Background+Information+on+Tobacco+smoke+and+Nicotine

=Background Information on Tobacco Smoke and Nicotine=

Constituents
Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals including:

Nicotine
 * Addictive
 * Increase HR and BP
 * Narrows blood vessels reducing blood and oxygen supply?

Carbon Monoxide
 * Binds to RBC reducing the amount of O2 that can bind to it
 * As a result less O2 is available to muscles, the heart, and brain

Tar
 * Cancer causing



Impact on Health
Tobacco smoke is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in Australia

It increases the risk of
 * Cancer
 * Stroke
 * Heart Disease
 * Lung Disease

And can also
 * Lower fertility levels
 * Cause complications or miscarriage during pregnancy
 * Weaken the Immune system
 * Lead to Blindness
 * Lead to Osteoporosis

Not only does it have detrimental impact on the smoker, but it can also affect those around such as children (Passive smoking), which increases the risk of respiratory illness e.g. asthma, chest infections, SIDS

Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms (Especially after first 3 weeks of stopping smoking)

 * Craving (Can last for years), Difficulty concentrating
 * Irritability, restlessness, frustration, anger
 * Anxiety, depressed mood, sleep problems
 * Increased appetite, and weight gain
 * Reduced HR