The Story So Far

According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, 1,577 US college campuses are now smoke-free (710 of them include a ban on e-cigarettes). This number increases every year. Administrators have heard the voices of nonsmokers, medical professionals, and activists, who have called for a tobacco ban for years.

Smoking is on the decline everywhere in the US. The more we study smoking, the more health hazards we find, and the more people quit. Almost every single part of the human body suffers when you smoke. And the more scientists study second-hand smoke, the more it becomes clear that smoking is not a simple matter of neglecting your own body. Second-hand smoke endangers everyone around users, as well.

Success

The Tobacco Free College Campus Initiative says that the number of smoke-free campuses has more than doubled since just 2012. This goes hand-in-hand with the general decrease in smoking around the country. Students report enjoying this new freedom to breathe. Smoke-free campus initiatives around the country often provide free courses and other tools to help current smokers quit. This ensures that all members of the campus community are invited to participate in the change.

Partners

Advocacy groups, student organizations, and college administrators, when they want to go smoke-free, often partner with companies such as CVS to help push these rules through. CVS has an established record of anti-tobacco activism, and offers community health grants to campuses which implement smoke-free rules.

The Future

This trend will continue. Smoking rates have dropped dramatically over the last few decades. Tobacco companies have come into a lot of heat for their history of misinformation campaigns, thus losing much of their credibility, public trust, and public sympathy. The fewer smokers, the smaller number of people who will resist smoke-free campaigns (and smoker do often support these moves; after all, most of them are aware of the risks and want to quit). The path is clear, and people are taking it: smoke-free campuses are the future.

What You Can Do

If you are interested in participating in this movement, there’s good news: it’s easy to get involved. Most campuses, if they haven’t already gone smoke-free, have student groups dedicated to the cause. Find one and join it. There, you’ll meet like-minded people, find productive ways to keep busy, and help clear the air for people everywhere. If you’re not interested in direct participation, you could always donate to one of these groups, or sign an online petition (they’re easy to find).

The post A Clean Education: Smoke-Free Campaigns on US College Campuses appeared first on Tobacco-Free Families.

International Expansion

As restrictions on smoking increase in the United States, and the market for cigarettes shrinks accordingly, there are people in other parts of the world who are smoking more.

The cigarettes companies operating internationally seem to focus their current marketing campaigns on smaller countries with less tobacco-use restrictions. Indonesia, where 67 percent of adult men smoke, appears to be a particularly lucrative target.

Other countries gaining the attention of the multi-national cigarette companies include Australia, Uruguay, and Togo. In the interest of public health, Australia took a stand to protect its right to package cigarettes with warning-based packaging and labeling rather than the customary slick Madison Avenue-type cigarette packaging and branding. The cigarette company powers-that-be sought to override Australia’s wishes through litigation, but Australia prevailed.

The much smaller and poorer countries of Uruguay and Togo, on the other hand, find themselves facing formidable opposition in any attempt to fund litigation that would ultimately protect their public health interests through restrictions on cigarette packaging.

Follow the Money

The Marlboro Man may be one of the premiere marketing and branding successes of the past century. Positioning the iconic American cowboy, the symbol of freedom and rugged independence with what was to become an instantly recognized red-and-white package of cigarettes was brilliant marketing. It is now a part of American culture, and likely recognized throughout the world.

Phillip Morris International owns seven of the top fifteen international cigarette brands. One of those brands is Marlboro. The company boasts net revenues in the neighborhood of 80 billion dollars annually. Its financial capability to protect and expand its influence worldwide through marketing and litigation is formidable.

Smaller, third-world countries with limited resources to raise public awareness of smoking-related health issues cannot adequately defend themselves on the issue of cigarette package warnings. Any smaller, less-affluent country with limited resources is also faced with lower literacy rates and less access to current health-related information and healthcare.

What to Expect

Based on current trends, we could expect cigarette companies to expand upon their successful marketing trends and targets of smaller, less-affluent countries with fewer resources to defend themselves against the intentions of such a powerful Goliath.

While nicotine and tobacco are not commonly catalogued with highly addictive substances such as heroin or cocaine, a smoker who is nicotine-dependent and trying to quit knows just how addictive nicotine-containing tobacco truly is.

Savvy marketing skill used to sell cigarettes to vulnerable populations, backed-up by a stable of well-funded litigation attorneys, international laws protecting trademarks and intellectual property, and the addictive nature of nicotine-containing tobacco itself are a recipe for international success.

While America seems to be on a steady course of tobacco smoking decline, other countries in the world will most likely continue to bolster the multi-national tobacco industry, and keep its coffers filled.

The post The Tobacco Industry—What Can We Expect in the Coming Years? appeared first on Tobacco-Free Families.

