| Effects of Tobacco Smoking during pregnancy Passive smoking Smoking and other Drugs What causes the harm? Tolerance and Dependence Giving up Smoking Help to quit Smoking and the Law |
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General Information
What is Tobacco?
Tobacco is made from the dried leaves of the tobacco plant. It is smoked in cigarettes, cigars or pipes, or (less often) chewed. Many smokers become ill or die from the effects of tobacco.
Effects of Tobacco
The effects of smoking depend on:
- how much you smoke
- how long you have been smoking
- what strength and type of tobacco you smoke
- how deeply you breathe in the smoke
- how healthy you are
- whether there are certain illnesses in your family history.
Immediate effects
As soon as you smoke, your:
- heart beats faster
- blood pressure rises
- stomach produces acid
- kidneys produce less urine
- brain and nervous system work faster, then slower
- hunger becomes less
- sense of taste and smell weakens
- small, hair-like threads in the lungs and airways (cilia) don't work properly
- blood flow to fingers and toes decreases
You can also get:
- stomach upsets
- watery eyes
- dizziness
Long-term effects
If you have been smoking for a long time, you can:
- often run out of breath and cough
- get stains on fingers and teeth
- look older, with more wrinkles and dry skin
- have more difficulty getting pregnant than a non-smoker
Many diseases can result from long-term smoking. These include:
- narrowing and/or hardening of blood vessels, especially in the heart and legs
- respiratory infections e.g. colds, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis
- emphysema (a long-term, progressive lung disease)
- heart attack and coronary heart disease
- cancer of lungs, mouth, larynx, pharynx, oesophagus (gullet), bladder, kidney, pancreas and cervix
- stomach ulcers
- disease of the veins because of decreased blood flow to the legs.
Smoking during pregnancy
Smoking during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or the baby being born dead or with serious illness. Smoking has also been linked with the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot death). Babies of women who smoke, weigh less than non-smokers' babies.
Passive smoking
"Passive smoking" happens when non-smokers breathe in smoke from other people's cigarettes. This includes the smoke that is breathed out and the smoke going directly into the air from a cigarette or pipe.
Passive smoking can lead to lung cancer in those who don't smoke. It can also cause breathing problems in people who have asthma.* It can lead to serious chest and breathing problems in children, and has been linked with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot death).
The effects of passive smoking depend on:
- how long you spend in a smoke-filled room
- how much fresh air there is
- how many cigarettes are smoked
Smoking and other Drugs
Women who smoke and take the contraceptive pill are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than non-smokers who take the pill.
Smoking and drinking alcohol may make you more likely to get mouth cancers.
What causes the harm?
Tobacco smoke is made up of various chemicals that make smoking addictive and unhealthy.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a chemical that acts on the brain and causes people to become dependent on tobacco (see 'Dependence' below). The immediate effect of nicotine on the brain is to make you feel alert, active, and/or relaxed. Nicotine causes the blood vessels to narrow, which then affects blood pressure. Nicotine also makes the heart beat faster. However, these effects only happen when you smoke tobacco, not when you use nicotine in other forms such as nicotine replacement therapy. This is because smoking delivers nicotine to the body very quickly.
Tar
Tar is a black substance that comes from burning tobacco. It is released in tobacco smoke in the form of tiny particles. Tar is the main cause of lung and throat cancers and also makes asthma and other lung diseases worse. It also causes yellow stains on teeth and fingers.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that you can't see or smell. It is found in tobacco smoke (also in car exhaust and smoke from fires). When a person smokes, carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream more easily than the oxygen that we need to breathe. The lungs then take in less oxygen, and this can lead to hardening of the arteries and heart disease.
Other chemicals
There are many other chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Some of these are poisonous, and others can cause cancer.
Tolerance and Dependence
Many people can develop a 'tolerance' to the nicotine in tobacco. Tolerance means that you must smoke more to feel the same effects you used to have with fewer cigarettes. Tolerance reaches a peak after a certain period of smoking.
'Dependence' on tobacco means that smoking takes up much of your thoughts, emotions and activities. Not all people who smoke are dependent.
Giving up Smoking
Dependent people can find it very difficult to stop or reduce smoking because of withdrawal symptoms. These can include:
- cravings for cigarettes
- headaches
- coughing
- being irritable
- more hunger
- getting nervous or tense
- sleep problemsstomach and bowel problems
- finding it hard to concentrate
- muscle spasms
- taste changes
Some benefits of giving up smoking happen as soon as you stop:
- After 6 hours the heart rate slows down and blood pressure drops slightly.
- After 12 hours the nicotine has left the body.
- After 24 hours the lungs get rid of carbon monoxide and breathing improves. You may start coughing as the lungs begin working properly to get rid of built-up substances.
- After two days the nicotine by-products have left the body.
- Within two months blood circulation to the hands and feet have improved.
- After three months both men and women become more fertile.
- After one year you are far less likely to get heart disease.
- Within 10 years of giving up, the risk of getting other smoking-related illnesses is almost the same as for someone who has never smoked.
Help to quit
Most smokers try several times before stopping completely. Many people have found it easier to stop altogether ('go cold turkey') rather than cut down gradually.
There are many things you can do to reduce cravings. Contact the Quitline on 131 848 for information.
Nicotine replacement therapy
Nicotine replacement therapy can help smokers give up. This works by giving the body the nicotine it craves, but through chewing gum or skin patches rather than cigarettes. For some people, nicotine replacement therapy can double their chances of stopping smoking for good.
Nicotine patches or gum can have some minor side effects such as hiccups, stomach upsets, sleep problems or skin reactions. Pregnant women should seek advice about using nicotine gum or patches.
Nicotine patches and gum are available over the counter from chemists.
Smoking and the Law
Smoking in public places
- Smoking is banned in Government buildings (schools, workplaces, offices, hospitals, post offices, motor registries etc). It is also banned in many other public places such as shops, restaurants, cinemas etc.
- Smoking is banned on most public transport including buses, trains, planes and taxis.
- Smoking if you are near or handling food for sale is also banned.
Sales of tobacco
- In most states it is prohibited for people to sell tobacco to anyone under 18.
Health warnings
- All tobacco products must carry health warnings about the effects of smoking.
Advertising
- Tobacco advertising is banned on television, radio, print (except overseas magazines/newspapers), cinema and billboards.
- Tobacco company sponsorship of sport is banned unless the Government gives permission.
- Advertising displayed in shops selling cigarettes is still allowed in some states, but size and placement is restricted.