Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death. We ourselves invite painful death early in our life. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus. It is also a contributing cause in the development of cancers of the other parts. Majority of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. Lung cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. It is very difficult to detect when it is in the earliest, most treatable stage. Persons who advocate nonsmoking as part of their religion or moral values, have much lower rates of lung cancer and other smoking-related cancers.

If we, ourselves stop smoking and chewing; the entire tobacco epidemic would virtually disappear in next few generations. The difficulty is that it will take a conscious decision by the youth not to use tobacco in order to achieve the goal of healthy body with good looks.

All forms of tobacco contain nicotine, it is a natural part of the tobacco leaf. Majority of people who experiment with tobacco become addicted. In its pure form, nicotine is a strong poison. A small dose of it, injected directly into the bloodstream, can kill a person. Nicotine works on the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream through the smoke in a smoker's lungs or through the mucous membranes in the mouth for snuff/chew users. Their bloodstream picks it up and it is quickly pumped by the heart right to the brain-all within few seconds. Nicotine makes the heart beat faster. This, in turn, increases the breathing rate and causes the body to use more oxygen. It can increase blood pressure.

When people smoke tobacco for the first time, the nicotine may make them feel sick to their stomach and dizzy. As they use more tobacco, the unpleasant feelings go away and the tobacco user gets addicted to the nicotine and grows dependent on the mild stimulant effects. Tobacco users find they need more nicotine-and more and more-in order to get the same feeling they received originally. At that point, the person is physically addicted and will only feel comfortable when nicotine is in their system. Of all addictive behaviors, cigarette smoking and Pan / Gutkha chewing, are the one most likely to become established during adolescence. Most tobacco users make several attempts before they successfully quit tobacco use. Withdrawal symptoms (both physical and psychological) can be very challenging and last longer.

By Adolescence Educator