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Nicotine is a drug present in the cigarette that eventually leads to addiction. It has been known to be the single-most hardest addiction to break. Most smokers who make an attempt to quit often find it very difficult to do so because of withdrawal symptoms that are associated with abstinence.
Betel nut was known to be non-cancerous and considered a good alternative to tobacco and alcohol. However, there is growing evidence that betel- nut chewing is a risk factor and may cause oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), a pre-malignant condition associated with oral cancer. Betel- nut chewing is also being implicated as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and in asthma.
The moment a person sniffs or takes cocaine, he/she loses control over self and is ‘happy’ and ‘high’. They are in a state of euphoria and are not aware of what is happening around them.
Paan has religious connotations in India and in other parts of South East Asia. It is also believed to be a digestive if chewed after meals. However, in the recent years this social/cultural habit has come under a lot of flak. Studies have proved that paan chewing is detrimental to dental health and is one of the major causes of oral cavity cancer.
While it is clearly recognized that caffeine intake has a predominantly stimulant action and also that its long-term administration produces tolerance to this agent, the mechanisms underlying this process are still not fully understood.
Drugs have been in use from time immemorial, but in the past few decades there has been a dramatic growth in their consumption and they are also being produced as potent chemicals. There are multiple factors that lead to drug abuse and one cannot pinpoint one single reason to its growing use.
Hallucinogens are drugs that act on our central nervous system and invariably cause significant changes in our consciousness. These changes lead to hallucinations where you may hear or see things, which really aren’t there; thus the name hallucinogens.
The effects of addiction to hard drugs like heroin and cocaine are well known. "Glue sniffing" although relatively unknown has effects that can be just as serious.
Alcoholism is a major social, economic, and public health problem. Alcohol is the main cause for more than half of all accidental deaths and almost half of all traffic fatalities. Treatment programs have varying success rates, but many alcoholics have a full recovery.
Alcohol is a scourge of mankind. It temporarily helps a person to deal with his anxieties and fears, and may also make social interaction easy and pleasant. Unfortunately, it has serious physical effects on health, particularly as the person ages. The ageing body coupled with failing health may not be able to cope with the repercussions of alcohol. Its effects are even greater when consumed in large quantities. Alcohol is rich in calories, and leads to gain in weight.
Did you know that there are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke? These include formaldehyde (used to preserve dead bodies), ammonia (used in strong cleaning liquids) and cadmium (a highly poisonous metal used in batteries). And if that isn’t reason enough for you to quit smoking, there are more.
The most common perception is that smokers are at a high risk to develop cancer. But in reality, coronary heart disease and stroke are the primary types of cardiovascular disease caused by smoking.
Second-hand smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals. Many of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many of us breathe this in without much choice, in public places, around doorways of buildings and while at work.
Frequently asked questions on the best way to quit smoking, the consequences, and suggestions from doctors on how to go about it.
Quitting is hard. Smokers often say, "Don't tell me why to quit, tell me how." But then, there is no one right way to quit, though there are some key guidelines to help in quitting smoking successfully.
If you consume tobacco, it is important that you undergo some preventive healthcare in consultation with your doctor. This is because it is well known that tobacco use puts you at risk for certain health-related illnesses.
