Tobacco: The Harmful Effects

Introduction

Recent statistics show that about 5 million people -which is 1 in 10 adults - die each year due to smoking: mostly from heart, lung and respiratory diseases, and cancers. .

Tobacco Products- made from dried processed leaves of tobacco plants

Products that are smoked– What are 3 ways people smoke tobacco?– Cigarettes– most common– Cigars– usually contains more nicotine than

cigarette tobacco– Pipes-- usually contains more nicotine than

cigarette tobacco

Tobacco Products (continued)

Smokeless Tobacco– chewed, placed between the lower lip and teeth or sniffed through the nose– Contains many of the same harmful chemicals as

tobacco smoke– Increases saliva production, so sometimes it is

called “spit” or “spit tobacco”– Examples:

Chewing tobacco (dip or chew)– placed between the cheek and gum

Snuff- dry powder placed between lower lip and teeth

Chemicals in Tobacco Products

Nicotine– very addictive chemical in tobacco products; acts as an insecticide to protect tobacco plants from insects

Effects of Nicotine– Short term– increased heart rate and blood

pressure, changes in brain that may lead to addiction

– One time use- rapid pulse, clammy skin, nausea, dizziness

Chemicals in Tobacco Products

Tar– dark, sticky substance that forms when tobacco burns– Contains a mixture of chemicals, many of which are

called carcinogens or cancer-causing agents

Carbon Monoxide– odorless, poisonous gas– Binds to red blood cells in place of oxygen; What

does that mean for our body?

Chemicals in Tobacco Products

Other Chemicals– Acetone- also known as nail polish remover– Cadmium- found in batteries– Formaldehyde- embalming fluid– Arsenic- found in weed killer– Stearic acid- found in candle wax

Chemicals in Smokeless Tobacco– similar to those in tobacco smoke

How Smoking Effects You

Secondhand smoke is very dangerous for children. It causes between 150,000 and 300,000 cases of lower respiratory infections in children every year.

Secondhand Smoke- combination of mainstream and sidestream smoke

Mainstream smoke– exhaled from the smoker’s lungs

Sidestream smoke– smoke that goes directly into the air from the cigarette– Has twice as much tar and nicotine as

mainstream smoke

ASSIGNMENT

When you are finished with your research in the centers today, you will have a completed the “Tobacco Information Worksheet” that I have given you.

This week in class, you will use the information that you find to make a brochure that will educate people on the harmful effects of tobacco and help current smokers quit.

TASK 1: Who is Smoking?

Use the following American Cancer Society website to answer the questions 1 and 2 on your worksheet.

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/cigarettesmoking/cigarette-smoking-who-smokes-cigarettes

TASK 2: The Effects of Smoking

There are many side effects of smoking. Use the websites below to compile a list of side effects which will answer question 3.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/tobacco/smoking.html

Other Affects of Smoking

Respiratory Diseases

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)- disease that results in gradual loss of lung functionChronic Bronchitis– airways are constantly inflamed and there is overproduction of mucusEmphysema– disorder in which alveoli in the lungs can no longer function properly

Other Affects of Smoking

Cardiovascular Diseases

2-3 times more likely to have a heart attack than a nonsmoker2 times more likely to have a stroke10 times more likely to develop circulation problems in blood vessels

Other Affects of Smoking

CancerLung CancerOral Cancer

– Leukoplakia– white patches that develop on the tongues or the lining of the mouth

Other cancers– esophagus,

larynx, stomach, pancreas,

kidney, bladder

TASK 3: A Costly Bad Habit

Smoking is a costly habit. Use the website below to answer questions 4 and 5 about how much money smoking can cost a person in one year.

http://www.stop-smoking-tips.com/dangers-smoking.html

TASK 4:

Use the website below to come up three reasons to encourage a parent to quit smoking and answer question 6.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/drugs_alcohol/folks_smoking.html

Task 5: Reasons to Quit Smoking

Go to the link below and use it to answer questions 7 and 8 about the benefits of quitting smoking.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Guide_for_Quitting_Smoking.asp

Task 6: Methods for Quitting Smoking

Go to the website below and to answer question 9 about quitting smoking.

http://www.essortment.com/family/stopsmoking_skxr.htm

E-Cigarettehttp://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/tobacco/e-cigarettes.html

Battery-powered smoking devices often designed to look and feel like regular cigarettes.

Because e-cigarettes do not burn tobacco, people don’t inhale the same amounts of tar and carbon monoxide as a regular cigarette.

Still get nicotine and other chemicals Research still working on finding all affects of e-

cigarettes

EXTRA CREDIT: “What Kids Say About Tobacco”

If you finish the work at the centers before the period is over, read the article, “What Kids Say About Tobacco”, and write two things that surprised you or that you didn’t know.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/drugs_alcohol/poll_tobacco.html