Live a Smoke Free Life

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

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

Harms of Smoking During Pregnancy

Harms of Smoking During Pregnancy

Mother:

Placental abruption
Placenta previa
Premature rupture of membranes
Premature birth
Spontaneous abortion/ miscarriage
Ectopic pregnancy

Child:

Stunted gestational development
Stillbirth
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Reduced lung function and impaired lung development
Asthma and bronchitis
Acute lower respiratory infection
Respiratory irritation
Childhood cancers
Orofacial cleft
Possible increased risk of allergic diseases
Possible increased risk of learning disability and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder
Possible increased risk of cleft palate/lips

Smoking effects on Fertility

Smoking effects on Fertility

Male Smokers:

Decreased sperm quality with lower counts (numbers of sperm) and motility (sperm’s ability to move)
Increased numbers of abnormally shaped sperm
Decrease in sperm's ability to fertilise egg

Female Smokers:

Chemicals (such as nicotine, cyanide, and carbon monoxide) in cigarette smoke can speed up the loss rate of eggs
Unfortunately, once eggs die off, they cannot regenerate or be replaced. This means that menopause can occur 1 to 4 years earlier in women who smoke (compared with non-smokers)

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.

Though tobacco withdrawal is stressful, there's no evidence that the stress has negative long-term effects.

Research shows that smokers who quit tend to eat better, exercise regularly and feel better about themselves.

Based on an average smoker, they will be able to save up to $2,000 per year.

The risk posed by carrying the extra pounds is very mild compared to the risk of continuing to smoke.

Source: Health Canada, American Cancer Society, WebMD

Second Hand Smoke

About 85% to 90% of the smoke from every cigarette ends up in the air as Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) which is referred to as second hand smoke.

A lighted cigarette produce two types of smoke that a non-smoker breathes in:

Mainstream Smoke which is inhaled by the smoker through the filter tip of the cigarette and then exhaled
Sidestream Smoke from the burning tip of the cigarette which goes straight into the air we breathe

Second hand smoke consist of around 85% of sidestream smoke and 15% of mainstream smoke. Sidestream smoke has a higher temperature than mainstream smoke and does not pass through the cigarette's filter tip. The concentration of chemicals in sidestream smoke is thus higher than in mainstream smoke.

Why is it harmful?

Why is it harmful?

Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 different chemicals, of which at least 400 are poisonous to man. The World Health Organization reports that at least sixty cancer-causing chemicals have been identified in secondhand smoke.

Recent studies have estimated that non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home at their workplace have their risk of lung cancer raised about a quarter.

Harms of Second Hand Smoke

Harms of Second Hand Smoke

Adults

Coronary Artery Diseases
Lung Cancer
Reproductive effects in women
Stroke
Nasal Irritation

Children

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Low Birth Weight
Impaired Lung Function
- Lower Respiratory Illness
- Respiratory Symptoms (eg. cough, wheeze, breathlessness)
Middle Ear Disease

Source: The Tobacco Atlas, American Cancer Society

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

Shisha

Shisha

The 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?

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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