Family Health History - Research Paper Example

Family Health HistoryFamily health history is a crucial risk factor that reflects typical behaviors and inherited genetic susceptibility creating a history help to know about diseases and its risks. Habit and lifestyle are some of the things that influence the overall health and the likelihood of developing diseases. Smoking is one of the habits.Cigarettes contain nicotine a highly addictive substance; this makes it difficult for a smoker to quit due to the effects of nicotine. People addicted to smoking need enough nicotine over a day for them to feel normal (Silverstein 12).

These addiction results from three main reasons, first, is because nicotine affects the nervous system and the brain functionality, it can change the temperament and the mood of the smoker. Cigarettes are often used to cover up uncomfortable feelings like anger and nervousness. Nicotine is known to be poisonous, and it could result in fatality when taken in large amounts.Secondly, Nicotine produces pleasurable feelings even when taken in small amounts this make the smoker crave for more. Thirdly, smokers usually suffer both psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms whenever they stop smoking; this is due to the usual dependency on nicotine.

Some of the withdrawal results include irritability, nervousness and headache.Smoking harms nearly every organ resulting in many diseases and reducing health in general. Smoking damages the entire cardiovascular system, and it boosts the blood sugar when nicotine hits your body; it also causes blood vessels to tighten thus restricting blood flow (Sturm 21). Smoking leads to rising in blood pressure and lowers good cholesterol level this can result in stretching of arteries and buildup of bad cholesterol it also raises the risk of blood clots formation.

Weakened blood vessels and blood clots in the smoker’s brain increases the risk of stroke. There is an increased risk of recurrent coronary heart diseases for smokers who have heart bypass surgery and in long term smokers are at a greater risk of blood cancer. Nevertheless, smoking has a risk to non-smokers too; breathing secondhand smoke has an immediate effect on the cardiovascular system this leads to heart attack and coronary diseases.To tackle this problem, I will encourage the smoker to seek medical consultation.

One of the medical solutions is nicotine replacement therapy. This medium involves the use of nicotine gum that delivers nicotine through the mouth linings and nicotine patches to release a steady stream of nicotine into the bloodstream through the skin.Some of the smoking signs involve the skin; substances in tobacco smoke change the skin structure. Smoking causes premature aging wrinkles and also discoloration of the skin, in addition, cigarettes cause the development of yellow or brown stains on their teeth (Sturm 24).

The smell of tobacco is held in the hair long after the cigarette is put out; this smell even clings to non-smokers.In conclusion, since it is not that easy to quit, I will encourage the smoker not to force himself to abandon but to try to notice how the cigarette looks, feels and smells. Doing this makes the smoker aware of himself, and it will help when he finally takes control of himself since one cannot stop doing something he is not aware. Finally, I will encourage the smoker to stop buying cigarettes, throw remaining cigarettes away and live a long and healthy life instead of thinking about dying.

Works CitedSilverstein, Brett. "Cigarette Smoking, Nicotine Addiction, and Relaxation." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (1982): n. pag. Print.Sturm, R. "The Effects Of Obesity, Smoking, And Drinking On Medical Problems And Costs." Health Affairs (2002): n. pag. Print.