tobaccosmoking

If you have pneumonia or bronchitis, you are most likely to be treated with antibiotics, either with tablets or through a drip (if you are in hospital).

Actually, smoking simple tobacco or even marijuana won't interfere with the effectiveness of an antibiotics. However, smoking anything isn't really a good idea if your immune system is compromised in any way. It is technically "ok" in terms of drug interaction and effectiveness but may slow down your recovery process.

Especially when it concerns pneumonia or bronchitis. Both diseases are related to the inflammation of the lungs. Coughing - dry at first but which becomes a cough with phlegm that is often green/yellow or rust-colored and may be smelly, is the first sign of pneumonia or bronchitis.
A person is more likely to get pneumonia or bronchitis if he (or she) smokes, because smoking damages lungs.

So the best self-help to overcome pneumonia or bronchitis is:

• stop smoking
• drink plenty of fluids
• rest
• take paracetamol if you have chest pain

As to antibiotics treatment, since e-commerce is a common thing today, people tend to buy antibiotics online, because it is much cheaper. Just remember to check if the pharmacy where you are going to order drugs, is reliable and has a valid license. And of course, do not order any drugs before consulting your doctor!

Remember: the greatest wealth is health!
 

Menthol cigarettes which account for roughly one-third of the $70 billion U.S. cigarette market, according to industry figures, have been under scrutiny by public health officials and public health watchdog groups.

Most tobacco flavorings were banned in the Tobacco Control Act signed into law in June 2009 on concerns that flavorings attract children to smoke. Menthol wasn't included. The law also gave the FDA the power to regulate all tobacco products.

Critics claim the flavor makes menthol cigarettes more addictive and denounce the marketing campaigns that they say target menthol tobacco specifically at minority smokers. In the meantime Representatives from Phillip Morris USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Lorillard Tobacco Company plan to present scientific evidence that they say shows menthol cigarettes are no more harmful than non-menthol cigarettes. "Our analysis of the published scientific literature and internal studies concludes that menthol added to cigarettes does not increase the inherent health risks of smoking," Jane Y. Lewis, senior vice president for Altria Group Inc., parent company for Philip Morris, said during testimony before an FDA panel.

However public health advocates argue the data presented by the tobacco companies is irrelevant to the question of menthol's overall impact on public health.

"The [tobacco] industry ignores that the FDA mandate is broad to include whether menthol expands the number of children who start, dramatically increases the number of smokers otherwise, or increases the speed with which people become addicted," said Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in an interview. "None of the evidence presented challenges those broad and critical issues."

The 12-member federal advisory panel, which is in charge of overseeing the implementation of the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is scheduled to make recommendations on menthol cigarettes by March 23, 2011. The committee includes three non-voting members representing the tobacco industry.

The meeting is being streamed live on the FDA's website. According to the agenda, participants will discuss the characterization of menthol cigarettes, clinical effects of menthol, biomarkers of disease risk, marketing data, and population effects.
The panel could decide to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes or order that the levels of flavoring in them be reduced.
NACS submitted comments on July 15, citing concerns that an outright ban would lead to dangerous and illegal black market activity: “NACS believes that a ban on menthol in cigarettes risks giving rise to an entire industry of unregulated cigarette products. It is simply not reasonable to expect that the menthol market, which accounts for roughly 30% of cigarette sales today, will vanish overnight, or could be phased out over time. Combined with the relative ease of obtaining menthol flavorings, black market manufacturers will sprout up very quickly.”

While official bodies argue whether menthol cigarettes must be banned, smokers should decide whether to trust tobacco companies who keep on insisting that menthol has no hazard to smoking!

Now, it's South Carolina's turn to crack down on nicotine addiction. Thursday, the state's government is planning to rise cigarette tax up to 57 cents a pack from its current 7 cents a pack.

Smokers can expect to cough up an additional $5 a carton.

Residents, retailers and health care advocates are split on the whether the increased tax, which will help pay for health care for the state’s poor, cancer research and smoking prevention and cessation programs, is a good thing.

Smokers stand upon their own rights and keep on insisting that taxes on cigarettes are extremely high. They strongly criticize smoking cessation programs based on killing cigarette prices.

However according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every S.C. household pays nearly $600 a year to cover tobacco-related health care costs.

“There is a huge direct and indirect tax burden to everyone in South Carolina, whether they smoke or not,” said Louis Eubank, director of the collaborative. “So what you’re talking about is a lessening of that burden. Plus, people will be healthier.”

“They should raise it to $10 per pack,” said Richard Lee, 58, as he manned the office at his auto repair shop, Richard’s Automotive, in West Columbia.

