Smoking hasn't killed me yet...

Following my extensive research on the topic of Smoking, and all of the questions I have studied and answered, while still trying to gather some; I have concluded that overall smoking is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. It takes many lives every year, causes stress and depression in many life's, and also effects family and friends in multiple ways. I have concluded that anyone who is smoking should and needs to stop now because it can benefit them just by putting out that cigarette, that cigarettes shouldn't be popularized as they are in today's movies/commercials, and lifestyle, and that all of the cons outweigh the pro's considerably.  Even though their are lots of resources out to help people quit smoking, and that show people the scary side of it they still keep doing it and that angers me to know that people are being that stubborn. As i continue to explore the facts and many faces of smoking it interests me to find new articles and research that has been conducted to find new ways to stop or see the true effects on the brain and body. I am not sure about my opinions on smoking because I have many friends that smoke and they are perfectly happy with themselves but I also have family members that consider smoking to be one of the most horrible things you can do to your body. I still would love to do more research on how long it takes for your body to be permanatley effected by cigarettes and how fast nicotine starts to leave your body after ones first cigarette. Although I have searched multiple resources I have yet to find the certain facts on if it is possible or not to be a "social smoker" and if you can honestly just have a few each weekend without being considered a "full time" smoker. I still wonder about how smoking can effect those around you and if secondhand smoke is worse than acutally smoking. I am going to explore this topic further to gain more knowledge about smoking and it's effects on the body, mind, and the social aspects of it as well.

Don't mind me I'm just socially killing myself!

In my last blog, I analyzed the effects of nicotine on the brain ad body, and the addictiveness of cigarettes. I felt the need to further explore information on the social aspects of smoking and its evolution into a norm. When I stumbled upon my first source in the Health Magazine, an article titled "Social smokers aren't hooked on nicotine just smoking, I was somewhat intrigued by the information. This article basically informed me that even if you’re not addicted to nicotine you can still be addicted to smoking in itself. These so called "Social" Smokers are typically people who only smoke on the weekends, around a crowd, or only when they drink. This is a great thing, however I can guarantee most people you ask will tell you they are social smokers rather than being addicted. This makes me wonder why people feel the need to smoke to be cool, I mean after all, besides the obvious health problems, there's the smell, the taste, and they separate themselves from the nonsmoking friends. After rewarding this I question whether or not a social smoker reaps the downfalls of smoking as fast as a frequent smoker; after all it’s the same process just maybe not as fast

After reading the Health Magazine article I dug deeper into my research only to find an article published at WebMD. This article holds the similar topic of “Social Smoking” but with a different outlook on the topic. Their research says that it is a method often tried by many drug addicts, but doesn't work because it eventually leads to becoming a full time smoker. Doctors have said that there is no “safe” amount to be smoking, because after all any smoking is still smoking. I do question the amount that is acceptable before any true damage or signs of harm start showing. I think that the resource has a very valid point when it says that “soon they find themselves out on the street at 20 degrees below freezing with the other social smokers.” To be honest that is one of the most truthful pieces of information I have heard in a long time. I always see these smokers freezing out in the snow just for the casual cigarette, why one would suffer while causing harm to themselves? The social smokers will be the most often to deny the fact that they have an addiction, but the truth is this aspect of smoking is just as harmful as smoking regularly.

When I Compare these two sources to my previous articles I found that these two have more tension and how it depends entirely on people's research on how they perceive things. Both of these articles have different opinions and they both have very valid points. Among both of these articles I would say I have to agree that social smoking can't be any healthier for one than regular smoking. I believe this because either way the smoker is still smoking and it will have the same effects, also it will most likely escalate into full time smoking. Although i still do question the fact at what point do cigarettes start making "damage" on both your brain and body.

Addictive? Thats absurd!

Nicotine, we are raised from kindergarten to adulthood to know that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances out there and to stay away from it. Once you have that first cigarette it's hard to go back they say, obviously what they say is true but what effects does nicotine have on smokers? or even non-smokers? According to the News Medical Net nicotine can enhance concentration and memory due to the increase of acetylcholine; Wait! did I just say that cigarettes can be helpful to you?! Yes it is true that at low doses nicotne can boost the actions of norepinephrine and dopamine which acts as a stimulant on your brain. On the other end of the spectrum, in higher doses nicotine will act as a sedative and help to easy any pain.
Looking at the photo to the right will show us that nicotine will stimulate the receptors in your brain making you act, feel, and think differently, but why is this so bad? The News Medical Net relates to the next website I stumbled upon by showing facts about effects of nicotine on not only the body and mind but also the brain itself, specifically the receptors that receives neurotransmitters sent to them.

