Why do People Smoke - Research Paper Example

Topic: Smoking Introduction Smoking is associated with numerous disadvantages including severe ones such as death and despite people having this knowledge for more than half a century, millions of still smoke and a huge percentage of the population develop the habit each year (Jha & Chaloupka, 1999). The accounts of the people who smoke and those that decide to start smoking entail strong additions as well as passionate defiance and billions of dollars that are spent making people behave in a manner that does not focus on their best interests. Even though the percentage of people who smoke has considerable reduced compared to the numbers registered in the fifties and sixties, the number of people smoking today is still high and constant as it is not reducing anymore (Viscusi, 2002). This essay seeks to identify the reasons why people smoke, the risks that are associated with this habit and the best and most effective methods of stopping this habit. Thesis statement: Knowledge on the risks and dangers of smoking has been in existence for a long time but people are not deterred from taking up the habit. Reasons why people smoke Experimentation with smoking normally takes place during the initial stages of adolescent life and is mainly driven by motives that are psychosocial in nature (Wagner & Triggle, 2003). In the case of beginners, smoking is considered as a symbolic activity that aims at demonstrating that a person in no longer a child; they have become tougher and can make their own choices. The children who develop an attraction to this assertion that is associated with superficial adulthood or some form of rebelliousness usually originate from upbringings that prefer smoking such as parents, siblings or peers who smoke (Jantz & McMurray, 2011). These children are also considered as not being on a successful path according to the terms of their societies as they are seen as having a low self-approval or being poor achievers among other issues. The preferred image is enough for the smoker who is just taking up the habit to endure the distaste from the first few cigarette sticks but afterwards pharmacological aspects become more elaborate and assume a greater significance. As far as taking up the habit of smoking is concerned, it can be stated, “As the force from the psychosocial symbolism subsides, the pharmacological effect takes over to sustain the habit” (Fetherston, 2007). In a span of a year after a teenager begins smoking, they take in a similar quantity of nicotine in every cigarette as the adult smokers, start longing smoking when in situations where they are not allowed to smoke, try to stop the habit and face various problems and symptoms that are synonymous with nicotine withdrawal. Harm associated with smoking The smoke from cigarettes is absorbed in the lungs quickly and completely, and thus every time a person inhales, there is an increased concentration of arterial bolus nicotine that is produced to reach the brain in about ten to fifteen seconds, which is quicker than an injection to the veins (Golden, 2009). The distributional half-lifes of nicotine is fifteen to twenty minutes while its terminal half-lifes in a person’s blood is about two hours making the smokers face patterns of dreary and transitory blood to nicotine concentrations after smoking every cigarette (Levin, 2002). This means that consistent smoking every hour is required to maintain the high concentrations, and when they go to sleep, these levels decrease to almost those that are recorded in people who do not smoke. Dependence on cigarettes is a continuing relapsing condition, which for most of the smokers involves struggling to achieve abstinence on long-term basis that will extend for years or the rest of their lives (Syrigos, Nutting & Roussos, 2006). Effective interventions need to address the interrelated collection of aspects that include personal, family and pharmacological factors among others, as these are responsible for sustaining the usage and can be huge hurdles to the process of quitting. Thousands of chemicals constitute the smoke that comes from burning tobacco with most of them being toxic to the body and almost seventy of the chemicals that are found in this smoke can cause cancer. Some of the poisons that are contained in tobacco smoke include carbon monoxide, which is highly dangerous when inhaled in large doses and is also a component of exhaust fumes that are produced by engines (Doweiko, 2009). The gas takes the place of oxygen in the blood and starves the lungs, heart and various other body organs from oxygen that is required to ensure proper functioning. Tar is also a component of tobacco smoke and when a person smokes tobacco, the tar covers his lungs in the same manner as soot does in a chimney. Smoke that has tar in it irritates the lungs, which results in an increase in the quantity of mucus in the entire breathing system and difficulties in inhalation. The people who engage in smoking for prolonged durations of their lives are at an increased risk of developing conditions that can be potentially deadly such as cancer of the various parts of the body including the mouth, nose and throat among others (Cappelli & Mobley, 2008). They can also develop diseases of the lungs like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease that includes such conditions as bronchitis and emphysema. Prolonged smoking generally makes the overall health of a person deteriorate and may lead to heart diseases that may result in heart attacks and strokes. Poor circulation of the blood in the limbs that may be painful and in severe cases, gangrene and amputation may also be associated with smoking for a long time. Effective methods of stopping Regardless of whether a person is an adolescent smoker of a habitual smoker, trying to stop the habit of smoking can be difficult (Munafò, 2003). However, if the person who wishes to break this habit gets more knowledge of the options and gets ready for the quitting process, the process will become easier. With the appropriate plans that are personalized for a person’s specific needs it is possible for a smoker to break the habit, deal with the cravings and be part of the many people who have been successful in dealing with the problem permanently. Quitting smoking might be challenging because the habit entails a physical dependence and a psychological obsession (Aveyard, 2004). Nicotine that is in the cigarettes gives a short-term and addictive high to the smoker and an elimination of this consistent fix of nicotine makes the body experience withdrawals symptoms physically as well as cravings. As a result of the effect of nicotine on the brain, the smokers become accustomed to smoking as a means of dealing with stressful situations, depression and nervousness as well as boring situations. Smoking for a long time engrains the act into a person’s daily routine and it may become automatic for an individual to smoke while taking their coffee in the morning, or taking a break from the daily activities. Research has demonstrated that stopping the smoking habit abruptly is a better method than decreasing the number of cigarettes smoked then ultimately stopping unless the reduction in the number of cigarettes is a part of a structured program where someone other than the smoker makes the decision on when to smoke. If a person decides to reduce their smoking, it is advisable to get rid of the preferred cigarettes first as leaving the preferred ones for last will make them enjoyable ultimately making the process of quitting entire difficult. There are people who achieve success in quitting completely but it is imperative to come up with an elaborate plan as well as timeframe. The smoker wishing to quit should know that reducing the number of cigarettes requires a lot of energy and one can get quit fatigue even before they are successful with stopping the habit. For the smokers who consider quitting abruptly as a huge step, reducing the number of cigarettes shows more effort than not trying, but it is important to have people who can encourage the smoker during the period that he is trying to quit. References Aveyard, R. (2004). How to stop smoking. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Winning Edge Publications. Cappelli, D., & Mobley, C. (2008). Prevention in clinical oral health care. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier. Doweiko, H. (2009). Concepts of chemical dependency. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Fetherston, S. (2007). How to stop smoking in 5 days. Courtenay, B.C.: YUNA Health Pub. Golden, R. (2009). The truth about smoking. New York: Facts On File. Jantz, G., & McMurray, A. (2011). The stranger in your house. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook. Jha, P., & Chaloupka, F. (1999). Curbing the epidemic. Washington, DC: World Bank. Levin, E. (2002). Nicotinic receptors in the nervous system. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Munafò, M. (2003). Smoking cessation matters in primary care. Abingdon, Oxon, UK: Radcliffe Medical Press. Syrigos, K., Nutting, C., & Roussos, C. (2006). Tumors of the chest. Berlin: Springer. Viscusi, W. (2002). Smoke-filled rooms. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Wagner, H., & Triggle, D. (2003). Nicotine. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers. Read More