Hair loss is a common concern affecting millions of people around the world. While factors such as genetics, age, and hormones play a significant role in hair loss, lifestyle habits can also contribute to this issue. One such habit that has been widely debated is smoking and its impact on hair health. In this article, we will delve into the connection between smoking, tobacco, and hair loss. We will examine the scientific evidence and unveil the truth behind this relationship.
In this article, we will explore the various ways by which smoking can cause hair loss, the stages of hair loss experienced by smokers, the effects of smoking on overall hair health, and the potential risks associated with vaping. Furthermore, we will discuss whether it is possible to reverse smoking-caused hair loss and share strategies to quit smoking effectively. Lastly, we will answer some frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
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Understanding how smoking and tobacco affect hair health is crucial to grasp the severity of hair loss caused by smoking. In this section, we will explore the prevalence of hair loss in smokers compared to nonsmokers, the role of genetics in smoking-related hair loss, and the various stages of hair loss experienced by smokers.
Numerous studies have shown that hair loss is more common among smokers than nonsmokers. In one study from Taiwan, out of 500 smokers, 425 were found to have some hair loss. However, only 200 out of 500 nonsmokers had hair loss. This observation points to a link between smoking and hair loss. Similar results have been seen in other studies as well.
Genetics plays a key role in hair loss. Yet, it’s important to note that smoking can make things worse. In people who are already likely to lose hair due to their genes, smoking can speed up the process. It can cause faster hair loss or more severe hair thinning.
Hair loss in smokers often has a pattern. It goes through several stages from mild to severe hair thinning. As the person keeps smoking, hair loss worsens over time. One study found that 47% of smokers had grade 3 hair loss (deep recession along the hairline) and, 24% had grade 4 hair loss (balding at the vertex).
There are several ways by which smoking causes hair loss. We will learn about them in this section. This includes oxidative stress and reduced blood flow to hair follicles. We will also explore other ways in which smoking leads to hair loss.
Cigarette smoke has many harmful chemicals. Some of them can increase the production of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are molecules that react with other molecules in our body. Their reaction can damage DNA and other parts of a cell. When there are too many free radicals in the body, it causes oxidative stress. This stress can damage the DNA of hair follicles. This harms their function and leads to hair loss.
As you get exposed to tobacco smoke, it can mess up the body’s system to balance antioxidants. This system helps in neutralizing free radicals. An off-balance system cannot fight the harmful effects of free radicals well. This adds to hair follicle damage and the progress of hair loss.
Tobacco carries some chemicals that can damage circulation and heart health. They cause vasoconstriction. It means the narrowing of blood vessels due to the shrinking of their muscular walls. This reduced blood flow can impair the delivery of nutrients to hair follicles. In the end, it results in hair loss.
Adequate blood supply to hair follicles is crucial. It helps to deliver essential nutrients and oxygen to them. It also helps to remove waste products from them. Impaired blood flow due to smoking can prevent hair follicles from getting these nutrients. The result is hair loss or damaged hair.
Apart from causing oxidative stress and reducing blood flow to hair follicles, there are more ways smoking leads to hair loss. These include hormonal effects, DNA damage, and senescence enhancement.
Smoking can change hormone levels in the body. For instance, it can decrease levels of estrogen. This decrease can lead to hair loss. Lower estrogen levels make your body more sensitive to a male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a well-known cause of androgenetic alopecia or male-pattern baldness.
The harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke can harm the DNA in hair follicle cells. Damage to this DNA can hurt hair growth and ultimately lead to hair loss.
Cigarette smoke can speed up the process of cellular senescence, or aging, in hair follicle cells. Aging hair follicle cells may become less capable of growing healthy hair. The result is hair loss or thinning of hair.
Apart from causing hair loss, smoking can hit hair health in several more ways. These include dryness and brittleness, premature greying, and changes in hair texture. These have been described below.
Smoking might result in less blood flow to the scalp. This can affect the production of collagen. The result may be dry and brittle hair. Hence, smokers may face hair that is more likely to break and get damaged.
Research reveals a link between smoking and grey hair. One study focused on people aged 20 to 45 years. It found that smokers were more likely to develop grey hair before they turned 30 when compared to nonsmokers. We do not know the specific reason yet. However, it is believed that smoking may cause oxidative stress. This stress can damage cells called melanocytes. These cells make melanin, which gives colour to the hair.
Smoking can reduce blood flow to the scalp. This may lead to changes in hair texture. Smokers’ hair may become thinner, weaker, or less resilient. This contributes to hair damage and loss.
Vaping is becoming popular as an alternative to regular smoking. This has raised questions about its impact on hair health. Vaping is considered safer than cigarette smoking. But it still affects hair health to some extent.