After gathering information from  Why Quit.com, I have come to realize that it's not the nicotine itself that is addictive, but the actual cigarette and all of the    chemicals inside. Imagine it like a harmless person walking alone doing no harm, but the second it jumps into a car with deadly people it can have dangerous consequences. So is it bad for you or good for you? All of this talk about cigarettes making your receptors and brain function abnormally makes me begin to think about why it is frowned upon by some people, but others take it just fine? This topic is proving to be controversial yet so interesting, we have the answers, statistics, and evidence right in front of us yet people are still huffing and puffing away. I will however, be searching for articles or books written by doctors or ex smokers to get a different standpoint rather than trusting the sources I have been finding on the web.

Photo Credit: http://whyquit.com/whyquit/linksaaddiction.html

Land of the free, Home of the smokers...

America, home of the brave, land of the free yet people are so attached to something that is killing them, but why? According to the Center For Disease Control there is an estimated 45.3 million adults in the United States that smoke. This poses a question for me, most children now a days want to grow up to be just like their parents and if they pick up their traits and habits that would spring a huge growth in that number for each upcoming generation! That's 19.3% of adults in the United States alone, personally i'm getting a mental image of smoking becoming a norm to most young adults, especially in men which is 21.5% compared to females at 17.3%, so is this what our future is coming too? 

Okay I get it, Smoking is bad for ones health and those around them, but why do people still do it even after knowing all the hazards? For most they blame it on the fact that they are "stressed" or its a way to help deal with life. Although that isn't the only reason I've heard, I did my research at HelpWithSmoking and for most of the people under 18 do it to fit in and fall into peer pressure. Most kids also find it a thrill because they know it's "against the rules" to smoke and it can be considered a risk taking behavior. While on the other end of the spectrum some start because their parents smoke or they believe it's hereditary. I believe one of the most huge influences on non-smokers is the media such as movies, advertisements, or commercials. Nowadays its not uncommon to have an "Idol" or some celebrity to look up to or admire, and when one sees this figure light up and interact with other smokers curiosity kicks in.

Why people continue to smoke is still a mystery to me, they have all of the evidence right in front of their eyes, and they still continue. I will be looking into more reasons on why one would keep smoking and how nicotine, the addictive property in cigarettes, can have effects on your brain and body. This topic makes me curious about other addictive drugs and how small smoking can be compared to other major drugs.

Photo Credit: http://www.examiner.com/article/evan-matthews-smoking-bans-do-have-economic-consequences

A Fuming Topic

Smoking, Is it as bad as the stereotype? How bad?

I believe that it is a huge deal in today's society because it is to the point where you can't walk somewhere in public without seeing someone light up with a cigarette or some other form of smoking. Smoking has become such a common and acceptable activity in today's society; smoking has become a norm for it to be "cool" in most high schools and for teenagers nowadays. You always see people in movies, TV shows, and celebrities in general just smoking away causally, in my opinion that creates this standard for people to look up to and I know personally celebrities can shape the way you act, dress, and talk. So why wouldn't you want to follow after your favorite rapper, athlete, or movie star and be just as cool as them? It is important because if it is really as bad as everyone stereotypes it to be, that you die an average of 10 years earlier, then it will make a huge impact on most of our culture and that is quite saddening. Imagine everyone that smokes now, and how they will apparently die that much younger, the death rate will grow in ginormous numbers when it hits them all. I believe that it isn't all that it is cracked up to be and that people are just overreacting like they do over everything else today. Of course it isn't the healthiest thing to put in your body but what is nowadays? Everywhere you turn there is something new to give you cancer like toothpaste, cellphones, and more common things like lettuce; so this personally brings out the pessimistic mindset “You’re going to die anyways, so why does it matter how you die?” The honest truth is that it really does matter and it affects me and you because at least one person in our lives smoke and they will be affected by it eventually, thus affecting us. Also if you buy into the “killing of the ozone” and “polluting our natural air” theories then yes we are doomed because it’s hard enough to get one person to smoke, good luck getting hundreds to stop. I believe that I can find most of my answers by looking at surveys and polls that have been collected by organizations like the surgeon general and health organizations that may focus on smoking or tobacco usage. Finding opinions on smoking should be among the easiest to find because there are so many defensive people that have to speak their mind and shut the scientists up.