Still not everyone agrees.

Just steps outside of Lee’s office, one of his mechanics, David Davis, offers a different take on the tax increase as he works on a BMW.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Davis. A smoker for the past 20 years, Davis said he smokes 11/2 packs a day, depending on how long his work day stretches.

“Some people are going to stop smoking (because of the tax increase), and, eventually, the state will get less money,” he said. “And that will put some businesses out of business.”

Those same two reasons — the regressive nature of the tax and its effect on cigarette retailers — persuaded Gov. Mark Sanford and some state lawmakers to reject a proposed increase.

At the same time cigarette online stores continue to boost sales even despite of the cigarette mail ban, which takes effect on June 29. Why buy mail-order cigarettes when you can run to the local store to get them? Cigarettes is cheaper to purchase by mail due to the fact that there is no tax imposed on them. Is there a difference when you pay $7 per pack of Marlboro or $24 (including delivery) per carton of Marlboro? The answer is obvious...

So, we can only guess whether smokers stand up their rights to buy cigarettes for affordable prices, whether cigarette mailing is stopped, whether cigarette taxes reach enormous price.

Although I'm wandering from the point of my blog, I couldn't sit loose to the issue, which is discussed everywhere and spurred the controversy among the society.

Arizona takes strict measures in regards illegal immigration. It's governor signed the bill, authorizing local police to check the documents of immigrants to determine whether they stay in the country legally.

Being the immigrant too, I have never broken the country's immigration law and always followed the legal procedures. To my mind, this is the matter of self-respect. So my position is clear - why other people can't do the same way?

If you have anything to say on this issue, air your opinion and vote at Immigration Law Debates. Your comments count!!!

Source: immigration.civiltalks.com

As I told in one of my previous posts, one-third of the world smokers reside in China. Ok, I agree with you that Chinese population is so huge, that they can win simply with their quantity. But still, nearly 60% of men in China are committed smokers, puffing an average of 15 cigarettes per day.  This is something, don’t you think so?

These facts have set to thinking Chinese scientists – what to do with all those toxic cigarette butts left by smokers, so toxic that can kill fish!
But cute minds and cutting-edge technology helped find the solution.
 In a paper published in the American Chemical Society's bi-weekly journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, the scientists in China said they identified nine chemicals after immersing cigarette butts in water.
They applied the extracts to N80, a type of steel used in oil pipes, and found that they protected the steel from rusting.
"The metal surface can be protected and the iron atom's further dissolution can be prevented," they wrote.
The chemicals, including nicotine, appear to be responsible for this anti-corrosion effect, they added.
The research was led by Jun Zhao at Xi'an Jiaotong University's School of Energy and Power Engineering and funded by China's state oil firm China National Petroleum Corporation.
Corrosion of steel pipes used by the oil industry costs oil producers millions of dollars annually to repair or replace.
According to the paper, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts find their way into the environment each year. Apart from being an eyesore, they contain toxins that can kill fish.
"Recycling could solve those problems, but finding practical uses for cigarette butts has been difficult," the researchers wrote.

So, that’s the story. Do you still have cravings for a cigarette :) ?                                                                                                                                              

 

 
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Smoking affects appearance

First impression is half the battle, isn't it? Have you ever thought that your possible past failures could be due to smoking? Think it over.......

Baggy eyes

Don’t you hate it when you can’t get a good night’s sleep—and it shows on your face?
If you are a smoker, you’re four times as likely as nonsmokers to report feeling unrested after a night’s sleep, according to Johns Hopkins survey.
Why the lack of shut-eye? It’s possible that nightly nicotine withdrawal could be causing you to toss and turn. And unfortunately, poor sleep doesn’t equal pretty

Icky teeth



Wouldn’t you love to have a set of dazzling white, Hollywood-like choppers? If you smoke, you can kiss that dream good-bye.
Who hasn't ever dreamt of dazzling white, Hollywood-like choppers?! However if you smoke, you can kiss that dream good-bye.
It’s the nicotine in cigarettes that can stain teeth.



Wrinkles and premature aging

Even the best anti wrinkle remedies won't help the smoker.
Unfortunately, experts agree that smoking accelerates aging, so that smokers look 1.4 years older than nonsmokers, on average.
Why does it happen? Smoking hampers the blood supply that keeps skin tissue looking supple and healthy

Yellow fingers

It is not only your teeth (and your house walls) which become brown because of the nicotine, it's also notorious for staining fingers and nails as well.
There is a number of home remedies, including lemon juice, bleach solutions, and scrubbing with steel wool.
Although wouldn’t it be easier—and less painful—to just quit?  (I know that in some cases, it isn't )

Thinner hair



It was quite a surprise to find out that smoking hurts your hair too. Experts suppose the toxic chemicals in smoke can damage the DNA in hair follicles and generate cell-damaging free radicals as well.
The end result? Smokers have thinner hair that tends to go gray sooner than nonsmokers.
Men who smoke are about twice as likely to lose their hair as nonsmokers, after taking into account factors that increase the risk of baldness, such as aging and genetics, according to a 2007 study in Taiwan.