Vaping involves electronic devices. These produce vapour with nicotine without the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke. So, exposure to toxic chemicals is much lower with vaping than with traditional smoking. This suggests that vaping may be less harmful to hair than smoking. Yet, vaping is not risk-free
We do not fully understand the exact impact of vaping on hair loss yet. However, we believe that nicotine and other chemicals in the vapour can cause oxidative stress and DNA damage in hair follicles. This could be similar to the effects of smoking. We need more research to know the precise risks of vaping related to hair loss.
Quitting smoking may greatly boost your overall health. But it is not sure if reversal of the hair already lost is possible by quitting because hair regrowth after quitting smoking depends on many factors. These include your genes, age, and how severe the hair loss is.
Some people might see hair regrowth after they quit smoking. This is especially true if smoking was the main cause of their hair loss. But in cases where genes or other factors play a bigger role, quitting smoking may not lead to notable hair regrowth. Each case is unique, and results can vary.
It can take different periods for different people for their hair to recover after they quit smoking. In some cases, people may see improved hair health within a few months after quitting. However, others may need more time for hair to return to its prior state. It’s important to stay patient throughout the process and remember that quitting smoking has many more health benefits apart from just better hair health.
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Quitting smoking can be a tough task, but it is vital for improving overall health, including hair health. Here are some strategies that may help in the process.
Working with a counselor or therapist may help people know why they smoke. They may then develop ways to deal with these habits and triggers.
Nicotine replacement therapies may help. These include nicotine patches, gums, or inhalers. They may be able to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms by slowly decreasing the intake of nicotine.
There are many prescription medications available examples are varenicline and bupropion. These may lower cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Some of these medications can be used with nicotine replacement therapies. This may help raise the chances of success.
Joining support groups may help. These groups have other people who are also trying to quit smoking. They may help provide encouragement, accountability, and a sense of community during the journey to quit smoking.
Throughout this article, we have explored the strong connection between smoking and hair loss. We have investigated the mechanisms through which smoking contributes to hair loss, such as oxidative stress and reduced blood flow to hair follicles, and how vaping may also impact hair health. Quitting smoking is crucial for both overall health and hair health.
To see an improvement in hair health and potentially reverse hair loss, it is essential to quit smoking and adopt a healthier lifestyle. By doing so, one may not only regain their hair but also improve various aspects of their overall well-being, proving that the benefits of quitting smoking extend far beyond just hair health.
Hair regrowth after quitting smoking depends on many factors. These include genetics, age, and the severity of hair loss. While there is no guaranteed outcome, quitting smoking may improve overall hair health and may contribute to hair regrowth in some people.
Yes, smoking can cause hair thinning. Harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke can cause oxidative stress, less blood flow to hair follicles, and other things that lead to hair loss and thinning.
Several things besides smoking can cause hair loss. These include genetics, age, hormone imbalances, lack of proper nutrients, certain medical conditions, and medications.
Quitting smoking may benefit your look in several ways. It may improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, and give you healthier hair. So, while it may not make you look a lot younger, it may add to a more youthful and healthy appearance.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
You’ve probably heard of this disclaimer on multiple occasions – ‘smoking is injurious to health’. What you may not immediately realise is the extent of the damage smoking can cause to your health and, most directly, your lungs.
Smoking is known to be the leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths globally. Nearly all forms of lung cancer—the top cause of cancer death in both men and women can be attributed to smoking. Tobacco and tobacco-related products can damage the lungs’ ability to supply oxygen to the body. Other substances commonly found in cigarette smoke can cause permanent lung damage, even in small amounts.
A single puff of cigarette smoke contains upwards of 7,000 chemicals. Tobacco smoke contains over 70 known cancer-causing chemicals. When you breathe these in, these toxins go deep into your lungs and can cause swelling, resulting in a host of other respiratory diseases.
Both tobacco and chemical substances found in cigarettes can change the cellular structure of the lungs. They can cause the elastic walls within the airways to break down – resulting in less functioning surface area in the lungs. Cigarettes can damage lung tissue, preventing them from functioning correctly. This can increase the risk of diseases caused by smoking, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, respiratory diseases, asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
Nicotine in tobacco can also damage the ability of the respiratory system to filter out dust and dirt. This can lead to toxic substances passing through, resulting in lung congestion and the ‘smoker’s cough’.
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A person who smokes throughout life is at high risk of developing a range of potentially fatal diseases owing to impaired lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the lung airways and excess mucus build-up. They are also prone to weakening the lungs’ clearance system, leading to the accumulation of toxic substances and causing lung irritation and damage. Further, they are also at an increased risk of lung infection, chronic bronchitis and heightened risk of asthma, along with permanent damage to air sacs.
