Chapter 20, Lesson 1The Health Risks of

Tobacco Use

Tobacco

Health Risks of Tobacco Use

• About 23% of high school students and 10% of middle school students are current smokers

• About 1/3 of children and teens who try cigarettes become regular smokers

• About 9.9% of high school boys and 1.2% of high school girls use smokeless tobacco

All forms of tobacco contain chemicals that are dangerous to your health

• Addictive drug – stimulant• Nicotine• Tar• Carbon Monoxide• Smokeless Tobacco• Carcinogen• Leukoplakia• Harmful Effects – long- and short-

term• Other consequences…

• Addictive Drug - A substance that causes physiological or psychological dependence

• Nicotine - An addictive drug found in all tobacco leaves (used in all tobacco products)

• Stimulant - A drug that increases the action of the central nervous system, the heart, and other organs ( blood pressure, heart rate)

• Carcinogen - A cancer-causing substance (same poisonous compounds found in rat poison, paint, and toilet cleaner)

• Tar- A thick, sticky, dark fluid produced when tobacco burns (how does this cooperate with your pink, healthy lungs?)

• Carbon Monoxide - A colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas (deprives body tissue and cells of oxygen – how do you breathe?)

• Smokeless Tobacco - Sniffed through the nose, held in the mouth, or chewed (sometimes called “spit” – absorbed into blood through mucous membranes)

• Leukoplakia - Thickened, white, leathery-looking spots on the inside of the mouth; can develop into oral cancer

• Short-term and Long-term effectsSHORT-TERM LONG-TERM

Brain chemistry changes

Chronic Bronchitis

Respiration and Heart rate increase

Emphysema

Taste buds are dulled/appetite reduced

Lung cancer

Bad breath and yellow teeth

Coronary heart disease

Smelly hair, skin, clothes

Weakened immune system

Other Consequences of Tobacco Use

Costs to society In U.S., lost work/productivity - about $165

billion/year

• Cost to individualOne pack a day ($4-$11 approx.) for 1 year = ?

• Legal consequencesSelling cigarettes to someone under age 18 is

illegal. Using tobacco products on school campus will lead to suspension.

Chapter 20, Lesson 2Choosing to Live

Tobacco-Free

Tobacco

Teens and TobaccoWhy do some teens begin to smoke?

falsely think it will help control weight cope with stressseem more mature and independent

Actually……smoking reduces capacity to

physical activity (leads to weight gain)

…nicotine dependency leads to stress levels

…Media influences behaviors; is it glamorous or make you look cool?

Reduced Tobacco Use Among Teens• Tobacco Legislation– 1998 legal settlement

restricting tobacco advertising aimed at young people; also required to fund ads that discourage smoking

• No Smoking policies – limited smoking areas (restaurants, airports, public places)

• Family Values– if parents don’t smoke more than likely you won’t either

• Positive Peer pressure – healthy role models• Health risks – knowledge is power;

understanding about diseases and health problems

Benefits of Living Tobacco-Free

- Better cardiovascular endurance and lung function

- Improved fitness level and athletic performance- Reduced risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and

stroke- Improved mental/emotional state – not

dependent on drug – sense of freedom!- Less stress (less worry)- More confidence in social situations- You look and feel better!!

Chapter 20, Lesson 3Promoting aSmoke-Free Environment

Tobacco

Health Risks of Tobacco Smoke

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) – also known as “second-hand smoke” is air contaminated by tobacco smoke

mainstream smoke - smoke exhaled from lungs of a smoker

sidestream smoke - smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar

Which type of smoke is more dangerous? Why?

ETS from cigarettes, pipes, or cigars contain more than 4,000 chemical compounds, 50 of those are carcinogenic (cancer-causing)

Second-hand smoke causes about 3,000 deaths from lung cancer each year.

ETS causes eye irritations, headaches, ear infections, coughs; it worsens asthma and other respiratory problems and increases coronary heart disease

Health Risks to Unborn Children and Infants

Smoking during pregnancy:impaired fetal growthspontaneous miscarriageprenatal deathpremature deliverylow birth weightdeformitiesstillbirthSIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)severe asthma attacks, ear infections, respiratory

tract infectionsNicotine passes through placenta (constricting

blood vessels)Carbon monoxide reduces oxygen levels in the

blood

Health Risks to Young Children

Children of smokers:higher levels of poor overall healthmore sore throats, ear infections,

upper respiratory problemsslows lung development (weaker

lungs)children learn by example…ETS (second hand smoke)

Creating a Smoke-Free Society

- Healthy People 2010: reduce tobacco use and related deaths

- In most states, it is illegal to sell tobacco to teens (under 18 years of age); illegal to smoke in public places

- Community activities that promote healthy lifestyles

- Encourage others to avoid tobacco use