Archive for January, 2009
Why Quit Smoking?
Sunday, January 25th, 2009Smoking is pleasurable, up to a point. That, after all, is why so many do it. If there were no gain, the practice would quickly die out. But a lot of meaning is stuffed into that innocent phrase ‘up to a point’. While the short term benefits of smoking cigarettes is real, the harm is […]
Why Is Cigarette Smoking Habit Forming?
Thursday, January 15th, 2009Nicotine is one of the most well known components of inhaled cigarette smoke. But is it addictive? Yes and no. The details that make clear that paradoxical statement are interesting.
Nicotine itself is not addictive. But then, neither is heroin. It’s what the body does with that compound that produces the result. Think that’s quibbling over […]
What’s In Cigarette Smoke?
Thursday, January 8th, 2009There are thousands of chemical compounds in cigarette smoke, many of them toxic. But simply displaying a long list of intimidating names, and even pointing out which are harmful, isn’t particularly helpful. In medicine, dosage is key.
Many of the compounds in cigarette smoke are found in only trace amounts, in the range of nanograms for […]
Stress and its role in Smoking
Thursday, January 1st, 2009Many smokers start or continue their habit in order to deal with stress. But quitting smoking increases stress itself. That double-whammy makes it doubly hard to stop. Understanding what creates stress and finding healthier ways to deal with it well help in that struggle.
At low dosages, nicotine is a stimulant. It increases heart rate and […]