In the longer term, smoking is known to induce heart disease and stroke, in certain cases, it can cause ulcers of the digestive system and put smokers at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Most smokers are also likely to develop emphysema. The number of cigarettes you smoke and other lifestyle factors may impact the extent of the damage. If you’re diagnosed with either of these respiratory diseases – emphysema or chronic bronchitis, you run the risk of being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Smoking can affect a person’s health in other ways, too, harming almost every organ in the body. In most cases, it can result in a compromised immune system function, making you susceptible to many other illnesses. It can also lead to lower bone density (brittle bones), which increases the risk of broken bones and fractures. Smoking also leaves you at a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease and stroke, along with an increased risk for cataracts (clouding of the eye lenses).
Apart from respiratory diseases, other visible disorders include an increased risk of oral cancers, gum disease and tooth loss, premature ageing of the skin, bad breath and stained teeth and an increased risk for age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness. Moreover, even your wounds may take longer to heal!
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It’s never too late to quit smoking. Within days of quitting smoking, lungs begin to repair themselves. In fact, just 12 hours after you quit, the amount of carbon monoxide in your blood drops to a much healthier level. More oxygen flows to your vital organs and you will be able to breathe better. In about 10 to 15 years, your risk of developing lung cancer reduces and may even become the same as a non-smoker.
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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Every pack of cigarettes contains a statutory warning about the health hazards of smoking, but how dangerous are they? The number of smokers across the world is increasing on a daily basis. From acetone and tar to nicotine and carbon monoxide, tobacco in any form contains everything that can turn out to be fatal over time.
According to a report from the American Lung Association, cigarettes contain 600 different ingredients which, when burnt, produce 7000 harmful and poisonous chemicals, out of which 69 are carcinogenic. The harms of smoking may not be immediate, but the complications and damage attached to it may last for years, and many times even prove to be fatal and irrevocable.
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What are the harmful effects of smoking? Smoking slowly and silently damages our internal body organs. Here is a detailed listing of the harms of smoking on the human body.
Did you know smoking could increase mood swings and be the reason why you get anxious all of a sudden? Smoking puts you in a good mood only temporarily, but anxiety and irritability can become difficult to manage as smoking leads to major mood stimulation. However, you might not find it very simple to put a stop to your nicotine intake all of a sudden. A break from nicotine can put you on the edge if you happen to miss your cigarette session for long.
Women who smoke regularly can face hormonal imbalances, including early menopause. Smoking is one of the major causes behind women getting their menopause earlier than their non-smoking counterparts. Hot flashes in women are also caused as a result of this habit. Smoking can further cause infertility in women which can be quite alarming at a later stage. Women who smoke are even subjected to a much higher risk of having cervical cancer than those who don’t.
Do you smoke & have been coughing lately? Smoking damages the airways, which leads to persistent coughing. Smoking causes bronchitis, even in second-hand smokers, including children. It even worsens other respiratory problems like tuberculosis and pneumonia among others. Moreover, a regular or chain smoker is subjected to a much higher risk and the possibility of having lung cancer which has proven to be fatal for both men and women.
To know its impact, you can also take a Smoking Impact Checkup.
This package includes a range of blood tests that can help trace the ill effects of smoking on your health. This package includes tests such as Liver Function, Kidney Function, Cardiac Risk Markers, Lipid Profile, Cancer Markers, Vitamin B12, Thyroid, Blood Sugar tests, Iron Studies and more to help your doctor detect any adverse health issues early on. This package is suitable for anyone with a habit of smoking or tobacco consumption in any other form.
Nicotine tightens blood vessels, which restricts the easy flow of blood to the veins and heart, thereby causing high blood pressure, heart attack, and other fatal diseases. Smoking is a key factor in the growing cause of heart attacks. Also, COPDs (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases) are very common among smokers. The HDL (good cholesterol) levels decrease and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels increase, leading to a rise in total cholesterol and triglycerides levels in people who smoke on a regular basis. This too is one of the major causes of growing heart problems.
Smoking constricts blood flow which is adequately required for an erection. Men who smoke regularly often experience this problem. As such, smoking is one of the key factors responsible for the growing problems of conception and infertility in both men and women.
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Smoking regularly worsens vision problems and can lead to diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. It leads to a dull sense of smell and taste, which, in turn, reduces a person’s appetite. Dryness of skin and premature ageing is caused due to smoking as it reduces blood flow to the skin, depriving it of the nutrition required to stay healthy. Long-term smoking can also cause stains on your teeth. It also increases the chances of gum infections and inflammations which can lead to tooth decay.
Smoking suppresses your appetite by diminishing your senses. You stop enjoying your food and start eating much less than the required amount. Smokers are more prone to infections as their immune system gets majorly affected.
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Having known about the dangers of smoking in detail, do you still want to continue smoking and risk your life as well as those around you? Remember, life is too precious to be wasted due to negligence and giving in to addictive short-term pleasures like smoking. Be strong, be determined and bid adieu to nicotine forever.