Getting Enough Vitamin C

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, the recommended daily value for vitamin C intake is 90 mg for adult men and 75 mg (or more if pregnant or breastfeeding) for adult women. Smokers of both genders require 35 mg more vitamin C per day.

A severe form of vitamin C deficiency is called scurvy. However, the Office of Dietary Supplements states that this only develops if vitamin C intake falls below 10 mg per day for many weeks. Since citrus fruit and several types of vegetables have around 50 mg or more of vitamin C per serving, scurvy is incredibly rare in developed countries.

Why are Cigarette Smokers at Greater Risk for Vitamin C Deficiency?

Smoking produces free radicals in the body, which are unstable compounds that react readily to nearby substances. This can cause tissue damage, contribute to disease and speed up the aging process.

Free radicals also deplete vitamin C levels. Smokers’ bodies use up vitamin C faster than nonsmokers’ bodies in an effort to counter the cell damage caused by smoking. This is why smokers need more vitamin C to stay healthy and are therefore at a higher risk of vitamin C deficiency.

How to Counter Vitamin C Deficiency

The easiest way to increase vitamin C levels in your body is to consume nutrient-dense foods. Fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of vitamin C include green and red peppers, oranges, grapefruit, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, cantaloupe, cabbage, and cauliflower.

While food should be your first source of vitamin C, dietary supplements can make up for where your diet lacks. Dietary supplements typically contain vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate or other mineral ascorbates.

Don’t Overdo It

While vitamin C is water soluble, meaning the body uses what it needs and discards the rest through urination, it’s possible to get too much vitamin C. The Office of Dietary Supplements recommends setting an upper limit of vitamin C intake from food and supplements to 2,000 mg per day.

Since this nutrient has a low toxicity, the most common complaints of unabsorbed vitamin C in the gastrointestinal tract are nausea, diarrhea, cramps and other digestive disturbances. People with hemochromatosis store too much iron in their body. Since high doses of vitamin C increase iron retention, it’s important to watch your intake if you have this condition.

Other Health Facts about Smoking

In addition to causing vitamin C deficiency, the National Cancer Institute points out other health problems caused by smoking. It’s the leading cause of preventable death in America. About 40 percent of preventable deaths caused by smoking are from cancer; 35 percent are from stroke and heart disease; and 25 percent are from lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Smoking is a leading cause of various cancers, including cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth, throat, bladder, kidney, stomach, pancreas and cervix. The habit can lead to a number of other diseases as well, including stroke, heart disease, COPD, aortic aneurysm, cataracts and asthma. Smokers are also at a higher risk of airway infections and pneumonia than nonsmokers.

Clearly, if you smoke, vitamin C deficiency is the least of your problems. Consider finding help today to get on the fast track towards quitting and start building you vitamin levels back. To boost them up the natural way, a juicer can be handy. Your five-a-day in glass.

This is an article by Anita, Higher Click’s writer. She is a health and beauty expert, a healthy eater and a blogger. She is now writing on behalf of Macys.com.

The post The Connection between Smoking and Vitamin C Deficiency appeared first on Tobacco-Free Families.

What Smoking Does To Your Teeth

According to WebMD, bad breath, stained teeth and white spots inside the mouth known as leukoplakia are just a few of the minor oral problems that are attributed to smoking. Any type of tobacco product can cause the teeth to decay. When the teeth are constantly exposed to tobacco, tartar can develop and eat away at the tooth’s enamel. If untreated, tooth decay can cause severe discomfort and even lead to an infection.

Smoking can also affect the gums and the bones that attach the teeth to the jaw, leading to tooth loss. If your gums appear to have receded or if your gums are tender and bleed easily, this may be a sign of periodontitis. Additionally, smokers tend to have more trouble with dental implants since tobacco risk increases the likelihood of infection.

Serious Oral Health Problems Linked To Smoking

The likelihood of developing oral cancer, throat cancer and esophageal cancer are significantly increased by smoking or using forms of smokeless tobacco. According to the National Library of Medicine, oral cancer can affect the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue, palate or floor of the mouth. Sores or bumps inside the mouth can be signs of oral cancer. Often times, treatment involves the removal of tumors that have developed inside the mouth along with chemotherapy treatment. In some cases, the treatment can affect one’s ability to chew and speak.

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What Is An Electronic Cigarette?

According to Medical News Today, an e-cigarette is made up of the following devices:

• Rechargeable Battery
• Atomizer — Used to heat liquid to create vapor.
• Cartridge (or mouthpiece)
• E-Liquid — Propylene glycol (a safe food additive) and flavoring, which can include nicotine.

