The most common form of smoking in Australia is cigarette smoking. Cigarettes are filled with tobacco and other additives and usually have a filter at the end of them to reduce the amount of smoke and other nasties getting into your body.
Over the last decade or so the bad health effects of smoking have been in the media a lot and the government has been spending a lot of money to try to reduce the number of smokers in Australia. While it is your choice if you want to smoke or not it's also good to know what some of the health effects are.
Is smoking really addictive?
Yes. Nicotine, which occurs naturally in tobacco plants, is the drug that makes smokers want to keep on smoking. Research has shown that nicotine is addictive. This means that when you start smoking regularly, you usually become dependent on smoking. After a while, your body is used to working with nicotine and feels a need for a regular dose.
What are the effects of smoking?
Tobacco smoking is the single most common cause of bad health and premature death in Australia. Some of the more serious health problems associated with smoking include:
- Lung, mouth and throat cancer
- Heart attacks and strokes
- Gangrene and amputation of limbs
- Reduced male and female fertility
- Higher risk of blindness
And it costs too, even if you don't actually smoke! Think of all the money being poured into hospitals and programs to help smokers recover from their smoking-related illnesses.
The Better Health Channel (new window) has info on the financial side of smoking as well as the effects that cigarettes have on your body and the bodies of anyone else around you.
Most smokers want to quit
Research also shows that most smokers would like to quit. They are aware of the health problems that smoking causes - both for themselves and for the people around them.
Smokers also realise they spend a lot of money on cigarettes. You can work out how much you're really spending each year with the Better Health Channel's smoking cost calculator (new window).
Some people are scared to quit. They are scared of gaining weight and come up with other excuses to not quit, or they put it off for that mystical day in the future when it will all be so much easier. You can get lots of info and tips on weight gain after quitting at the Better Health Channel's Weight Gain page (new window).
While you might think that the whole world is telling you to stop smoking it is important for you to decide for yourself that you want to quit and be confident that you will succeed.
OxyGen (new window) and Quit (new window) are two excellent support services if you're thinking of quitting, have recently quit or know someone else who wants to give up the ciggies once and for all.
Withdrawal symptoms
If you quit smoking and especially if you quit all of a sudden, or 'cold turkey', you will most likely get withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms usually aren't very pleasant and include:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Shakiness
- Aches and pains
- Coughing
- Cravings
However, it's important to know that these symptoms are only temporary and your body will eventually recover and get used to living without nicotine.
Legal stuff
It's illegal to purchase cigarettes if you're under 18.
It's also illegal to:
- Smoke in most enclosed workplaces
- Smoke, promote tobacco products, or sell tobacco products at underage events
- Smoke in covered areas of train station platforms, tram shelters and bus shelters
- Smoke in restaurants and places that serve food
- Smoke in all enclosed bars, clubs and pubs
The Victorian Government's Tobacco Reforms (new window) website has all the details.
Links
Better Health Channel - Smoking
Articles about the health effects and financial costs of smoking as well as services and support to help with quitting.
Tobacco Reforms
Find out about smoking restrictions in Victoria.
Quit
Find out about the Quit campaign and get information about tobacco and quitting smoking.
OxyGen
Go to the 'Hard Facts' page for tobacco information sheets and information about nicotine addiction, environmental issues, laws and policies.