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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Smoking is a severe risk to our health and can have many negative impacts on our overall fitness and well-being. While smoking is not the actual addictive that makes people its slave, it’s, in fact, the nicotine that causes the release of dopamine in the brain and ensures neurotransmission that gives the smoker a ‘high.’
And things only get worse with regular consumption. Gradually, smokers need to take more and more nicotine to achieve this same high. Therefore, when a smoker tries to kick this habit, he/she starts to experience withdrawal symptoms.
Thus to quit smoking, many smokers resort to getting their regular dose of nicotine with the help of many smoke-cessation products such as nicotine gum and nicotine patches. These products give the body a daily dose of nicotine and are devoid of smoke. Another resort that many smokers take is that they start to chew tobacco, which is also laden with nicotine and doesn’t need any inhalation as such.
Tobacco chewing happens across various forms:
Chewing tobacco is an extensive spread practice. But sadly this technique is often perceived as a ‘healthier alternative’ to smoking. But on the contrary, it is in fact doomed to failure.
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Both smoking and chewing of tobacco can cause significant havoc on the health front. Many studies suggest that chewing tobacco has a lower risk on the heart as compared to smoking. However, studies also show that chewing tobacco causes a sudden rise in blood pressure and heart rate.
Many chain smokers also carry the misconception that chewing tobacco results in lower consumption of nicotine. However, that’s a fallacy, both smoking and chewing tobacco results in the same consumption of nicotine. For example, if you hold an averagely sized plug in your mouth for 30 minutes, it’s the same as smoking down four cigarettes.
Chewing tobacco regularly also exposes a person to the dreaded Oral cancer, not to forget, the development of oral lesions, a black hairy tongue, and bad breath. These people also carry a high chance of contracting Leukoplakia.
To elevate the problem further, tobacco chewers need to spit. This is also adding to the problem because by doing so, you land up spreading the germs to the people around you.
Here’s a quick list of all the potential health impacts that chewing tobacco can have:
As you can see, chewing tobacco is not as ‘safe’ as you may have imagined. While the risk of heart-related conditions is lower compared to smoking, there still are many bad health effects of chewing tobacco.
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Drinking alcohol spikes the levels of 5 neurotransmitters in our brain, while using tobacco (in any form) 3 other neurotransmitters increase. This association of increased neurotransmitter activity is what makes you feel good, or get that high/buzz. But it also makes you crave one or the other. Hence, when you drink alcohol, your brain wants to get the effect from the remaining 3 neurotransmitters. This is why you feel cravings for a cigarette or tobacco when you drink. In simple words, alcohol and tobacco work together to make you crave more of each other, increasing your likelihood of suffering the negative health impacts from these substances.
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Since the negative effects of tobacco have long been known and studied, there has been a push in the medical community to help people get off this substance. If you are afraid of the future effects tobacco usage will have on your health, you can take steps to cut down or stop smoking.
Luckily, there are many doctors, specialists, counsellors and products to help you on your journey. If you’re wondering how to quit smoking, we recommend the following:
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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
31st May is known as the ”World No Tobacco Day” and for a good reason too. Did you know that more than 10 million die each year in India due to tobacco? India is home to 12% of the world’s smokers, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). You have heard numerous people tell you that smoking affects your lungs. You have seen the gross pictures on cigarette packs but smoked anyway. But did you know that smoking affects your brain too?
Nicotine works like the various neurotransmitters that are already there in our brain. It activates dopamine signals that result in a pleasant sensation in your brain. With the passing of time and more smoking, the brain reduces acetylcholine receptors to compensate for the increased signalling activity. As a result, nicotine tolerance is created in the brain.
The brain ends up needing more nicotine. As nicotine mimics the work of dopamine that provides the feel-good factor, your brain starts associating smoking (nicotine use) with feeling good. The nicotine in cigarettes changes your brain and makes you suffer from withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit. You start feeling irritable, anxious, and your body has a strong craving for nicotine. As a result of these symptoms, most people reach for another cigarette, and then another and are unable to quit.
Brain size and volume is associated with higher intelligence and better cognitive functioning. The average brain volume in adult males is 1260 cubic cm and 1130 cubic cm in adult females. According to a 2017 study, the longer you smoke, the more your brain loses volume with vital tissues shrivelling up.
Smoking affects the subcortical brain regions. The subcortical areas of the brain are associated with pleasure, hormone production, emotion, and memory. Smokers thus develop age-related loss of brain volume that leads to an increased risk of dementia and is one of the ways how smoking harms the brain.