Tooth loss

If you are a smoker, be ready to face a risk of all kinds of dental problems, including oral cancer and gum disease.
According to a 2005 U.K. study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, smokers are up to six times more likely than nonsmokers to suffer from gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss.

There is no natural glow anymore.

Ever notice how smokers’ skin sometimes seems off? You’re not alone. A 1985 study came up with the term Smoker’s Face to describe certain facial characteristics, such as wrinkles, gauntness, and a gray appearance of the skin, caused by smoking.
Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, which displaces the oxygen in your skin, and nicotine, which reduces blood flow, leaving skin dry and discolored. Cigarette smoking also depletes many nutrients, including vitamin C, which helps protect and repair skin damage.

Wound healing

Several studies have found that smokers do not heal as well after surgeries such as face-lifts, tooth extractions, and periodontal procedures.
So once cigarettes wrinkle up your face, you’ll have a harder time correcting the damage with cosmetic surgery than people who’ve never smoked. (And your surgeon might not even perform the procedure until you agree to kick the habit.)

Scarring



Nicotine causes vasoconstriction, a narrowing of the blood vessels that can limit oxygen-rich blood flow to the tiny vessels in the face or other parts of the body.
This means your wounds will take longer to heal and you’ll have scars that are bigger and redder than you would in a nonsmoking parallel universe.



Flabby tummy

Cigarettes can be an appetite suppressant, and often smokers have a lower body weight than nonsmokers. However,
a 2009 study in the Netherlands found that smokers had more visceral fat than nonsmokers.
This deep fat pads internal organs and can accumulate in your midsection, ultimately increasing the risk of other diseases, such as diabetes.

Warts

For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, smokers are more susceptible to infection with human papilloma virus, a large family of viruses that can cause warts—including genital warts.

While genital warts are caused by sexually transmitted types of HPV, smoking is also a risk factor. Even taking the number of sex partners into account, women who smoke are nearly four times as likely to have genital warts as nonsmokers, according to one study.

Skin cancer

Smoking can lead to cancer, including lung, throat, mouth, and esophageal cancer, so it should be no surprise that cigarettes can also increase your risk of skin cancer.
According to a 2001 study, smokers are three times as likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common type of skin cancer, than nonsmokers.

Stretch marks

The nicotine found in cigarettes damages the fibers and connective tissue in your skin, causing it to lose elasticity and strength.
Stretch marks, red skin striations that can gradually fade to a silvery hue, form when you gain weight rapidly. Anyone can get stretch marks with rapid weight gain (such as in pregnancy), but cigarettes can be a contributing factor.

Cataracts

More than half of Americans are likely to suffer from cataracts by age 80. Cigarette smoking can increase the risk of cataracts by putting oxidative stress on the lens of the eye.
In fact, continued smoking can add up to a 22% increased risk of cataract extraction, according to one study.

Psoriasis




Actually, psoriasis is an autoimmune-related skin condition that can develop even if you never touch a cigarette.
However, if you do smoke, your risk for the scaly skin condition goes up—a lot.
According to a 2007 study, if you puff a pack daily for 10 years or less,
psoriasis risk goes up 20%; 11–20 years and your risk is 60% higher; and for those who pass the two-decade mark, the psoriasis risk more than doubles.




In conclusion, I just would like to add, that being a social smoker and a woman at the same time, I was a bit shocked to discover these facts. As to icky teeth and yellow fingers, it wasn't a secret for me. But stretch marks, baggy eyes, flabby tummy, warts, scarring and absence of natural glow have set me to thinking........

