Globalization of cigarette smoking

Over one billion people globally smoke tobacco every day.

Smoking dates are coming since 7,000 years ago. The globalization of cigarette smoking originates from the European exploration and conquest of the Americas, where tobacco smoking was common. The Europeans quickly took it up, and it spread around the world rapidly. There are many European cigarett brands like :Fluieras cigarettes or Style cigarettes which are very well known among smokers.Tobacco smoking has developed very quickly.

smoking_cigarette

USA statistics – according to the American Heart Association, 23.1% of men (24.8 million) and 18.3% of women (21.1 million) are smokers. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) an estimated total of 443,000 deaths occur every year in the USA from cigarette smoking – almost 1 in every 5 deaths. That is more deaths than the combined total from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders.

UK statistics – according to the National Health Service (NHS), UK, about one quarter of the adult population of the UK smokes (20 million people). 25% of British men and 23% of British women smoke. Smoking is the biggest cause of illness and death in the UK, causing 114,000 smokers to die annually. About half of all British smokers eventually manage to stop.

Many countries have introduced legislation over the last three decades banning smoking in shops, restaurants, pubs and bars, public places, etc. Not that many decades ago movie theaters (cinemas) in England used to have smoking and non-smoking sections. A significant number of young people are not aware that smoking was common in commercial airplanes.

People’s view of smoking has varied over time, from being a vulgar habit, a sophisticated pastime, to a deadly health hazard. Over the last three decades of the twentieth century, mainly in industrialized countries, smoking became increasingly viewed as an undesirable activity that is bad for the health – a practice that kills.

Many countries have introduced legislation over the last three decades banning smoking in shops, restaurants, pubs and bars, public places, etc. Not that many decades ago movie theaters (cinemas) in England used to have smoking and non-smoking sections. A significant number of young people are not aware that smoking was common in commercial airplanes.

According to Medilexicon’s medical dictionary:

Nicotine is ” A poisonous volatile alkaloid derived from tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) and responsible for many of the effects of tobacco; it first stimulates (small doses), then depresses (large doses) at autonomic ganglia and myoneural junctions. Its principal urinary metabolite is cotinine. Nicotine is an important tool in physiologic and pharmacologic investigation, is used as an insecticide and fumigant, and forms salts with most acids.”

What is nicotine dependence?

Nicotine dependence is an addiction to tobacco products caused by one of its ingredients – the drug nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive drug which causes mood-altering changes in the brain which are temporarily pleasing, making people want to use it more and more.

When a person is addicted to nicotine they have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, which temporarily go away when they receive the nicotine through smoking tobacco. Experts say that nicotine is one of the hardest of all addictions to break.

Put simply – nicotine dependence means the individual cannot stop using the substance.

Unfortunately, while the smoker is addicted to the nicotine, they consume thousands of toxic substances present in tobacco smoke in order to get their fix.

In the USA in 1988, the Surgeon General reported that:

• Cigarettes and other tobacco products are addicting
• The addiction is caused by the drug nicotine
• Pharmacologic and behavioral characteristics that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine

What are the signs and symptoms of nicotine addiction?

A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor notice. For example, sleepiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.

Signs and symptoms of nicotine addiction may vary, according to the individual. Some people become totally dependent (addicted) fairly rapidly. Examples include:

• The individual smokes and cannot stop – they have made at least one serious attempt to stop, but unsuccessfully.
• Withdrawal symptoms – when trying to stop the individual had physical and mood-related symptoms. There were cravings, bouts of moodiness and irritability, poor concentration, a feeling of being depressed and hollow/empty, anger, frustration, increased appetite, and insomnia. In some cases there may also have been diarrhea or constipation.
• Smoking prevails despite the emergence of health problems – the individual continues to smoke, even though they have developed smoking related illnesses, such as a lung or heart condition.
• Social and/or recreational sacrifices – some activities were given up because of smoking. For example, certain restaurants or pubs that became smoke free. Perhaps the individual stopped visiting friends whose environments/homes are smoke free. The regular Friday night bowling get-together with friends stopped because smoking was not allowed there anymore.

What are the causes of nicotine addiction?

Tobacco contains a substance – nicotine – which keeps the smoker smoking. Experts affirm it may be as addictive as cocaine. Nicotine increases the release of neurotransmitters which regulate behavior and mood.

Nicotine triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter which give people a pleasant feeling. Obtaining that dopamine rush is said to be a major part of the addiction process – smokers crave that neurotransmitter (especially dopamine) rush.

Experts say that when nicotine is inhaled the brain is affected within seconds. After an inhalation the smoker’s heart rate increases, levels of the hormones noradrenalin also increase, as well as dopamine – the whole experience is said to enhance mood, as well as the ability to concentrate.

A neurotransmitter is a chemical that is released from a nerve cell. The neurotransmitter transmits an impulse from one nerve cell to another nerve, tissue, organ or muscle – it is a messenger of neurological information from one cell to another.

There are other physical as well as psychological factors which influence the addiction process. The following situations, cues or behaviors may be linked to smoking urges:

• Certain moments during the day may be associated with a greater desire to smoke, such as with the first cup of coffee, during work breaks, or after routine tasks.
• After eating – most smokers have a stronger desire to smoke immediately after a meal.
• Alcohol - most smokers who drink alcohol say that tobacco and alcohol are enjoyed together.
• Some places - smokers often find certain places, such as the toilet, some bars and pubs (if smoking is allowed there), or car parks (after getting down from the car or coming into the car park from a supermarket and walking towards the car) trigger a desire to smoke.
• Some people - smokers often find that meeting other people, especially if they are also smokers; make them want to smoke more.
• Moments of stress – the majority of smokers will typically have an urge to smoke when faced with a stressful, exciting or emotional situation.
• The telephone – when the telephone rings at home many smokers run for their cigarettes before picking it up.
• Tobacco smell - the smell of other people smoking can be a strong trigger for smokers to want to light up.
• Driving – smokers usually smoke when driving on their own.

If a smoker does not receive nicotine for an extended period, for example 24 hours, the following signs and symptoms of withdrawal may emerge:

• A drop in mood (depressed mood)
• Agitation
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Frustration
• Greater appetite
• Heart rate (pulse) slows down
• Insomnia
• Lightheadedness
• Problems focusing
• Tetchiness, sometimes even hostility