Quit Smoking

Abstract

This research paper is a modest attempt to highlight the biggest cause of avoidable deaths in the world. This preventable habit is smoking. This research introduces the habit of smoking in light of its statistical significance in terms of its physiological, psychological and overall mortality related impacts. The discussion of the research is focused on three key focal points. First of which is, nicotine a constituent of cigarettes, that serves as an addictive agent. In the same section after highlighting the addictiveness of nicotine; smoking's physiological effects are illustrated for the smokers, passive smokers that include children and also pregnant women. The second segment of discussion deals with the social, economical and psychological reasoning's that leads to the habit of smoking. The final section of the discussion would focus on the misleading, manipulative and anti-regulatory practices of the cigarette industry and its lobbyists. The overall aim of the paper is to give substantial evidence to the reader about smoking's danger and thus influence them towards its cessation.

Table of Content

Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Discussion2

The Element of 'Addiction' from Smoking and its Long Term Physiological Effects2

Addiction2

Long Term Physiological Effects4

Tobacco Control Measures5

Influences that Propagate Smoking Habits6

The Tobacco Industry and its Undermining of Anti-Tobacco Measures: Revealed12

Conclusion15

References17

Quit Smoking

Introduction

Smoking is an act through which substances, most common of which include tobacco or marijuana, is burnt and the smoke inhaled. In our research we would limit our discussions to the acts of tobacco smoking. The process of combustion, in the act of smoking, releases various substances including Nicotine. These substances are absorbed by the smoker through the lungs. The most common method of smoking is through cigarettes. Other common variants and methods for smoking includes: pipes, cigars, biddies, hookahs, shishas, vaporizers and bongs. A research conducted on the effects of smoking has concluded that smoking related diseases accounts for the death of one half of all long term smokers. Further, diseases can also be contracted by non-smokers (British Heart Foundation, 2012). A report suggests that about 4.9 million people worldwide each year die through the act of smoking. Amongst which, 400,000 deaths per year occur in USA and approximately 100,000 in the U.K. Tobacco smoking is the most popular form of smoking and is a practice conducted by over one billion people in the world (West & Shifman, 2007). Thus, the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2011) concludes, “Smoking is a greater cause of death and disability than any single disease”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in U.S., has itemized a list of preventable battles. The objective of the department is to promote measures to alleviate these preventable modes of concerns for the health and well-being of the society. Tobacco and cigarette habits, is one of the key targets amidst this list of 'Winnable Battles' (CDC, 2012).

According to many findings, the act of cigarette smoking is the most significant preventable causes of death and illnesses in the world. It is believed that in developed countries, smoking habit can be attributed to 12-13% of life years ...