 
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According to the National Center for Health Statistics (United States), an estimated 24.8 million men (23.1 percent) and 21.1 million women (18.3 percent) are smokers. Asia, Australia and the Far East are by far the largest consumers (2,715 billion cigarettes), followed by the Americas (745 billion), Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Economies (631 billion) and Western Europe (606 billion).
The figures are terrifying. In the meantime, the connection between depression and smoking has been proved by the government survey conducted recently. The survey discovered that more than a half of middle-aged men who suffer from depression are also smokers. The same situation is with the depressed women under the age of 40. Half of them are nicotine addicted.
It was found that young people at the age of 20 predisposed to depression are more likely becoming smokers than their counterparts (43% against 22%). The harder depression symptoms are - the higher is the likelihood of becoming nicotine addicted.
Considering the survey results, correlation between smoking and depression is obvious. The question “why depressed people tend to smoke more” was beyond the scope of the survey, but some researchers have suggested they might be self-medicating, with cigarettes somehow acting as a calming or relaxing mechanism – relaxing, but detrimental.
The appropriate alternative to eradicate both evils can be a small dosage of some atypical antidepressants. They used to help smokers quit including GlaxoSmithKline's Zyban, known generically as bupropion, and Pfizer's Chantix or varenicline. It was registered that in dosage of 1mg, Zyban eases the smoking withdrawal syndrome. Zyban does not contain nicotine. The medicine belongs to the class of atypical antidepressants, thus it can reduce the withdrawal symptoms like irritability and anxiety. At the same time it helps to overcome the depression. So the two main effects of the preparation are: decrease in withdrawal symptoms or their complete elimination and mood elevation.
About 7% of U.S. adults had depression in the years 2005 - 2008, the researchers said. Globally, tobacco kills about 5 million people yearly, according to the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers," the CDC says. "Cigarette smoking is responsible for about one in five deaths annually, or about 443,000 deaths per year."
This statistics won't leave indifferent even the most committed smokers. Depressed generation poisoning its health with nicotine can't be considered as mighty and strong nation.

 
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"The only "safer" cigarette is your last one" - Duane Alan Hahn
Withdrawal symptoms are the hardest thing to overcome after a person quits smoking. Many smokers want to know how long they will be affected by the agony of going without cigarettes. Since each case is individual, the answer has a lot to do with smoker's attitude about the process.

On average, it takes two to three days for the nicotine level in smoker's body to drop significantly below the maintenance level. During that time a person has frequent urges, which are the most significant withdrawal symptoms.
To alleviate the agony a person is recommended to drink lots of water, breathe deeply and keep moving. It will allow to go long periods of time without being aware of the changed situation.

You may feel all, some, or none of these symptoms within the first week. Remember that your organism is healing and that over time, the symptoms will abate. Don’t worry about them unless they persist for a long time.
Cravings for a Cigarette
Cravings for a cigarette are frequent and intense within the first two to three days after stopping. The cravings become less frequent over the next four or five days, but they may increase again and persist for many weeks. Most former smokers - even those who have been free for many years - still report an occasional urge for a cigarette.
Deep breathing and immediate activity will help distract from the cravings. The worst of the cravings usually end within a couple of weeks after breaking free. Newly free smoker is considered to be in a good shape when he no longer thinks of cigarettes all the time.
Coughing
Lungs and upper respiratory system are now getting rid of the built-up toxins that restricted smoker's breathing while the time of smoking. The body is a cleaning house, so don’t panic if you cough or spit up blackish mucus. The cough should last only a few days; cough drops or syrups may help relieve the symptoms.
Insomnia
Smokers lack energy, and their sleep tends to be restless because of coughing and difficult breathing. When a person quits smoking, he becomes healthier and the body has more energy.
If you want to sleep longer, use more of your new energy during the day by exercising harder and going to bed later, when you tend to be more tired.
Mouth Sores
A small number of people who quit smoking are affected by chemical changes in their mouths and may suffer minor problems including blisters, sores, and inflammation. For years, smoker's mouth has had to withstand the endless attacks of hot smoke, so it can handle the sores. They’ll go away in a few days.
A small number of people who quit smoking are affected by chemical changes in their mouths and may suffer minor problems including blisters, sores, and inflammation. For years, smoker's mouth has had to withstand the endless attacks of hot smoke, so it can handle the sores. They’ll go away in a few days.
Occasional Dizziness
Because the body is taking in more oxygen through the lungs than a person has been used to during smoking, he may feel dizzy. These dizzy spells will last only a few seconds. This symptom may recur for four or five days, until the body adjusts to increased oxygen intake.
Constipation
Internal movement may decrease for a brief period when a smoker lowers or stops cigarette use. This symptom can last even longer than three to four days. To avoid the constipation while quitting smoking a person is recommended to drink a lot of water, to eat more fruits and vegetables, less pastry. Beetroot salad, dried plums help to avoid the problem.
Tightness in the Chest
Some newly free smokers complain of chest pain after stopping. This happens because the organism is getting more fresh air than usual. The extra air fills the lungs and makes them feel tighter. This symptom should last for only a day or two after stopping. See your doctor if it persists.
Irritability
It is the nicotine that makes a person become hooked on cigarettes. When the nicotine level declines, smoker's body begins to sense the loss. This can cause tension and be symptomatic of the grief process. Deep breathing and exercising will help relieve irritability.
Lack of concentration
Some former smokers notice lapses in concentration soon after they break free. This symptom may be the combined result of other withdrawal symptoms - irritability, insomnia, and the change in daily routine, caused by smoking cessation. The focus will be clearer within a few days, and you will develop new ways of coping without reaching for a cigarette.

