Smoking – Hello Doctor

Is Vaping bad for you?

November 23rd, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

As a smoker, you may be tempted to turn to electronic cigarettes, vape pens or hookah and shisha pipes to help you stop cigarette smoking. But is this a better and ‘healthier’ alternative?

Vaping

Just like regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes contain nicotine. The addition of fruity flavourings can be deceiving as they have no smell, but the nicotine content in some vaping liquids can be even higher than in cigarettes. In addition, they can also contain several unknown chemicals. As of February 2020, there had been 60 deaths and 2,807 confirmed cases of lung injury due to vaping in the U.S. It is believed that vitamin E acetate, which is a chemical additive in vaping products, is what has caused these injuries. Although no such cases have yet been reported in South Africa, the dangers of vaping shouldn’t be overlooked.

The dangers of nicotine

Nicotine is a highly addictive substance – experts say, even more so than alcohol. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline. It can also affect the developing brain, making it particularly harmful to teens and young adults.

Because vaping devices don’t indicate how much nicotine is present, it can be higher than in cigarettes. Lack of regulation means manufacturers can put anything into vaping devices. Even some “nicotine-free” e-cigarettes have been found to contain nicotine. Nicotine is also known to cause chronic lung disease and asthma.

The dangers of vaping

Some substances found in e-cigarette vapour have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Vaping during pregnancy could harm a developing foetus.
Teens that vape are more likely to begin smoking cigarettes.
Explosions and burns have been reported with e-cigarettes while recharging the devices, due to defective batteries.
Accidental exposure to liquid from e-cigarettes has caused acute nicotine poisoning in children and adults
Highly addictive.

What you need to know

Vaping is not safe. Some e-cigarette labels don’t disclose that they contain nicotine, and some e-cigarettes marketed as containing 0% nicotine have been found to contain nicotine.

Disease-causing: Nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain. The brain keeps developing until about age 25. Using nicotine in teenage years can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Every time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, stronger connections (synapses) are built between brain cells. Young people’s brains build synapses faster than adult brains. Nicotine changes the way these synapses are formed.

Highly addictive. Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.

It’s not a tool to stop smoking cigarettes. In fact, chances are you’ll end up doing both.

Until we know more, think twice about vaping. It’s not the magic cure for quitting cigarette smoking. Seek professional help if you’re trying to quit smoking and use a proven method to improve your chances of success. If you’re not sure about what help is out there, chat to one of our doctors. They can point you in the right direction, to breathe easy again.

References:

Want to quit smoking? Here are your best options

April 8th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Many smokers decide to go cold turkey when wanting to nip smoking in the bud. Others take it on a day-to-day basis and hope for the best. Fact is, whether you’re an occasional smoker or a 30-a-day smoker, taking that last puff can be difficult. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance.

Your options for quitting include:

A diet and beverage change
Positive thinking
Identifying your cigarette cravings
Exercising
Patches, lozenges, gum and nasal sprays

And then, there are alternatives…

Allen Carr method

According to Allen Carr, a British author who specialises in psychological dependencies, there’s a smoking trap, as it’s not a lack of willpower that makes it difficult to stop smoking, but a conflict of will. His method aims to remove this conflict so that the smoker doesn’t have to use any willpower to stop. Once the smoker understands completely how the smoking trap works, by following simple instructions, the physical withdrawal becomes easier to manage.

How does this work?

Carr identified that smokers are aware of how unhealthy, expensive and antisocial their habit is, so what keeps them smoking?

It’s fear, says Carr. It stems from the inability to cope with things like stress, social occasions, concentration, boredom and trauma. All these fears arise out of powerful illusions associated with smoking and nicotine addiction.

He discovered that the actual physical withdrawal from nicotine is slight and is more of a feeling very similar to hunger for food. Smokers recognise it as a feeling of “emptiness” or “something missing.” The real trauma smokers suffer when they try to quit is the mental sense of sacrifice and depression caused by the belief that they’re being deprived of a certain pleasure.

What is the verdict?

