   Hypnosis and acupuncture help enhance the effect on the psyche. Some people use the placebo effect successfully. The patient is told that after he has taken a mega-effective drug, he will never have the desire to smoke again. And although the capsule may contain ordinary sugar under the guise of medicine, the idea that there is no longer any craving for tobacco is firmly rooted in the mind.

4. Neurolinguistic programming. Swing technique

   This technique is based on reprogramming the subconscious. Its goal is to create in the subconscious a vivid image of what you want to become. It is suitable for almost all people and helps to get rid of different types of addiction at the same time. NLP is used by psychologists, but you can get rid of bad habits yourself.

   The swing technique consists of five stages.

   Stage 1. Answer the questions.

   • Why do I smoke?
   • How does this change my life?
   • What benefits does smoking bring me?
   Stage 2. Determine the motive for quitting smoking.
   • What will I achieve by quitting smoking?
   • What benefits will it bring me if I quit smoking?
   Stage 3. Formation of a negative image of the “starting key”

   Imagine a not very pleasant picture associated with smoking. For example, a yellow bony hand holding a cigarette.

   Stage 4. Formation of a “positive image”

   Imagine a positive picture of yourself proudly telling your friends that you managed to overcome your addiction.

   Stage 5. Changing images.

   Imagine a negative image, and then replace it with a positive one. Take a short break and repeat the exercise. Gradually increase the pace of changing pictures. You can accompany them with a wave of your hand or a snap of your fingers. The positive image should become more and more vivid in your mind, and the negative one should dim until it completely disappears.

5. Acupuncture

   This anti-smoking technique was developed more than 40 years ago by Chinese neurosurgeon H.L. Venom. It is based on the fact that smoking is a conditioned reflex - the path that a nerve impulse travels in the brain. When nervous excitement once again passes along this path, the desire to smoke arises.

   The goal of acupuncture is to eradicate this reflex. By influencing reflex points on the auricle or wrist, the specialist interrupts the passage of impulses along the reflex path.

   The sessions should be conducted by an experienced reflexologist. Duration of sessions is 20-80 minutes. To obtain lasting results, some people need 2 sessions, while others need 10-20.

Remember that the only condition that will allow you to quit smoking once and for all is your firm and conscious desire to get rid of this bad habit. If you are determined to get rid of addiction, then success will definitely await you!

Smoking code

10 reasons to never quit smoking!

Painfully trying to write an article about how you need to see only the positive sides in everything, we sadly lit a cigarette and, with surprise, saw a lot of positive sides in this process. Have you quit smoking? Have you ever smoked? Then we are coming to you!

Smoking is the best form of procrastination!

Responsible people are ashamed to procrastinate while surfing social networks and updating their email. Responsible people understand that this is self-deception. But when it comes to smoking – what kind of self-deception is there? This is a vital necessity; after smoking, I will work much better: I will not be distracted by withdrawal symptoms, and nicotine will feed my brain with tasty treats (see point 4). Accordingly, a smoking employee procrastinates without tormenting his subconscious with a destructive, suppressed feeling of shame in front of his employer, as a result of which he is much more effective.

Smoking is a way to avoid unpleasant conversations

This is how it happens: your wife yells, your boss mocks you, your colleagues force you into a meeting for five hours. A non-smoker has no escape route. He is blocked in a tight cage of decency, which does not allow him to say: “You got me to the very spleen, so go a little lower than the place to which you got me.” A smoker always has a way out: “Excuse me, I’ll go out onto the balcony to smoke.” A cigarette is at least 5-10 minutes of freedom, and then it’s either a donkey or a padishah...

Smoking is good for your health

Nicotine kills thirty-six types of microbes, eight of them harmful. Under the influence of nicotine, old and weakened brain cells are the first to die. Tars deposited on the inner surface of the lungs when smoking impede air access to the alveoli, thereby forcing the body to beneficially increase blood flow in the lungs. Without smoking, a similar effect can be obtained only through intense sports or complex breathing exercises. And a smoker’s cough is a breathing exercise, as it is.

Smoking is good for the mind

Nicotine has a stimulating effect on the brain, improving memory and the quality of information processing. Recent evidence suggests that smokers have a 70% lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease than non-smokers. Similar data have been obtained regarding Alzheimer's disease - the rate of its development is slowed down by a byproduct of the breakdown of nicotine: nornicotine. In addition, it was found that nicotine compensates for defects in brain activity in schizophrenia. Just like that. And you: drop, horse...

Smoking is a great way to start a new relationship

Our society is traditionally wary of girls who approach a stranger with questions about what he is doing tonight and whether his mother needs a daughter-in-law. And the innate girlish shyness, even without any company, prevents us from approaching a handsome guy in a bar and immediately taking off his panties. In general, you can only meet a good person through a miracle. It’s much easier for smokers - did you see Russell Crowe standing on the street and smoking? She asked for a cigarette - and hurray, he was already taking off his underpants.

