An appraisal on the prevailing factors that motivate the youths into the habits of smoking

Introduction

Smoking or tobacco smoking is the practice when tobacco is burnt and the vapours either the tasted or Inhaled.  The practice began early as 1500-300BC many human civilizations burnt incense during religious rituals introduced to Eurasia in the late 16^th century where it followed common trade routes. The criticisms but became popular. Smoking history take back to as early as 500-300BC. When the agricultural products began to be cultivated in South America consumption later evolved into burning the plant substance either by accident or intent of exploring other means consumption. Smoking in the Americans probably had its origin in the incense burning or monies of shamans but was later adopted pleasure of as a special tad (Branes, 2006)

The smoking of tobacco and various hallucinogenic drugs was used to achieve trances and to come in contact with the spirit world, (Owodasia, 2004). It was a belief that tobacco was a gift from the creator and that the exhaled tobacco smoke was capable of carrying ones thought, and prayers to heavens. Many smokers begun during adolescence or early stages, smoking provides pleasurable sensations, serving as a source of  positive reinforcement after an individual has smoked for many years the avoidance of withdrawal symptoms and negative reinforcement become the key to continue (Barnes, 2006)

He went further to say that cigarette smoking is the major risk factors for several forms of lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and alteration in the ratio of protein among smokers. Apart from smoking tobacco as a number of users as medicine as a painkiller, it was earache and toothache occasionally. Smoking was said by the dessert Indians to be a cure for colds, especially if the tobacco was mixed with the leaf of the small descent stage salvia dorri or the roof of Indian balsam or cough root. Kleptomania unitifidia the addition of which was thought to be particularly built for asthma and tuberculosis.

Conceptual framework

Smoking is the act of burning substances and drawing in and letting out smoke of the substance with either mouth or nose. The reason why people smoke are complex, it can be psychological, emotional social and economic factors. Smoking is associated with a variety of disorders in which cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and cancer are dominant presently illness (Drast et al, 2005), cigarette is a tube of finely cut tobacco rolled in thin paper for smoking. Cigarette is a shredded tobacco rolled in thin paper for smoking. Smoke is a cloud or fume of gas and small particles emitted from burning substances, any similar vapour or an act of smoking tobacco (Chamberlin and Smith, 2000).

Tobacco smoking is the second major causes of death in the world.  It is currently responsible for death of one 10^th of adults worldwide. Rennard, Heath, Day-Lally and Flanders (2006) reported that cigarette smoke contents alter the gene transcription efficiency. With more than 4400 chemicals generated, cigarettes smoke affects post-translational modification that may result in significant alteration in protein function. A cigar is a roll of dried tobacco leaves which people smoke like a cigarette, but bigger and without paper around it (Hornby, 2006).

Components of a cigarette

Cigarette is made from tobacco leaves, and tobacco use an important plant that is being cultivated in many parts of the world.  A major component of tobacco is nicotine which is gotten from the plant. Nicotine tobacco, a native plant of South Africa more than 4,500 compounds have been quantified. Other components or compound of tobacco includes carbon monoxides, zinc, hydrogen cyanide nitrogen oxides, carbon, etc. these various compounds have their effect on human body, carbon monoxide was identified to cause chronic obstruction of the lungs. Pulmonary diseases can also be found to inhibit protein synthesis in the pancreas and the liver nicotine on the other side was found to cause flied retention in the body and also plasma protein concentration (Branes, 2006).

Reasons why people smoke

The reasons why people smoke are as follows:

• psychological factors
• Emotional factors
• Social factors
• Economic factors

1. Psychological factors: This refers to the individual perception that when they smoke it helps them to see well or clearly, it also helps them to run off their problems they will not remember their pain or helps them to face the reality of life. On the other hand it else to control stress and enhance self-damage (Allen, 2012).
2. Emotional factors: Many people do not know how to cope with their problem they get frustrated when they are facing or experiencing some disappointment the disappointment, can result from the loss of job, lack of success, etc individuals in any of these categories may want to engage in smoking Indian hemp or nicotine or as the case many may be in the world. (Allen, 20012)
3. Social factors: This deal with acceptance of group or belonging to a group an individual who wants to join a group and does not smoke if the way to join the group starts by smoking then the individual will start smoking. On the other hand if a particular community accepts smoking in the community of any kind of any substance due to the fact that it’s acceptable, in the community many would want to practice it as well as they are in the community (Cooper, 2009).
4. Economic factors: This economic factor is a process whereby an individual chooses to do what they like in a community, and individual can either join or choose to smoke because of economics related to a particular community (Cooper, 2009).