The Allen Carr Method works by destroying the psychological addiction to nicotine by educating the smoker about the facts of the smoking trap.

As soon as a smoker understands and believes that they can enjoy life more, concentrate better, feel more relaxed, handle stress better and that cravings will eventually go away; the fear of stopping disappears.

The method also allows the smoker to realise that if they completely understand how nicotine withdrawal works and they follow a few instructions, they will find it easy to manage and may land up enjoying the process.

Resist tobacco cravings

Try nicotine replacement therapy

Ask your doctor about nicotine replacement therapy. The options include:

Over-the-counter nicotine patches, lozenges and gum.
Prescription nicotine in a nasal spray or inhaler.
Prescription non-nicotine stop smoking medications.

Avoid triggers

Don’t set yourself up for smoking relapse. Identify your triggers and have a plan to either avoid them completely or to get through them without the need to use tobacco.

Delay

If you feel like you’re going to give in to your tobacco craving, tell yourself that you must wait 10 more minutes first. After that, do something to distract yourself.. When you’re out in public, opt for a smoke-free zone. These tricks may be enough to derail your tobacco craving.

Chew on it

Pop sugar-free gum or sweets. Alternatively, you can snack on raw veggies, nuts or seeds for something crunchy and satisfying.

Don’t give in

Having just one cigarette leads to another and you may end up using tobacco again.

Get physical

Exercising can help distract you from tobacco cravings and reduce their intensity. Go out for a walk or jog. If exercising isn’t your thing, do chores as a form of distraction or pick up a new hobby. Get plenty of rest and focus on eating well.

Practise relaxation techniques

Getting rid of a bad habit can be stressful. Take the edge off with deep-breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, yoga or listening to calming music.

References:

Marijuana: the good, the bad and the ugly

October 8th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Whether you’ve tried it yourself, have a friend who does it or just watch others doing it on TV, you probably know a thing or two about marijuana. Also called weed, cannabis, pot, hash or dope, marijuana is no longer considered “taboo” or only something hippies smoke. With its recent legalisation in private homes, marijuana use amongst the public is on the rise.

Your brain on weed

Marijuana plants produce several chemical compounds called cannabinoids. The two most important of these are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short, and cannabidiol or CBD. Once you inhale (or eat) marijuana, these chemicals make their way via the bloodstream to your brain. As soon as they reach your brain, they attach to specific receptors located in different parts of the brain.

You have specific cannabinoid receptors in your brain because believe it or not, your brain actually produces its own set of cannabinoids! Whenever you experience pain, inflammation or stress, your body produces cannabinoid neurotransmitters which attach to these same cannabinoid receptors to help get rid of those unwanted feelings.

The cannabinoids in marijuana look the same as the ones your body produces, so instead of being booted out, they sneak past the brain gatekeepers, latch onto the receptors and start interfering with normal brain function. They throw your usual system out of whack, boosting certain signals and interfering with others. Which is why marijuana’s effects can range from a feeling of relaxation and pain relief to clumsiness, anxiety (or lack thereof), and even the munchies!

THC is the most psychoactive compound, in other words, its this chemical responsible for those well-known feelings of being “high”, chilled out and relaxed. THC also increases the happy hormone dopamine, and so creates a sense of euphoria.

CBD does the opposite to THC. It’s not that it brings you down, but it just doesn’t have the same psychoactive effects. Rather, it has medicinal benefits, such as reducing pain, nausea and muscle spasticity. Its this compound that is of most interest to medical researchers.

Smoke or bake?

The time it takes for you to feel the effects of marijuana will depend on how you take it. When you smoke, marijuana is absorbed into the bloodstream almost immediately, whereas when you eat it, it can take up to 20 or 30 minutes before you can feel the effect.