Dementia is a syndrome that is characterized by deterioration in thinking, memory, behaviour, and the ability to perform everyday activities. It is said to affect older people mainly, but it is not a normal part of ageing. Since smoking affects the subcortical regions of the brain that are associated with memory, it puts smokers at a higher risk of dementia.
In 2015, a research team reviewed 37 studies that compared smokers and non-smokers and found that smokers were 30 % more likely to be affected by dementia. Quitting smoking can decrease the risk of dementia in the person.
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One of the smoking effects on brain is cognitive decline, which usually happens as people get older. But in smokers, it starts much earlier. Signs and symptoms of cognitive decline include:
In 2012, the cognitive data of about 7,000 men and women were studied for 12 years. The researchers found that smokers experienced a much more rapid cognitive decline than non-smokers. Middle-aged male smokers were found to be more at risk than female smokers.
Cigarette smoking has been associated with dementia and dementia-related brain changes, notably gray matter (GM) volume atrophy. These associations are thought to reflect the co-morbidity of smoking and vascular, respiratory, and substance use/psychological conditions.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
If you smoke say, 20 cigarettes a day, you are 6 times more likely to have a stroke than a non-smoker. Tobacco contains over 7,000 harmful chemicals, including formaldehyde, cyanide, arsenic, and carbon monoxide. These toxic chemicals get transferred from the lungs to the blood. They make platelets more likely to stick together. Platelets help in clotting the blood in case of blood loss, but if the platelets stick together, it increases the chance of clot-forming.
Smokers are at a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis where arteries become hardened and narrow. It restricts smooth blood flow making the formation of blood clots more likely. If a clot forms in an artery leading to the brain, it can block the blood supply to a part of the brain resulting in a stroke. This is known as ischaemic stroke. Smoking is said to double the risk of having an ischaemic stroke. If a person quits smoking, within 5 years, his/her risk of stroke will start decreasing to that of a non-smoker.
Smoking releases a severe amount of toxicity in our bodies. There are about 60 known cancer-causing substances in tobacco. The chemicals that make up a cigarette are:
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Smoking also causes a temporary spike in blood pressure, which can weaken the arterial walls and make them more prone to form an aneurysm and rupture. The harmful chemicals in a cigarette are also implicated in the causation of brain cancer.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D
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Smoking affects the brain and hence, mental health. Sometimes, bad mental health makes people take up smoking and worsen their conditions. Other times, it is the other way around.
The nicotine from cigarettes alters the brain. It makes the brain connect ‘feeling good’ to smoking. Quitting smoking becomes tough after some time because smokers start suffering from withdrawal symptoms. They then find solace in smoking and fall prey to the dangerous cycle and become addicted.
How many times have you heard somebody say, ‘I’m feeling stressed out, I need to smoke right now’ or ‘Smoking makes me feel relaxed’?
Stress is very common and can cause symptoms like headaches, irritability, anxiety, and/or breathlessness at times. Smoking increases the occurrence of these symptoms. Smokers start feeling the symptoms if they do not smoke for a long time and associate smoking with being a reliever of stress.
Nicotine mimics the work of dopamine, prompting the brain to switch off its mechanism that makes and secretes dopamine. In the long term, the supply of dopamine decreases in the brain and inspires people to smoke more. There is a complex relationship between depression and smoking. Smokers with depression have more trouble quitting as withdrawal symptoms become more severe in them.
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Research has shown smoking increases tension and anxiety. The relaxed feeling that smokers talk about after a quick smoke fades away just as quickly. It is hugely short-lived and only adds more jitteriness in the smoker, making him/her reach for more.
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It has been reported that people who suffer from a serious mental disorder known as Schizophrenia tend to be heavy smokers. Some people suffering from this disorder have claimed that smoking helps them to numb the debilitating symptoms of schizophrenia and also to mitigate the side effects experienced from the medication for the same. Ironically, recent research has found that excessive smoking may very well be one of the causes for the onset of schizophrenia. However, since there is more research required to fully confirm this, it has not yet received mainstream acceptance. Nevertheless, it is best to avoid smoking to reduce the risk of developing such mental disorders.
Yes, e-cigarettes have negative effects on the brain too. National Institute on Drug Abuse has reported that the nicotine in e-cigarettes goes about making similar harmful changes in the brain. E-cigarette vapour contains harmful chemicals too hence it is not a way out.
If all this information on how smoking affects the brain has you worried, you can always try quitting. Most addictions are hard to overcome. But since smoking has been around for a while there are well-established methods to try out. Keep in mind, since everyone is different not all approaches will work the same for you. Some may be more effective than others, do what works best for you.
Absolutely! Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your heart rate will slow down. Within 12 hours, levels of carbon monoxide in your blood will start decreasing. Within 3 months, lung functions and blood circulation will start getting better. Within a year of quitting, your risk of having a heart attack will start decreasing by a whopping 50 %. Within 5 to 15 years, your risk of suffering a stroke will reduce to that of a non-smoker.
