Smoking Facts - What You MUST Know about Smoking

Doctors and the U.S. Government have been warning about the dangers of cigarette smoking for decades, but somehow the public at large seems to ignore basic smoking facts.  You would think that everyone knows that cigarettes are dangerous, but one in five American adults still smokes regularly.

Why do so many people smoke?  Peer pressure and media exposure probably gets them to start.  Once they start, it becomes difficult to quit.  Cigarette smoke contains nicotine and nicotine is addictive.  The body craves it, and after a short time without it, withdrawal symptoms begin.  The other reason people continue to smoke is the one that no one ever mentions - smoking is pleasurable.

Nicotine causes the brain to release dopamine, which affects the pleasure centers of the brain.  People smoke because it makes the feel good.  Pleasure is fine, but the downsides of smoking outweigh the benefits:

• Smoking is expensive.  A pack a day habit can cost as much as $2000 per year, depending on where you live.
• Cigarette smoke contains tars, carbon monoxide and numerous carcinogenic chemicals.
• Smokers have foul breath and everything they wear and own smells like stale tobacco smoke.
• Smoking is messy, creating ash and discarded butts that take forever to decompose.

Many people try to quit each year, but only a small percentage succeed. Some people don't want to quit, and others are unable to overcome their nicotine addiction.  Stop smoking help is available for those who want to join a support group.  Having the shoulder of an ex-smoker to lean on can help.

Nicotine patches and gum can help some people, as they deliver a steady supply of nicotine to the bloodstream and minimize the urge to smoke.

Smokeless cigarettes are a new electronic solution.  These devices look like cigarettes but don't produce smoke. Instead, the "smoker" inhales a tobacco-flavored mist that contains nicotine.  The smoker still gets the physical sensation of smoking without the carbon monoxide, tar, or smoke.

Ultimately, each individual must decide whether to quit smoking or not and how to go about it.  If you want to quit smoking, it's possible to do so.  If you still need the nicotine, there are non-smoking alternatives available.