The initial effects created by the THC in marijuana wear off after an hour or two, but the chemicals stay in your body for much longer. This can range from about 20 hours to 10 days, depending on the amount and potency of the marijuana you used.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Several studies have identified a number of benefits of using marijuana:

For those without existing mental health conditions (such as bipolar), it has a powerful relaxing effect and offers benefit those suffering anxiety and stress
It can relieve chronic pain and nausea
It may be a safer option to certain painkillers (opioids)

Yet studies have also identified several risks of marijuana use:

If you have an existing mental health problem, marijuana could make symptoms, such as anxiety and paranoia, worse.
If you have an existing heart problem, smoking marijuana could increase your risk of a cardiac event.
Given the impact that marijuana has on awareness and reaction speed, driving after using marijuana carries several risks.
Smoking marijuana is still smoking, so using it during pregnancy, or around children, is a no-no.
Frequent marijuana smokers have a much higher risk of gum disease.

The bottom line

Researchers have only scratched the surface of this powerful plant. It’s getting a lot of buzz for everything from pain relief to its potential to treat certain diseases, but a lot still isn’t known. While there are many positive reports, it’s important to look at things from both sides. Ultimately, if you do choose to partake, as with most things in life… moderation is best!

References

Is vaping really better than smoking?

August 9th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Since its inception more than 10 years ago, different models of vape pens are available worldwide, but a question among public health researchers continues to linger: “Do vape devices really help smokers quit, or is it a glorified unhealthy habit?”

According to a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; it’s a little bit of both.

While vaping may help many to quit conventional cigarettes, the practice itself could encourage young people to start smoking. It’s important to note that vaping has its own health risks, but it’s likely to be far less harmful than conventional cigarettes.

How are E-cigarettes different from cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes produce a nicotine vapour without tobacco. Still, it doesn’t matter if you put smoke or vapour into your lungs – there are serious health implications regardless. Smoking includes the burning of tobacco which contains thousands of chemicals. More than 20 of them are linked to cancer. These chemicals are “carcinogens”. E-cigarettes carry a nicotine-containing liquid, which is heated into a vapour and breathed in. The nicotine satisfies the cravings associated with a smoking addiction.

Vaping and its chemicals

Studies on the vapour produced from vaping suggest there’s a significant difference between the number of carcinogens compared to cigarette smoke.

With over 20 chemicals found in cigarette smoke, compared to only a few in the vapour, any other chemicals are mostly related to the process of flavouring.

There have been another unexpected risk with e-cigarettes, namely that some of their batteries could explode! The main cause is unclear, but reports suggest that overcharging the device and faulty batteries played a big part in the explosions. The Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians estimate that e-cigarettes are around 95% safer than smoking as they don’t have the same level of toxic chemicals as tobacco cigarettes.

How vaping affects your lungs

Researchers have found that vaping can irritate the lungs and lead to bronchitis; chronic wheezing and coughs. The bronchitis may be caused by inhaling pollution (chemical fumes, tobacco smoke and polluted air). When you breathe in the particles regularly, your lungs may respond by triggering a persistent cough. This will result in irritation and inflammation.

Could this be the end of cigarettes?

A study has found that among people who are trying to quit smoking, e-cigarette users are 60% more likely to succeed than those who use over-the-counter nicotine therapies like chewing gum and patches.

Take care of your lungs

Start exercising to improve your circulation and strengthen your muscles.
Eat well. Pack your plate with foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, zinc, potassium, selenium, and magnesium to help keep your respiratory health in good condition.
Drink lots of water. This will help thin the mucus secretions that naturally gather in your lungs. This will allow you to breathe more easily.

References

The 3 killers: Sitting, smoking, sugar

December 15th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

We’ve known that smoking is deadly for a long time, and every year the world moves a little further away from lighting up. When we realised that sugar, when over-consumed can also be dangerous to your health, this caused another major change in how the world eats and drinks. But the latest potential killer on the block is harder to drop and it’s everywhere: sitting. Continue reading “The 3 killers: Sitting, smoking, sugar”

Is second-hand smoking a big deal?

November 5th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

So, you’re heading out for the evening and one of your friends lights up a cigarette in your car. It’s not just your clean clothes and hair that start to smell, it’s your health going up in smoke too! You don’t have to put up with passive smoking… it’s a serious hazard to your health! We’re here to help you stay smoke free! Continue reading “Is second-hand smoking a big deal?”