Smoking is a great way to get rid of intrusive guests

Smoking is a godsend for sociopaths. Since smoking has ceased to be fashionable for several years now, the number of people smoking has dropped dramatically. And few people are as intolerant of the smell of tobacco smoke as former smokers. And this is wonderful, wonderful! All desires to swoop in at your place at night, drink your vodka and eat your sausage are easily stopped with a careless phrase: “Oh, but I’m smoky.” Yes, yes, you can hang an ax. And that’s it – sit alone, watch your porn without interruption.

Smoking trains willpower

You can quit smoking up to twelve times a year. To suffer, start again, overcome yourself and quit again. This is the best willpower trainer ever invented by mankind. The entertainment “I’m going on a diet” has a similar effect, but if you’re thin, all that’s left is smoking.

Smoking takes us back to childhood

Which reflex is responsible, in particular, for smoking? Bingo! Sucking reflex. We are little again, we are again on our mother’s breast, we feel peace and security. If you take away a smoker’s cigarettes and then give them back a few hours later, you can be sure that he will cling to the pack like a parent’s skirt. And in his muffled groan one can discern the text: “Mommy, my mommy.”

Smoking is a social responsibility

Let's count how many people our smoking gives jobs? These are tobacco pickers, factory workers, sales people, and that lady from the kiosk near the metro. If people didn’t smoke, the auntie would have stayed on the street, gone downhill, sold her body for organs and died. That is, you are, in fact, Batman.

Smoking is a way to die much earlier than others

And while they are all running around with their mortgages, indifferent grandchildren and a cruel world, in general, you are already either happy (heaven), or having fun (hell), or deeply (very deeply) indifferent.

Text: Alexandra Smilyanskaya
Photo: Shutterstock

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The number of people who smoke on the planet has long been in the six figures. Despite the fact that most of them are aware of the harmfulness of this habit, not everyone has the determination to say goodbye to cigarettes once and for all. The answers to this question can be very diverse. Nevertheless, we can try to identify the main reasons why people become addicted to smoking.

Fashion and the desire to look older

This applies to a greater extent to children and adolescents. Explaining why a person smokes at such a young age is not very difficult: among his peers, the smoker is considered fashionable and cool. In addition, with the help of a pack of cigarettes, teenagers want to emphasize their independence and want to look older among friends.

The high pace of events in life and the inability to cope with workload is another answer to the question: “Why do people smoke?” The reasons are individual for everyone, but instead of changing their life, a person prefers to trust the myth that a cigarette calms and relaxes, and buys his first pack at a tobacco kiosk. In fact, psychologists have managed to conduct a lot of research on this topic, as a result of which it has been proven that eliminating anxiety is just an effect of self-hypnosis. Nevertheless, many people believe in this myth, which is one of the most common reasons explaining why people start smoking at an older age. Moreover, there is even a list of professions that contribute to the formation of this harmful habit. Lawyers, judges and attorneys, as well as law enforcement officials, are among the first at risk.

The need to belong to a reference group

The desire to spend time in company and communicate with like-minded people is another reason explaining why a person smokes. Each of us has a herd mentality in our genes. Usually we try to be like everyone else, without standing out too much from our surroundings. If, in the company of a non-smoking person, all the acquaintances often smoke cigarettes, then sooner or later he will also want to try what it is. At first, such people do not take tobacco smoke seriously and consider it an indulgence, but very little time passes, and they are already afraid to admit to themselves how much they are addicted to it.

Direct and indirect propaganda in the media

It is impossible to ignore smoking advertisements, which are so often broadcast on radio and television. If during a short video the inscription about something else somehow resists the desire to try to take a drag once or twice, then our legislators are not able to prevent the indirect promotion of tobacco smoking, which slips in every now and then in films and songs. Very often in films, the main character or heroine demonstrates how cool and beautiful a smoking cigarette looks in his hand. Should we then be surprised and wonder why a person smokes? The answer is obvious.

Social television advertising and educational materials could change the current state of affairs, but so far the efforts of public organizations are clearly insufficient, and the governments of developing countries, unfortunately, prefer to make money from excise taxes, fines and taxes instead of seriously concerned about the health of their citizens.

How easy it is to quit smoking and not gain weight. Unique author's technique Vladimir Ivanovich Mirkin

Why does a person smoke? Benefits of Quitting Smoking

To smoke or not to smoke? This question sooner or later arises before every smoker, when he still wants to continue smoking, but is already beginning to feel the destructive effects of smoking. Or, conversely, when he wants to quit smoking, but cannot do it because he suffers from physical dependence on nicotine. As a result, a struggle of motives arises: for and against smoking. And the smoker’s further behavior depends on which of these motives dominates – whether he will continue smoking or quit.