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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
The term passive smoking has become common parlance now, for being in the vicinity of someone who is smoking. However, there is yet another form of passive smoking known as Third-hand smoke, which involves inhaling residual nicotine left on indoor surfaces. This can be particularly harmful since it can cause damage to the DNA.
Moreover, third-hand smoking is dangerous because it often mixes with pollutants and develops into cancer-causing compounds. Third-hand smoke initially develops from the nicotine that settles and spreads onto several indoor surfaces. Over time, certain harmful chemicals are released from these indoor surfaces and breathing them in can be as harmful as passive second-hand smoking.
Since passive second-hand smoke is something that people have become conscious about to some extent, family members are often kept at bay when a person is smoking. However, the concept of third-hand smoke is fairly unknown to most smokers. Therefore, children and other non-smoking adults within the same closed or partially open indoor space may be at the highest risk of being exposed to such cancer-causing compounds.
If there are infants inside the house, third-hand smoke can be even more dangerous. This is because infants who haven’t learnt to walk yet, are usually in high contact with the floor and have their hands touching it most of the time. Nicotine from tobacco smoke settles and clings to such floor surfaces. Since infants have the habit of putting their hands inside the mouth quite often, this nicotine along with other harmful chemicals can easily enter their bodies.
For non-smoking adults, the effect of such cancer-causing compounds can be severe on their bodies. The detrimental impacts of passive smoking in non-smoking adults can include cancer of the nasal sinuses, throat and breast cancer, along with short and long-term respiratory symptoms and even the permanent loss of certain lung functions.
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Since nicotine is one of the several deadly cancer-causing compounds, it has been identified as the leading cause of several forms of sinus, throat, breast and lung cancer. One study has particularly found that undetected damage to DNA could be one serious consequence of third-hand smoke in both children and non-smoking adults. This genetic damage along with the entry of cancerous compounds into the human body can often result in compound health ailments for people of all ages.
Moreover, in several cases, such third-hand smoke tends to remain and even accumulate on the smoker’s skin. It is also assumed that when a smoker comes in contact with a group of people, the entire group can fall prey to the damaging effects of third-hand smoke.
The Cleveland Clinic has identified several harmful effects of being exposed to third-hand smoke. Apart from the dangerous effects of cancerous substances like nicotine and damage to DNA, this type of passive smoking can also cause further damage to the respiratory system of non-smokers. When nicotine from tobacco clings to surfaces like clothes, walls, curtains, furniture, etc, it reacts with the Nitrous acids found in the atmosphere and forms different types of cancer-causing compounds.
Moreover, eliminating this nicotine residue is quite impossible since it is not directly visible. This residue can cling to indoor surfaces for several months and even years at a stretch. Ensuring proper ventilation in the room has little effect on this residue and it also evades the action of vacuum cleaners.
The only plausible solution to eliminate this residue from third-hand smoke may be to repaint the walls, replace all curtains and carpets and perform extensive cleaning of the ventilation systems inside the house. The entire process is quite expensive, to say the least and hence it is best to quit smoking in order to prevent the risk of third-hand smoke in the first place.
Also Read: Does Vaping Make Your Teeth Yellow: Exploring Dental Impact of Vaping
Since such cancerous residue cannot be expelled simply by proper ventilation and can often be carried around the housing via clothing, it may be helpful to take some preventive measures.
Read more about Does Vaping Cause Cancer? Exploring The Health Implications
Since third-hand smoke is a relatively new area of research, there is still a lot to be uncovered about its long-term effects on non-smokers and ways to prevent them. Moreover, lockdown during the pandemic has increased people’s chances of exposure to such cancer-causing compounds because of having to be in constant contact with someone at home who smokes. This can often cause irreparable damage to DNA and the only solution is either for the smoker to quit smoking or refrain from smoking at home to minimise chances of third-hand smoke.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
COVID-19 has turned people’s attention more towards their health. However, there were some aspects like smoking that people were unaware of while taking care of themselves. Some conflicting articles speculated on the smoker’s risk of COVID-19.
In addition, some even highlighted the risk of smoking in this pandemic. Initially, WHO reported that smoking amplifies the risk of contracting COVID-19. However, instead of all these contradictions, the researchers are still busy finding the conclusion to this evidence.
Data from 6,717 suggests that, Adults who received hospital care for COVID-19, researchers found adults who used tobacco or electronic cigarettes were more likely to experience severe complications compared to non-smokers. Based on these data, they found adults who smoked had a 15% greater chance of requiring mechanical ventilation and a 41% greater chance of death compared to non-smokers.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Smoking increases health hazards during the pandemic. There were many warnings by the medical teams about how smoking and COVID-19 are related. But, people considered smoking for coping with the mechanism of stress, pandemic anxiety and the lockdown. They found mental peace in smoking.