Why is quitting smoking so hard?!

October 12th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Let’s be honest about this: it isn’t easy to quit smoking. In fact, many ex-smokers will admit to having tried (and failed) a few times before they got it right! The important thing to take home is that they got it right. And so can you! Continue reading “Why is quitting smoking so hard?!”

What’s the fuss about e-cigarettes?

June 26th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

E-cigarette sales are soaring – and they have become increasingly more popular over the years – marketed as a safe and healthy way of getting your nicotine fix or as an aid to stop smoking.

With no laws regulating these products, anyone can buy them. Dr. Lynelle Hoeks from Hello Doctor says “There is very little control on what exactly goes into them and what’s worrying, is that we don’t actually know what the long term effects of nicotine exposure in this way is.” Recently, Canada banned the sale of e-cigarettes and the USA is hot on their heels.

What is an e-cigarette?

Electronic cigarettes are an alternative method of consuming nicotine, the addictive chemical found in tobacco. E-cigarettes contain no tobacco and don’t require a match. Let’s have a look at what an e-cigarette is and how they work:

E-cigarettes are devices that emit doses of vaporized nicotine that are inhaled
It heats a nicotine liquid and converts the liquid to a vapor, or mist, that the user inhales along with PEG (propylene glycerol) which makes the “smoke” when the user breathes out.
Depending on the e-cigarette, the user may simply inhale from the cartridge to begin the vaporization process, though some devices have a manual switch that activates the vaporizer inside.

An e-cigarette has three main parts:

a rechargeable lithium battery
a vaporization chamber
a cartridge

Will it help me to stop smoking?

Most manufacturers do not market it for this use. They are marketing it as a safer alternative to smoking a tobacco product, one that you can use in public places and that does not have the many harmful chemicals that tobacco products have (so in other words a LESS harmful product). The World Health Organisation has in fact urged companies not to market it as a smoking cessation product.

Dr. Lynelle also says “If you want to stop smoking, there are a number of recommended products on the market that your doctor can prescribe, ensuring that you kick the habit without replacing it with another.”

Are e-cigarette’s dangerous?

Is the electronic cigarette a cleaner, healthier choice for smokers? Or is it a dangerous device with hidden risks? We don’t have the answer to this question, as there are no long term studies to look at the effect of e-cigarettes on users and people around them. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security – be aware that they could be just as harmful as tobacco products. Rather quit your nicotine habit altogether.

If you’re struggling to quit, why not talk to one of our doctors for help? Simply sign up on our website, and download the free Hello Doctor app from the Google Play or iTunes store. With the app, you can talk to, or text our doctors, anytime, anywhere!

What happens to your body when you smoke a cigarette?

May 27th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

May is Anti-Tobacco Month, and because we’re all about preventative health, it’s a topic that we’re serious about. To help drive awareness about the dangers of smoking, we wanted to share our latest #infographic with you: What happens to your body when you smoke a cigarette.

Almost 1 billion smokers world wide

January 9th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Here’s a scary statistic: According to the BBC, there are now an estimated 1 BILLION tobacco smokers in the world. This, despite strong worldwide awareness and anti-smoking campaigns, extensive research and new tobacco laws put in place to promote quitting and help prevent people from picking up the habit.
Continue reading “Almost 1 billion smokers world wide”

What does smoking actually do to your body?

December 11th, 2013 by The Hello Doctor Team

Smoking is gross. We all know it, and we’ve all seen the long term damage it does to our lungs, that is, blackened tarred smoker’s lungs.

Have you ever wondered what actually happens when you inhale a cigarette? No? Well, a single drag exposes the body to over 4,000 chemical compounds and 600 additives, effectively making it one of the most powerful stimulants known to man. It takes just 10 seconds for nicotine to reach the brain, and over 90% of what’s inhaled is absorbed by the lungs, which pass into the lung as miniscule droplets of suspended tar particles.
Continue reading “What does smoking actually do to your body?”