Remember, not all symptoms that surface after smoking cessation are due to smoking withdrawal. It can be caused by dental cure or some other procedures you were doing while quitting.

Feeling Sleepy
Some smokers report that they get a boost of energy from smoking. The body needs time to adjust to not having a cigarette every half hour or so. If you feel sleepy, don’t hesitate to take a nap during the first few days you are free of smoking. However, according to my personal experience, I always feel full of energy and fresh when I do not smoke for few days. And, on the contrary, I feel weak, lazy and sleepy after taking a cigarette. It means the only one thing – each case is individual.

 

 
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In my previous posts I have already explained my concerns about smoking. Smoking on and off for years, I have studied this habit of nicotine addiction from both sides. And I can reassure you that people who don't want to recognize the harm of smoking, just play devil's advocate. However I have not been realizing how strong the addiction can be till I came across these amazing facts. The European survey discovered that most smokers would find it easier to give up sex for a month than cigarettes.

The survey of 2,000 smokers was conducted in six European countries, with Britain boasting the highest proportion of respondents (80%) who enjoy sex, but would rather prefer a cigarette if they  had to choose.  

“It’s not that I don’t enjoy sex,” said a married woman. “It’s just that a cigarette lasts longer. And if I suddenly decide that I don’t want to finish the cigarette, nobody complains. Nobody screams and runs to the shower.”

“I always smile after sex,” said another British woman, “because I can finally have myself a smoke.”

Even in France, a land where lovemaking has the form of art, nearly 70% would rather create an abstract work — on their X-rays. “If you want to see true love in action, come to my house,” said one Frenchman. “Every night, my wife undresses, comes to bed and starts smoking. I don’t complain, because I know which butt she’ll throw out of bed. I once told her that it isn’t safe to smoke in bed and she reminded me, rather coldly, that it’s better to smoke in bed than be a joke in bed.”

But it’s not just women whose lives would be hard without the occasion to drag on a cigarette. Many men are just as hooked. “The thing about cigarettes,” said another man, “they don’t ask for a
commitment. They just come into your life and never leave. You might get rid of them for a few days, but they keep returning, keep visiting you, like a bunch of bad
relatives.”

Indeed, the research found that nicotine is so addictive that even after a heart attack, 60% of smokers light up again. They know that nicotine kills half of all lifetime smokers, they know they’re lucky to be alive, yet only the most determined ones manage to overcome the harmful addiction.

Ninety-year-old man: “Yes! After all these years, I’ve finally kicked the habit. I’m a free man. From now on, no more sex. I’m going to be celibate for the rest of my life!”

Friend: “Wow! What happened? Are you concerned about your declining health?”

Ninety-year-old: “No, I’m concerned about my declining wealth. That darn Viagra was so expensive, I couldn’t afford cigarettes.”

 

 - "Much smoking kills live men and cures dead swine". ~George D. Prentice

- "Nicotine patches are great. Stick one over each eye and you can't find your cigarettes".  ~Author Unknown

 - "To smoke or not to smoke:I can make of either a life-work". ~Mignon McLaughlin

 - "The best way to stop smoking is to just stop - no ifs, ands or butts". ~Edith Zittler

- "A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure.  It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied.  What more can one want?" ~Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

- "A nonsmoker is forced to find food, but for a smoker breakfast can be a cigarette and a cup of bad coffee." ~Brock Fiant

- "He who doth not smoke hath either known no great griefs, or refuseth himself the softest consolation, next to that which comes from heaven."~Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

- "Here is my final point. About drugs, about alcohol, about pornography and smoking and everything else. What business is it of yours what I do, read, buy, see, say, think, who I fuck, what I take into my body - as long as I do not harm another human being on this planet?"  ~Bill Hicks American Comedian)

- "I know a man who gave up smoking, drinking, sex, and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself." ~Johnny Carson quotes (American TV Host)

- "If you resolve to give up smoking, drinking and loving, you don't actually live longer; it just seems longer"~Author Unknown

- "I tried to stop smoking cigarettes by telling myself I just didn't want to smoke, but I didn't believe myself" ~Barbara Kelly