The dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke

Smoking has been a common sense of health hazards, but there are still people who cannot resist the temptation of smoking.

Tobacco produces at least 69 carcinogens when burning. Therefore, smoking can lead to a variety of malignant tumors, or cause coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and asthma. Meanwhile, it will increase the risk of tuberculosis and respiratory infections. Long-term smoking may also cause memory loss, accelerate aging, and lead to osteoporosis and chronic pharyngitis.

Long-term smoking is not only harmful to yourself, but also to your family and friends through second-hand smoke.

Second-hand smoking may not only increase the risk of malignant tumors, coronary heart disease and stroke, but also reduce women’s chances of conceiving, and greatly increase the probability of miscarriage, preterm delivery and the low birth weight of infants. In addition, it may induce bronchial asthma, otitis media and bronchitis for children.

What is a smoke-free campus?

According to the Notice on Matters Related to Banning Smoking in Schools at All Levels Nationwide issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education, a smoke-free campus policy requires schools at all levels to strictly prohibit students from smoking

UIC has been a smoke-free campus since its founding. Smoking and any activities related to smoking are prohibited within all the premises of UIC. There is no designated smoking area or sale and advertising of tobacco on campus. We should take the initiative to discourage any smoking on campus.

Quit smoking scientifically for health benefits

Addiction to smoking is actually a chronic disease. Failure to quit smoking is not because of your weak willpower but the wrong approaches. Quitting smoking with professional guidance can greatly improve the possibility of smoking cessation. You can visit a smoking cessation clinic to consult a medical professional to receive intervention and treatment, or call a quit line for counseling. The following are some useful advice for quitting smoking:

1) Prepare to quit smoking and reinforce quitting behaviors

Ÿ Understand the reasons for quitting and strengthen the will to quit

Ÿ Throw away all tobacco products and smoking-related paraphernalia

Ÿ Inform your family, friends, and coworkers that you are preparing to quit smoking

Ÿ Delay the first cigarette for 5 to 10 minutes

Ÿ Set a quit date and stick to it

Ÿ Avoid being around any smoker

Ÿ Find the right way to quit smoking and consider the need of cessation medication and professional medical help

2) Don’t panic when cravings strike. Nicotine craving usually lasts only a few minutes. Distraction is one of the best ways to combat smoking addiction. Here are five distraction tips:

Ÿ Take 15 deep breaths

Ÿ Drink a glass of water

Ÿ Take a walk or exercise

Ÿ Brush your teeth or wash your face

Ÿ Chat with family and friends

3) Quit smoking earlier to enjoy greater health benefits.

Ÿ After 20 minutes of quitting, your heart rate drops and your blood pressure decreases slightly.

Ÿ After 12 hours, the level of your blood carbon monoxide returns to normal.

Ÿ After 24 hours, the carbon monoxide is eliminated from your lungs and your respiratory function improves.

Ÿ After 2 days, nicotine-induced adverse effects disappear.

Ÿ After 3 months, your lung function improves.

Ÿ After 1 year, your risk of coronary heart disease decreases by 50%.

Ÿ After 5 years, your risk of stroke falls to that of non-smokers.

Ÿ After 10 years, your risk of lung cancer is approximately 50% lower than that in continuing smokers.

Ÿ After 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease is similar to that of normal non-smokers.

(Partial information source: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)