- About Smoking
- Harms of Smoking
- Smoking, Cancer & Other Diseases
- 8 Myths of Smoking
- Second Hand Smoke
- E-Cigarette
- How to Quit
About Smoking
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), smoking has been found to be related to 6 million deaths worldwide annually. 14 types of cancer are related to smoking. 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. In Singapore, tobacco kills approximately 2,500 smokers and 250 non-smokers each year (based on the World No Tobacco Day information paper). There is a high percentage of smokers among Singapore residents aged between 18 to 69. Tobacco is known to cause several types of cancer such as lung, oral and nasopharynx cancer. Most of these cancers were among the top common cancers diagnosed in Singapore residents between 2010 to 2014. A cigarette alone contains over 7,000 chemicals and in these chemicals, 70 of them are cancer causing substances. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death and we would like to encourage all to stay smoke free. Sources: 1. World No Tobacco Day Information Paper, National Registry of Diseases Office 25 May 2015 2. Singapore Cancer Registry, Annual Registry Report, Trends in Cancer Incidence, 2010 - 2014 |
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Harms of Smoking
Tobacco can do damage not only to the whole person but also to the whole planet. ‘The harm caused by tobacco use is not limited to only lung cancer, heart diseases and emphysema. Tobacco use exacerbates other non-communicable diseases, mental illnesses and substance abuse problems, as well as damages the environment and undermines human development.’ – The Tobacco Altas, Amercian Cancer Society |
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Harms of Smoking During Pregnancy
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Smoking effects on Fertility
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8 Myths of Smoking
The smoke from your cigarette and the smoke that you breathe out is causing double the impact to the people near you.
The children who are collecting the tobacco leaves in foreign countries suffer.
Air fresheners and air purifiers only mask the smell of the smoke and do not reduce the harm in any way.
Second-hand smoke is composed of both particles and gases. Most air filters are designed to reduce fine smoke particles in the air, but they do not remove the gases.
On average, it takes 8 to 10 quitting attempts before a person actually succeeds in breaking the habit.
Smoking affects every organ system in the body, eating a healthy diet and exercising does not reduce the health risks associated with smoking.
Smokers compensate for the lower levels of tar and nicotine by inhaling smoke more deeply or by smoking more of each cigarette. Eventually the same amount of killing components is inhaled.
Cigarettes labelled "natural" or "organic" are no safer than ordinary cigarettes.
“Benefits of quitting start on the day you stop.”
The damage caused by smoking is cumulative, and the longer a person smokes, the greater his/her risk for life-threatening ailments.
Quitting smoking at any age brings health benefits.
Source: Health Canada, American Cancer Society, WebMD
Second Hand Smoke
E-Cigarette
Is Smoking E-Cigarette Less Harmful? E-cigarettes are battery operated devices designed to deliver nicotine with flavourings and other chemicals to users in vapor instead of smoke. Although e-cigarettes do not produce tobacco smoke, it still contain nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals. A new study finds that nicotine is not only addictive but also harms the lungs. It also reduces that tissue’s ability to serve as a barrier to foreign substances. Research has also found that nicotine is harmful to the developing teenage brain and affects memory and attention. According to MOH, the vapour from e-cigarettes still contains cancer-causing agents which pose a risk to both the user and by standers. Source: Hariz, B. (2015, Aug 30) E-cigarettes remain illegal. Retrieved from http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/e-cigarettes-remain-illegal Janet Raloff, B.M. (2015, May 29) Vaping may harm the lungs. Retrieved from https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/vaping-may-harm-lungs |
ShishaThe WHO report reveals that shisha fosters addiction and it also has passive smoking effects, just like cigarettes. Shisha may be flavoured with your favourite fruits, it is basically tobacco that you smoke and it is toxic. The liquid that you smoke is composed of flavoured tobacco and molasses. Molasses is responsible for the temptingly sweet taste and the clear cut smell. Studies have shown that smoking shisha for 45 minutes is equivalent to smoking 50 cigarettes. In fact, it is twice the levels of carbon monoxide and thrice the levels of nicotine when compared to the levels of these chemicals from 50 cigarettes. These high levels of carbon monoxide may result in unconsciousness and brain damage. Long term use of shisha which contains chemicals such as cadmium, increases the risk of cancer, especially cancer of the mouth, gums and lungs. Source: Shisha smoking- The truth about the harms. Retrieved from http://www.quitshisha.com/blog/quit-shisha-blog/shisha-smoking-the-truth-about-the-harms/ Are E-cigarette or Shisha illegal?Smoking of shisha was fully banned in Singapore since 1 Aug 2016 and vaping through the e-cigarette is illegal in Singapore. With the new laws, any person found with e-cigarettes is liable to a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a maximum jail term of six months. Subsequent convictions will double the initial penalties. |
How to Quit
Throw away all your lighters, ashtrays and cigarette packs! ALL of them, including the ones you have hidden in your drawer for 'emergency' purposes. Make it known to everyone that you are quitting to prevent you from failing! Remember the 4 Ds! Distract yourself by doing something else Eat a sweet, do some exercise and keep your mind occupied Delay lighting up Everytime you feel like lighting up, eat a sweet or drink some water to delay lighting up Do deep breathing exercise to help you relax Concentrate on your body and your breathing to get over your cravings Drink a glass of water or milk slowly Keep your hands and mouth busy For more information and if you need help to quit, please call QuitLine at 1800 438 2000 or visit I Quit |
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