Prevalence of smoking

In the other world other studies, males have a higher prevalence of smoking than females, the estimates are lower and of the range of prevalence of smoking among sub-Saharan African  youths.  It seems like that, the Ethiopians maintained a low prevalence of smoking young people as had been reported in the 1980’s and 1990’s (Cataldo, Prochaska, Glamtz and Prochaska 2010).

They found it very notable that participant who believed that smoking was harmful to health, had lower likelihood of being smokers well, and complained to those who did not know. Which probably suggests that was effective in discouraging tobacco use. It is a result from the positive influence of role models who have led those children to believe that smoking is very harmful to the body (Cataldo et al, 2010).

Between 17% and 28% participants felt that boys who smoke had more friends or were attractive the perceived positive image that smoke has a hold influence initiation maintenance of smoking among adolescents there is therefore needs to appraise young people with knowledge about short and long-term harmful effects of smoking. The prevalence of smoking in Addis, Ethiopia is much lower than other setting in Africa.  There is however needs to reduce the current levels. In identification of factors why smoking has been maintained at such a low level in Addis, Ethiopia could gills anti-tobacco initiatives in other parts of Africa (Cataldo et al, 2010).

Kinds of substance being smoked

Cigarettes are made from tobacco leaves which have been processed and wrapped with special papers to enhance in burning. Different substances are being smoked by most Nigerians it contains a very potent pharmacological active chemical such as nicotine found in marijuana (Barnes, 2004). All tobacco contains sufficient nicotine which produces side effects on protein after smoking.  Most Brands of cigarettes has special filters that remove particles of cigarette smoke. The filter also aids in the removal of some unwanted compounds of cigarette, which has been found to make smokers inhale more which exposes their lungs to high concentration relative oxidant species (Spira et al, 2004).

Health consequences of tobacco (cigarette smoking)

Cigarette smoking is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide (about five million deaths each year), (Macnee, 2005) reported that if the current smoking trend continues, it will cause approximately 10,000,000 deaths per year (by 2005), the lives of half of the current smoking will be eventually taken by the tobacco smoking. The economic cost associated with tobacco consumption is expensive. In addition to the high public costs of trading, tobacco caused diseases, tobacco smoking kills people at the parts of their productivity, and it robs families of breadwinners and deprives the nation of a health work force. Due to increased illness cigarette smoking also less productive while they are alive (Owodasia, 1996).

Cigarette smoking is associated with an increase of death of a wide variety of disorders in which cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, and cancer are dominant presently illness, it causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which is one of the most important cause of morbidity in the world. It induces an inflammatory response in the way of smokers, which might be a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (Owodasia, 1996).

Cigarette smoke could cause DNA deoxynbonuclic acid single stand breath in vitro, which is relevant to carcinogenesis. Smoking of tobacco cigarette has been linked to coronary heart disease that cigarette in combination with other environmental pollutants such as coal smokers contain dust, many causes chronic lung and chest pain and impaired function of the lungs, this finding clearly demonstrate the reason why workers who smoke when exposed to chemical substances such as coal, rubber, textile, etc. multiplies the risk of cancer (Owodasia, 1996)

Cigarette smoking are also associated with high blood pressure in smokers and pre-exposes smokers to vascular disease of the heart, legs and the brain, smoking causes increase platelet sickness which promotes intravascular coagulation and hence hypertension.   Smoking also cause hyper-sensitivity in the bronchial of an asthmatic patient (Kaha, Schohr, Jensen and Appleyard, 1994).

Solution to smoking habits

Physicians for children and adolescents have been found to be effective in decreasing the risk of smoking habits in furtherance, Drast et al (2005) ,recommended the following ways to quit smoking