Why, despite the obvious health hazards of smoking, does the smoker continue to smoke? Often the cause of this phenomenon may be an error in thinking, a misconception about the effects of nicotine on the human body. Here are some of the most common misconceptions that cause smokers to continue smoking:

Smoking improves performance, attentiveness, helps to concentrate, makes a person more alert and energetic;

Smoking expensive lightweight cigarettes is safe for human health;

Smoking reduces appetite and allows you to stay slim;

Smoking helps relieve stress and has a calming effect on the nervous system;

Smoking improves your mood and relaxes you in difficult situations;

Smoking makes it easier to communicate with friends, colleagues, etc. d.

As a rule, the appearance of these misconceptions in the minds of smokers is associated with the emergence of positive associations between smoking and various pleasant situations: meeting friends at a holiday table, chatting over a cup of coffee, drinking alcohol, intimate relationships, etc. In their erroneous ideas about smoking, they They completely forget about the most important thing - the destructive effect of nicotine on the human body. Smoking cannot improve a person’s performance in any way, since nicotine, at the beginning of its effect on the body, excites the nervous system and dilates blood vessels, and then, on the contrary, depresses the nervous system and narrows blood flow. The feeling of euphoria that occurs during smoking is not associated with the beneficial effects of nicotine on the human body, but with the temporary disappearance of withdrawal symptoms under the influence of smoking.

There is also a myth among smokers about the health safety of lightweight filter cigarettes, since a special filter retains a large number of different ingredients of tobacco smoke. However, nicotine and other chemicals still enter the human body with smoke and destroy it. In order to get the required dose of nicotine, the smoker is forced to compensate for the insufficient supply of nicotine with smoke by increasing the number of cigarettes smoked, and also puffs deeper and more often. As a result, even more carbon monoxide and other chemicals enter his body. In addition, deep inhalation of tobacco smoke is a common cause of bronchial asthma, emphysema and lung cancer. Therefore, it is impossible to protect the body from the destructive effects of tobacco smoke using special filters. This can only be done by completely quitting smoking.

Already in the first days of quitting smoking, a person’s weakness and dizziness disappear, their well-being improves, and their appetite increases. A person begins to feel how his body is filled with energy, lethargy and apathy disappear. After a week, his appearance changes positively, the pallor and yellowness of his facial skin disappear, wrinkles smooth out, and yellowed fingers regain their color. Hoarseness of voice, cough, shortness of breath disappear, sense of smell and taste are restored, gait becomes easier, physical strength increases, Potency increases in men. AND most importantly, by completely quitting smoking, your risk of developing emphysema, bronchial asthma, lung cancer, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, gastric ulcers and other equally dangerous diseases is significantly reduced. If you already suffer from these diseases, quitting smoking completely reduces the risk of relapse and, in some cases, even promotes full recovery.

By completely quitting smoking, you free your loved ones, friends and colleagues from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. It has long been proven that with passive smoking, a non-smoker, inhaling the smoke coming from a cigarette, absorbs more nicotine and carbon monoxide than the smoker himself. This is due to the fact that the composition of the smoke from the burning edge of the cigarette is more toxic than that from the filter through which the smoker inhales. With passive smoking, tobacco smoke causes discomfort, irritability, cough, headache, and irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes in non-smokers. Passive smoking is especially dangerous for patients with bronchial asthma and angina pectoris. Prolonged stay in a smoky room can cause an exacerbation of the disease in them.

Most often, children suffer from passive smoking. Being at home with smoking parents, they unwittingly become passive smokers and more often suffer from bronchitis, bronchial asthma and pneumonia. In such children, sleep is disturbed, attention deteriorates, and the ability to perceive knowledge decreases.

If a pregnant woman smokes, her unborn child, while still in the womb, becomes a passive smoker. Such children are born with low weight and various diseases. If the expectant mother completely stops smoking before pregnancy, she will have a better chance of giving birth to a healthy baby with a normal weight.

And the last important benefit of completely quitting smoking is saving money. If you quit smoking, you can save money from your family budget. The average Russian smoker spends 20–50 rubles per pack of cigarettes daily, 600–1500 rubles per month, 7–18 thousand rubles per year. Add to this the cost of treating diseases caused by smoking. In addition, it is more difficult for smokers to get a good, prestigious job; in many companies, the majority of employees are non-smokers. The fight against smoking in public places and at work is underway everywhere.

AND most importantly, remember that smokers live 8-10 years less, than non-smokers. I think that reading this book will help you realize the dangers of smoking and strengthen your desire to quit smoking.