But, many of them were unaware of the fact that smoking increases the risk of COVID-19. As a result, in fear of the COVID-19, many people have quit smoking, while some are still unable to process the fact that it might kill them.
Health should be the topmost priority for everyone. So, the Indian medical experts were propagating the ill effects of smoking on people’s health. Even teenagers these days are addicted to smoking or vaping. So, it’s essential to understand the smoker’s risk of COVID-19.
It is a significant concern in the country as teenagers fail to understand the dangers associated with smoking. The TCH present in vapes and cigarettes is hazardous and can cause fatal lung disease.
Read more about Vaping: Meaning, Risks and Truths You Must Know
Studies show that smokers are more vulnerable to the risk of contracting COVID-19. The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued some dangers of smoking and tobacco usage during the pandemic. Smokers can make 50% more susceptible to the virus than normal people with these risks:
One must understand the grave danger of the points mentioned above to understand the smoker’s risk of COVID-19.
Tobacco compromises lung function, and COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs, evidence indicates that smokers are more likely to suffer more severe outcomes of COVID-19, such as admission into intensive care units and death, than never-smokers.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Many of the people got restricted from going out of their houses. This stopped them from buying cigarettes, vapes or any tobacco products. Staying home makes it easier to quit smoking or tobacco.
Lockdowns also improved family support. They may prove to be of tremendous help to help people quit smoking. Family members help them to resist smoking and motivate them to get rid of this habit. Once you understand how smoking and lung functions are related and affect your health, it adds as a motivation to quit and opt for a better life.
People get adapted to smoking when they find it as a way to escape from reality. But, during the pandemic, these people took mental health support. The support team takes care of their mental health. Thus, people got detached from smoking or consuming tobacco.
Seeking professional help is always a good idea if you want to quit smoking. A psychiatrist can help you develop insight and set realistic goals to help you quit smoking easily. If you are a heavy smoker and unable to quit the habit by motivation alone, your doctor may prescribe you some medicines available in the form of chewable gums and patches for a given period of time and reduce the dose gradually to ease the process of quitting smoke. It is important to be honest with your doctor and continue the follow up and treatment as advised.
Also Read: Does Vaping Cause Cancer? Exploring The Health Implications
Read more about Does Vaping Cause Cancer? Exploring The Health Implications
Smoking has never been a health concern for many people. However, whether it is during the pandemic or not, smoking is always harmful to our health. Smoking not only increases the risks of infection for the smoker but passive smokers as well. Seek social support and stay connected with your family. Talking to people will help you lower the stress and anxiety in your mind.
Quitting smoke has always been a tough job for any person. In this case, it is necessary to set goals as to when to smoke. Keep decreasing the number of cigarettes day by day. Stop looking towards it as the only factor to keep you happy. Instead, look around and get addicted to some of your favourite hobbies. Keeping yourself busy in other activities will divert your mind from smoking and give you the will to be happy by yourself. We must take as many precautionary steps and try our best to avoid an increased risk of infection.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
The National Health Portal of India has designated the 2nd Wednesday of March as the No-Smoking Day. It has been done to urge people to give up smoking and be aware of its harmful effects. Today, thanks to extensive awareness programmes, the world is waking up to the terrible dangers of smoking. But despite that, the number of smokers is hardly declining. That is why a No-Smoking Day is important- it acts as a reminder for smokers to give up this habit that can claim their life.
Most of us know that smoking destroys your lungs and can severely damage your heart. Tobacco particles can lead to pneumonia, emphysema, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Is that all that smoking does? No! Here are a few other health hazards associated with smoking you may not have heard about.
Macular degeneration sets in as we grow older and can trigger blindness. Smoking speeds it up.
Tobacco particles can make your body immune to insulin (regulates the use of blood in your body) which causes a build-up of sugar and makes your blood sugar level inch upwards.
Smoking constricts your blood vessels. That means blood will not be able to pass through them with ease. This is how smoking can give you hypertension.
Also Read: What Causes Yellow Teeth: Unpacking Oral Health Misconceptions
Seamless blood flow is crucial to maintain an erection. But since smoking narrows blood vessels, the blood supply to the penis is disrupted and this triggers erectile dysfunction.
What is an ectopic pregnancy? This is a life-endangering pregnancy and it happens when the fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus. According to surveys, smokers are more likely to develop this kind of pregnancy than non-smokers.
Smoking will lower your bone density. What does that translate to? It means you will be more vulnerable to fractures and osteoporosis.
If a pregnant woman smokes or is exposed to tobacco smoke, then she is likely to give birth to a baby with a cleft lip or cleft palate.