Possible Dangers of Using E-Cigarettes

While e-cigarettes are smokeless, they do have the option of containing nicotine, which is also found in traditional cigarettes. Nicotine itself is an addictive component, which can reduce appetite, create relaxation, reduce anxiety and even act as a pain killer, according to News Medical. While these may seem like positive reactions, continued dependency on nicotine over time can cause cardiovascular problems like:

• Hypertension
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Heart Arrhythmias

Should E-Cigarettes Be Avoided?

Some believe that the lack of evidence proving e-cigarettes are safe is a reason to avoid them. While e-cigarettes are smokeless, and don’t contain the tobacco and harmful carcinogens found in traditional cigarettes, the fact that they can carry nicotine could pose a health risk. The continued use of nicotine can lead to nicotine tolerance, which can cause depression and forces users to take higher levels of nicotine in order to feel the same effect.

Because of nicotine’s addictive qualities, nicotine withdrawal has been known to cause the following symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Diarrhea or Constipation
• Difficult Falling Asleep or Insomnia
• Weight Gain (Craving for High-Calorie Foods)

It’s our view that nicotine, a highly addictive substance, should be avoided in any form.

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What Is Smokeless Tobacco?

Unlike cigarettes, smokeless tobacco is usually sucked on, chewed or sniffed. According to the Mayo Clinic, the following products are categorized as smokeless tobacco:

• Chewing Tobacco
• Tobacco Plugs
• Tobacco Twists
• Snuff
• Snus
• Dissolvable Tobacco

These are often held in the mouth, between the gum and cheek. The juices are often spit out (though certain products like snus are removed or dissolved without having to spit.)

The Dangers of Using Smokeless Tobacco

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, smokeless tobacco contains high levels of carcinogens and is just as likely to cause cancer as smoking. The most common diseases associated with smokeless tobacco are as follows:

• An Increased Risk of Throat or Mouth Cancer
• Bloody Sores That Develop On the Lips or Mouth That Don’t Heal
• White Patches That Form On the Tongue or Cheeks Caused by Tobacco Juice. Known as Leukoplaki, These Patches Can Be A Sign of Cancer.
• Tooth Decay, Tooth Loss and Bad Breath
• Cardiovascular Disease (High Blood Pressure, Stroke, Heart Attack)

The Best Way to Avoid These Tobacco-Related Diseases

Find a way to quit using smokeless tobacco products. One of the best ways to stop using is to get rid of all tobacco products and find a healthy alternative to take its place. Use support groups, family, friends or programs to ensure that you stick with your decision to stay tobacco free.

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Smoking is One of the Many Distractions

Sure, we’ve all heard of a driver who is distracted by his/her cell phone or fighting the temptation not to text a friend back.  Many drivers, even you, may have been a distracted driver at least once or twice.  Distracted driving is not just a driver using a cellphone, but is any activity that could divert a driver’s attention away from the primary task of driving.  All distractions endanger the driver, passengers, and fellow motorists.  Such distractions include, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading maps, using a gps, adjusting the radio, talking on the cellphone, texting and smoking cigarettes.  Wait.  Smoking cigarettes?  Think about it.  In order to smoke in your car, you need to locate the pack, remove a cigarette, find a lighter, and try to get the cigarette lit while keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.  And what about if your lighting attempts are unsuccessful?  You’ll keep trying and your concentration and focus on the road will be broken.  Once you’re done with your cigarette, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve put it out properly.  If you get a little bit of wind blowing through your windows, you may find a car (and lap) full of burning embers.  And don’t even think about littering!

Not only is cigarette smoking bad for you and can lead to numerous health problems resulting in death, smoking while driving is dangerous and can increase your likelihood of any preventable injuries.  If you must smoke, while in the car, pull over safely.  Better yet, ditch the smokes for your health and keep your eyes and hands on the wheel.

The post Does Smoking in Your Car Lead to Accidents? appeared first on Tobacco-Free Families.

How Does Secondhand Smoke Harm Children?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children face a wide range of complications attributed to secondhand smoke. Some children may develop cold-like symptoms that include sneezing and coughing. Ear infections have also been cited as being caused by secondhand smoke. Depending on the amount of time exposed, children run a much higher risk of getting the following respiratory problems:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
• Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

But secondhand smoke doesn’t only affect the lungs. In an article from CBS News, secondhand smoke can even lead to child behavioral problems and difficulties in school. According to the article, many children run the risk of having multiple behavioral problems that may include:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Bullying Problems
• Learning Disabilities

Severe Health Problems Attributed to Secondhand Smoke

In certain cases, secondhand smoke can even be life threatening. Young children can die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, which the Surgeon General has attributed to secondhand smoke exposure.

Quit Smoking Today

Not only will quitting improve personal health, it will also improve the health of any children in close proximity.

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