1. Stop the use of caffeine: In the brain caffeine causes a neurobiological increased craving for nicotine, therefore drinking caffeinated beverages increases the cravings of cigarettes and makes it more difficult to quit smoking, if you have been drinking more than six caffeinated beverages per day taper down by two drinks per day until of the caffeine, this taper will minimize caffeine withdrawal headaches and fatigue. Plan to stop smoking when the caffeine has been eliminated. Once you’re cigarette free for the month, you can continuously reintroduce 1-2 caffeinated beverages per day if you desire, however be prepared to experience sudden nicotine cravings.
2. Avoid alcohol: Alcohol causes a neurobiological increased craving for nicotine, just as caffeine does but alcohol also interferes with the functioning of the prefrontal cortex. This means it undermines Judgment, resolve and willpower and the combined effects of increased craving and diminished willpower leads to relapse of smoking (if you are a social drinker you can reintroduce an occasional alcoholic beverage) once you are tobacco free for one month, but be prepared for the potential onset of nicotine cravings
3. Set a date: Set a date for your last cigarette and stick to it, when the day comes, get rid of all your cigarette, ashtrays, and smoking paraphernalia.
4. Trigger identification and replacement: Smoking is not only a physical addiction; it is also a psychological one, and a conditioned response. Smokers have some habits or behaviour in which they routinely smoke. These habits will trigger a craving for a cigarette for instance; a smoker who has the habit of smoking when he gets into a car will experience a desire to smoke when he gets into the car.  If the habit is after a meal then anticipate the craving for a cigarette after each meal, or after a shower, etc.  Sometimes triggers can be emotional such as smoking when upset or frustrated
5. Exercise: Exercise not only improves cardiovascular health resulting in improved lung function, but also results in a production of brain chemicals (endorphins and encephalin) which reduces cravings. If you have not been exercising, start with easier exercises and go slowly to avoid overuse injury.
6. Right use of imagination: Within a few hours of the last cigarette, a smoker will typically experience cravings. This is often the turning point in the battle to be free from smoking. If you are not prepared when the cravings hit, the desire will grab hold of your imagination and you may begin to imagine things, like the familiar sound of opening a pack, the feel of the Flick of the lighter, the smell of the smoke and the taste of the tobacco. Such imaginary events fuel greater cravings, undermine resolve and typically results in a relapse into smoking.  One way to avoid this is to be prepared to take purposeful charge of the imagination.  When the cravings come, imagine pulling a flip top box of cigarettes out opening the top and, cockroaches, come crawling right out on your hand or imagine it is filled with maggots wiggling around. Use whatever imaginary will cause an emotion of revulsion and disgusts.
7. Drink plenty of water and fresh juices: For the first week (at least) be sure to flush your system with plenty of Water and fresh fruit juice, as this will help remove toxins, free radicals on other damaging products caused by smoking.
8. Clean everything: Clean car, rugs, clothes, and curtains, windows to get the smell of tobacco out of your life and bring in a clean freshness to start new healthy living.
9. Avoiding mental games: Do not tell yourself, I am going to quit unless I have a really bad day. This is my last cigarette, unless I feel overwhelmed, such thinking leaves an “escape clause” from total cessation and most people would unconsciously “create” the necessary circumstances in which to exercise their secret escape clause, be real with yourself, when you decide to quit, that it doesn’t matter how bad it gets, you are not going to smoke ever again!.  No escape clauses!
10. Remind yourself the reasons for quitting: Make a list of all the benefits from Quitting. This would include a health, monetary savings no more hassles finding a place to smoke.  But even more importantly, remind yourself of all the loved ones that you will be benefitting.  You will increase the likelihood of being there when your daughter graduates or you son gets married, your first grandchild is born.  Remind yourself of all the additional joy you will have in life, write this list down, and put it in your wallet, when your discouraged pull it out and look at it.  Maybe put it near a picture of your spouse or child. They will be proud of you!
11. Considered nicotine gum or patches: Nicotine gum or patches should not be used if still smoking, as both together could cause lethal doses of nicotine. Nicotine gums or patches continue to supply the brain with nicotine so the physical addition is not resolved until all sources of nicotine are removed however, for some individuals, the nicotine gum/patch allows them to break the psychological triggers and smoking habit patterns, clean their house and then tapper of the gum/patch finally quitting all of it. This is not necessary for everyone but does help many.

References

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Branes, R.L. (2006). The Effect of Tobacco Plant Transformation with a Gene for Acyl-Lipid D 9-Desaturase from Synechococcus vulcanus on Plant Chilling Tolerance. American Journal of Plant Physiology 23 (12):458-65.

Cataldo, J.K., Prochaska, J.J., Glantz, S.A. & Prochaska, G. (2010). “Cigarette Smoking is a Risk Factor for Alzheimer’s Disease: an Analysis Controlling for Tobacco Industry Affiliation”. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD 19 (2): 465–480.

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