There are immediate benefits to smoking cessation, which occur only hours, weeks, and months after a person stops smoking. These primary benefits included lowering of blood pressure, decreased cough and phlegm production, increased lung capacity. In the long term, quitting smoking reduces a patient’s risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and chronic lung disease. The earlier a person stops smoking, the more their risk of developing lung cancer is reduced
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
If you are a habitual smoker, giving it up can be hard. But ask yourself, is it worth the pain that may follow? A little bit of reflection can convince most people to give up smoking.
Every cigarette smoked damages the lungs in a way that may not show until later in life. After the age of 35-40 years, for every year of continued smoking, a person loses about 3 months of life expectancy. Quitting Smoking is always beneficial.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Smoking is disastrous. The sooner you quit, the better. Take all the help you need to quit smoking and enjoy good health.
Also Read: How Does Smoking Affect the Brain?
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
Second-hand smoke (SHS) also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a mixture of 2 forms of smoke viz Mainstream smoke and Sidestream smoke that comes from burning tobacco. Mainstream smoke is smoke exhaled by a smoker while sidestream smoke is the smoke that arises from the lighted end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar or tobacco burning in a hookah. As compared to Mainstream smoke, sidestream smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) and is more toxic. The particles are smaller in size, making them easy to enter into the lungs and the body cells.
Did you know?
Involuntary smoking or passive smoking is when non-smokers are exposed to SHS taking in the same amount of nicotine and toxic chemicals as smokers. The more SHS you breathe, the higher the levels of these harmful chemicals in your body.
Second-hand smoke can be very harmful. With more than 7000 toxic chemicals, Second-hand smoke is known to cause cancer in non-smokers. There are various disadvantages of smoking in public places and second-hand smoke. It also affects the heart and blood vessels, by increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Some studies have linked Second-hand Smoke to mental and emotional changes, too. Some studies have shown that exposure to Second-hand Smoke is linked to symptoms of depression. Children are at a higher risk of exposure to second-hand smoke, most of which comes from parents and other adults smoking at home. These children tend to get sick more often, are at a higher risk of developing lung infections (like bronchitis and pneumonia) and are more likely to have recurrent episodes of cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. Second-hand smoke is also known to trigger asthma episodes, along with the worsening of symptoms as well as cause new cases of asthma in children who previously didn’t have any symptoms. All these problems may seem small at first, but one cannot neglect with bigger ones associated with them. These would include the expenses incurred, the trips to the doctors, medicines, lost school time, parents having to stay back home to care for their sick child, let alone the discomfort the child has to go through.
Second-hand smoke is a serious health threat: According to some studies. For every 8 smokers who die from a smoking-related disease, 1 non-smoker dies from second-hand smoke exposure.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Passive Smoking can affect Non-Smokers either at their workplace, in public places or at their homes.
Read More: Health Effects of Smoking
Most adults are exposed to Second-hand smoke at their workplace. Cleaning the air and ventilating the building still falls short in preventing exposure to Second-hand smoke if people continue to smoke in the building. There should be workplace smoking restrictions.
We need to create awareness of the effects of smoking in public places. When smoking is allowed in public places like restaurants, shopping malls, public transport, parks and schools, everyone is at risk of exposure to Second-hand smoke. Hazards of smoking in public places to non-smokers are of special concern, especially when it comes to children.
We spend most of our time at home. Making our home smoke free will protect our family, our guests and even our pets. Because of Second-hand smoke, any family member could develop health problems, children being especially sensitive to the toxins present in the smoke. Ventilation, air cleaning or separating smokers from non-smokers will not control the problem of Second-hand Smoke.
Particles from second-hand tobacco smoke can settle in dust and on surfaces and remain there long after the smoke is gone. These particles can combine with gases, for example, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the air to form cancer-causing compounds that settle onto surfaces. These compounds may be stirred up and inhaled with other house dust and may also be accidentally taken in through the mouth.
The smoke that burns off the mid to the end of a cigarette or cigar actually contains more harmful substances than the smoke inhaled by the smoker, since there is no filter through which the smoke must pass, this second-hand smoking is probably worse than if you were smoking tobacco directly.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Also Read: Why Does Nicotine Make You Poop: Decoding Its Effects on Digestion
The following suggestions may help in reducing, or even eliminating, you and your family’s exposure to second-hand smoke:
Read More: How to Quit Smoking?
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
We all know that smoking is bad for our health but diabetes and smoking are a deadly combination. Many kinds of cancers and cardiovascular diseases are linked to it. There is not one organ that is not affected negatively by smoking. Most of these diseases are fatal. The harmful effects of smoking become exponential for those who have diabetes. Research has proved that smoking regularly increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. While diabetes is bad enough, smoking increases the problems many times over as it causes more complications. In short, diabetes and smoking do not go hand-in-hand!
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes. Reference
