Smoking Addiction

Smoking is not an innate behavior, but an acquired habit. Many people start smoking when they are young. They are often influenced by their elders, classmates or friends or by curiosity. Others begin smoking as adults, due to stress from living in a new environment with different culture and language. Most Asian immigrants work long hours at monotonous jobs. In that kind of working environment, most workers tend to smoke to alleviate their tension. Even those who do not smoke initially may begin smoking. Addicted smokers feel that smoking relaxes them. However, once a person gets addicted to cigarettes, it is difficult to quit.

Psychological addition

Addicted smokers, while socializing or after dinner, often feel that they cannot be satisfied without a cigarette in their hands. Actually, this is a misconception. A nonsmoker can socialize, play sports, travel and still feel relaxed. Smokers tend to think that cigarettes give them great relaxation. However, cigarettes are very harmful both to our health and to our family's health. Smoking causes lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, esophageal cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases. In addition, secondhand smoke is very harmful to our children's health, causing inner ear infections, colds, and coughs. A smoking pregnant woman, or a nonsmoking pregnant woman who inhales secondhand smoke, is at a greater risk of miscarriage. Cigarette smoking can affect the intake of nutrition as well as the normal development of the fetus, which could lead to miscarriage, physically frail babies, and even infant death.

Physiological addiction

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including one called nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance unique to tobacco that causes people to feel relaxed or stimulated. It reaches the brain and stimulates the brain cells through the blood within seconds after the smoke is inhaled. Once the nicotine supply decreases or stops, the person may experience various kinds of uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, and drowsiness. If the smoker experiences withdrawal symptoms, they should continue trying to quit because those are signs indicating that their body is gradually getting used to the reduced nicotine. For you and your family's health, you should determine to quit smoking. You and your family will have a better tomorrow because your health is vital to your family's happiness.


South Cove can help

South Cove's Education Department's Smoking Cessation Program provides smokers free cessation counseling and medicine to help you quit smoking. For more information, please call (617) 521-6718 or you may visit our health center at 145 South Street, Boston, MA 02111.