Growing up, many children may view drinking and smoking as privileges of adults and therefore ‘cool’ activities to engage in. The importance of public awareness about the dangers of heavy smoking and drinking has never been greater.
The danger of smoking
Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemical compounds and 400 toxic chemicals that include tar, carbon monoxide, DDT, arsenic, and formaldehyde. The nicotine in cigarettes, in particular, makes them highly addictive. There are so many diseases caused by smoking that it’s hard to decide where to begin.
Any amount and type of smoking are bad for your health. Besides being a notorious risk factor for lung cancer, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke, smoking can damage almost any organ in our body, leading to leukemia and cancers of the kidney, pancreas, bladder, throat, mouth, and uterus. It can damage the airways and air sacs of our lungs to cause chronic bronchitis and breathing difficulties. It can also raise our blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce bone density in women and increase the risk of infertility, preterm delivery, stillbirth, and sudden infant death syndrome.
The danger of heavy drinking: How much alcohol is too much?
Most people like to have a drink or two, be it beer, wine, or spirits. Light drinking is acceptable and may even be beneficial for the heart. Heavy and binge drinking, on the other hand, can lead to serious medical problems.
Drinking 7 or more drinks per week is considered excessive drinking for women, while 15 drinks or more per week is deemed to be excessive for men.
A healthy limit for drinking is usually no more than 2 drinks (3 units of alcohol) a day for men and 1 drink (2 units) a day for women. Binge drinking means having 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women on one occasion.
Certain groups of people should not drink alcohol at all. These include young people under the age of 18, pregnant women, people with certain health conditions, patients on medication that will interact with alcohol, recovering alcoholics, and people who intend to drive or do activities that require attention and coordination.
Heavy drinking can lead to many serious health conditions. Binge drinking can cause immediate problems such as acute intoxication, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, impaired judgment, and alcohol poisoning.
In the long term, heavy alcohol consumption can cause high blood pressure, gastric problems, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, pancreatitis, memory impairment, alcohol dependence, and various psychological conditions. Excessive alcohol drinking can also result in accidental injuries and even death. Pregnant women who drink heavily can harm their babies.
Effects of smoking and drinking on the heart
Both tobacco and alcohol can affect the heart. While the deleterious effect of smoking on the risk of cardiovascular disease is well-recognized and straightforward (the risk of heart disease increases with the amount of smoking), the impact of drinking is more complex.
Some evidence suggests that moderate drinking (3 – 14 drinks a week) may be associated with a lower risk of heart attack, while heavier drinking may well increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure.
As smoking is also common among alcohol drinkers, and smokers and drinkers frequently share similar behavioral and lifestyle patterns, it is currently unclear whether it is the combined or independent effects of smoking and alcohol that greatly raises cardiovascular risk.
Nonetheless, the health problems associated with excessive smoking and drinking are extensive. Public health efforts to minimize the dangers of both smoking and drinking may significantly improve the well-being of society.
Benefits of kicking the habit
It is important to realize that quitting smoking can improve your quality of life – physically, emotionally, and financially. It can help you and those around you breathe better and live longer.
People who stop smoking generally have an improved sense of smell and taste, feel less stressed and become more energetic. They will usually have younger-looking skin and improved fertility. Their loved ones will be healthier as passive smoking is reduced.
For people who drink too much, alcohol tolerance can lead to false reassurance that they are drinking within limits since they do not feel drunk. Health benefits of reducing alcohol intake include weight loss, reduced risk of many forms of cancer, less anxiety, clearer skin, no hangovers, and better self-estreem
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