Alcohol &

Smoking

SHMD 34917/04/2012

Smoking Statistics2

SMOKING

SMOKING can cause DISEASE & lead to DEATH

• Smokers have a much higher risk of suffering from a

variety of cancers, cardiovascular disease & chronic lung

diseases

– 90% of people suffering from lung cancer have the disease

because they smoke or have smoked

– You are 4x more likely to contract mouth cancer if you smoke

3

Chemicals in Cigarettes

Chemicals in cigarettes

TAR Can cause

cancer

NICOTINEAddictive

substance & increases

cholesterol levels

CARBON MONOXIDE

Reduces oxygen levels in the body

4

Cardiovascular Disease

• Main cause of death in smokers

• Excess cholesterol produced from smoking narrows the blood vessels

• Thus blood clots are more likely to form and cause a blockage in the:

– Coronary blood vessels which will lead to a heart attack (30% of heart attacks are due to smoking)

– Brain which could lead to stroke

– Kidneys, which could result in kidney failure; or

– Legs, which can lead to gangrene, for which the main treatment is amputation

5

Chronic Lung Disease

The following diseases are more prevalent in smokers:

Emphysema:

A disease that causes breathlessness due to damaged alveoli

Bronchitis:

Makes the person cough excessively because of increased mucus

production in the lungs

6

Other Smoking-Related Health Risks

• Smoking can be detrimental to your health in a variety of other ways. A

person who smokes may suffer from the following:

• High blood pressure

• Fertility problems

• Eye problems

• Discoloured teeth & gums

• Mouth ulcers

• Skin more prone to wrinkles

7

Smoking & ExerciseSmoking:

High levels of carbon monoxide reduce the amount of oxygen absorbed into the

blood from the lungs, thus reduces the amount of oxygen released from blood into

the muscles

Smoke inhalation immediately increases airway resistance, thus decreasing the

amount of oxygen absorbed into the blood

Increases heart rate for a given level of exercises

Lowers physical endurance, thus reducing fitness

Puts double strain on your heart, blood vessels, blood pressure, & heart rate

Individuals who smoke are less likely to continue with exercise

8

Recommendations• 20 Minutes After Quitting

Blood pressure & heart rate decreases.• 8 Hours After Quitting

Damage caused by carbon monoxide starts to reverse as the carbon monoxide level in the blood decreases to normal, & allows for an increase in blood oxygen level, back to normal levels.

• 24 Hours After QuittingRisk of having a heart attack decreases & your body is getting rid of the nicotine.

• 2 Days After QuittingNerve endings start to re-grow & ability to taste and smell are enhanced.

• 4 Days After QuittingAbility to smell & taste improves dramatically & breathing becomes easier.

• 7 days After QuittingThe good effects of not smoking start to show: your teeth become brighter & you smell better. 9

Recommendations• 2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting• Circulation improves, walking becomes easier.• Phlegm production decreases, lungs become cleaner which reduces risk of

infection.• Several Months After Quitting (1-9 Months)• Significant improvement in lung function.• There is a decrease in coughs, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath.• Energy levels are greatly increased.• 1 Year After Quitting• Risk of coronary heart disease & heart attack is reduced by half.• The risk of getting cancer is greatly reduced.• 5+ Years After Quitting• Risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.• 10 Years After Quitting• Risk of developing lung cancer drops, but remains higher than in people who have

never smoked.• 15 Years After Quitting• Risk of coronary heart disease & heart attack is similar to that of people who have

never smoked. 10

Alcohol• The following shocking statistics give an indication of the impact of being under the

influence of alcohol in the South African society:

• Six out of ten drivers that dies in accidents have dangerously high alcohol levels in

their blood.

• 3000 Adult pedestrians are killed in motor accidents per year. 70% of them are

drunk when killed.

• When you are on the road at night, one out of every seven drivers sharing the road

with you, is drunk.

• When you take a single drink your chances of causing an accident doubles.

• It is the third leading cause of death in the USA.11

This is what happens when you are drunk!!

12

This is what happens when you are drunk!!

This is what happens when you are drunk!!

13

Recommended Daily Intake

• Women – no more than 2 units a day

• Men – no more than 3 units per day

• 500ml beer = 3 units

• 250ml wine = 3½ units

• It takes the adult body 1 hour

to get rid off 1 unit of alcohol

14

Effects of Alcohol on the body

• Alcohol affects the brain so that it:

– Compromises judgment & suppresses inhibitions

– Decreases physical coordination & sense of balance

– Blurs vision & slurs speech

• Excessive drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can lead to

unconsciousness, coma & death

• Vomiting while unconscious can lead to suffocation

15

Diseases Associated with Excess Alcohol Consumption

• Increase the likelihood of getting diseases such as:

– Cirrhosis of the liver

– High blood pressure

– Strokes

– Depression

– Cancer – mouth, oesophagus, liver, bowel, breast

16

Alcohol & Exercise

Alcohol affects carbohydrate metabolism, thus there is insufficient glucose

available for the hungry muscles.

During rest, muscles should be filling its glycogen stores, however alcohol

causes the muscles to increase glycogen breakdown. This is due to the

lower amounts of blood glucose and the body trying to regulate blood sugar

levels. This is a major interference with muscle recovery.

Reduced glycogen stores reduces exercise intensity and decreases time to

exhaustion during the next workout.

17

Revision Questions1. What are the 3 chemicals found in cigarettes and how do they affect the body?

62. Name the 2 diseases more prevalent in smokers and give a brief explanation of

each. 43. Name 5 other smoking-related health risks. 54. How does smoking affect exercise? 105. How many years does it take for the full negative effects of smoking to be

reversed? 16. What is the recommended daily intake of alcohol for men and women? 27. How does alcohol affect the brain? 38. Name 4 diseases associated with alcohol abuse. 49. How does alcohol affect recovery from exercise? 8

18