What are the main causes of headaches from fire smoke. How does wildfire smoke affect your body and brain. What are effective strategies to prevent and manage smoke-induced headaches. How can you reduce exposure to harmful smoke particles during wildfires.

Understanding Wildfire Smoke Composition and Its Impact on Health

Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of tiny particles, each varying in size and composition. These particles consist of partially burned solids and liquids, along with free radicals and toxic chemical substances created by the intense heat of the fire. Due to their microscopic size, these particles can easily enter the lungs and pass into the bloodstream, potentially causing a range of health issues, including headaches.

The increasing frequency of wildfires, particularly in western U.S. states, has made smoke-related health problems a growing concern. While respiratory and cardiovascular issues are commonly associated with wildfire smoke exposure, headaches are another significant side effect that many people experience.

Composition of Wildfire Smoke

• Tiny particles of varying sizes
• Partially burned solids and liquids
• Free radicals
• Toxic chemical substances

The Physiology of Headaches: Why Smoke Triggers Pain

Headaches are complex physiological responses involving the interaction between blood flow, pain-sensing nerves, and brain activity. The head, being one of the most sensitive areas of the body, contains a intricate system of organs, bones, cartilage, nerves, blood vessels, and tissues. This complexity makes it particularly susceptible to various types of pain, including those induced by environmental factors like smoke.

While the exact mechanisms behind headaches can be difficult to pinpoint, research suggests that smoke-induced headaches are often related to changes in blood pressure and the disruption of cellular communication within the body.

Types of Headaches Associated with Smoke Exposure

1. Tension headaches
2. Migraines
3. Cluster headaches
4. Sinus headaches

The Link Between Smoke Exposure and Increased Blood Pressure

One of the primary ways smoke triggers headaches is through its effect on blood pressure. Exposure to smoke from various sources, including wildfires, can lead to higher blood pressure. Prolonged exposure may result in hypertension, a chronic condition characterized by consistently elevated blood pressure, which is known to cause headaches.

Are certain types of headaches more likely to be triggered by smoke? Studies indicate that migraines are more commonly associated with smoke exposure compared to tension headaches. This is likely due to the sensitivity of migraine sufferers to environmental triggers and the complex interplay between smoke particles and cellular communication within the body.

Smoke Particles and Their Impact on Cellular Communication

The human body relies on intricate cellular communication systems to maintain proper functioning. Smoke particles, when introduced into the bloodstream, can disrupt these delicate processes. The reactive nature of smoke particles interferes with the chemical signals cells use to communicate internally and with other parts of the body.

This disruption can lead to a cascade of effects, including the triggering of pain responses and the onset of headaches. Moreover, exposure to air pollution, including smoke, has been linked to various neurological conditions such as dementia and multiple sclerosis, as well as internal organ diseases like diabetes.

Potential Long-Term Health Effects of Smoke Exposure

• Increased risk of neurological diseases
• Higher likelihood of developing internal organ diseases
• Chronic respiratory issues
• Cardiovascular problems

Strategies for Preventing and Managing Smoke-Induced Headaches

When dealing with smoke-induced headaches, prevention is key. The most effective strategy is to reduce exposure to smoke particles. During wildfire events, if possible, it’s best to leave the affected area. If evacuation is not an option, designating a “clean room” within your home can help minimize exposure.

How can you create a clean room in your home? Choose a room, preferably a bedroom, and take steps to seal it off from outside air. Use air purifiers with HEPA filters to remove smoke particles from the air, and keep windows and doors closed. This can significantly reduce your exposure to harmful smoke particles and potentially prevent headaches.

Additional Prevention Strategies

1. Stay hydrated to help flush toxins from your system
2. Use N95 or P100 respirator masks when outdoors
3. Avoid outdoor activities during high smoke periods
4. Keep indoor air clean with air conditioning and air purifiers
5. Maintain a healthy diet rich in antioxidants

The Role of Medication in Managing Smoke-Induced Headaches

While prevention is crucial, sometimes medication may be necessary to manage smoke-induced headaches. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen can be effective for many people. However, it’s important to note that certain substances in smoke, such as nicotine, can decrease the efficacy of some pain medications.

For those with chronic headaches or migraines triggered by smoke, prescription medications may be more appropriate. These could include triptans, ergotamines, or preventive medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new medication regimen.

Considerations When Using Medication for Smoke-Induced Headaches

• Potential interactions between smoke particles and medications
• Individual sensitivity to different types of pain relievers
• The importance of addressing the root cause (smoke exposure) alongside symptom management
• Possible side effects of long-term medication use

Lifestyle Adjustments to Reduce Vulnerability to Smoke-Induced Headaches

Beyond immediate prevention strategies and medication, making certain lifestyle adjustments can help reduce your vulnerability to smoke-induced headaches. These changes can improve your overall health and strengthen your body’s resilience against environmental triggers.

What lifestyle changes can help prevent smoke-induced headaches? Regular exercise, stress management techniques like meditation or yoga, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule can all contribute to better headache management. Additionally, avoiding other known headache triggers such as certain foods, alcohol, or caffeine can help reduce your overall susceptibility.

Beneficial Lifestyle Adjustments

1. Regular exercise to improve circulation and reduce stress
2. Stress management techniques (meditation, deep breathing exercises)
3. Consistent sleep schedule
4. Balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods
5. Limiting alcohol and caffeine intake
6. Staying well-hydrated
7. Avoiding known personal headache triggers

The Importance of Air Quality Monitoring and Community Preparedness

Being proactive about monitoring air quality and staying informed about wildfire risks in your area can help you take timely action to prevent smoke-induced headaches. Many communities now offer air quality alerts and have established emergency response plans for wildfire events.

How can you stay informed about air quality in your area? Use reliable air quality monitoring apps or websites that provide real-time data. Sign up for local emergency alerts and follow guidance from health authorities during wildfire events. By staying informed, you can make timely decisions about when to limit outdoor activities or take extra precautions to protect yourself from smoke exposure.

Community Preparedness Measures

• Establishing community clean air shelters
• Implementing school and workplace policies for high-smoke days
• Providing resources for vulnerable populations (elderly, children, those with pre-existing conditions)
• Coordinating with healthcare providers to ensure adequate support during wildfire events

Understanding the complex relationship between wildfire smoke and headaches is crucial for effectively managing this increasingly common health issue. By implementing a combination of preventive strategies, appropriate medical interventions when necessary, and lifestyle adjustments, individuals can significantly reduce the impact of smoke-induced headaches on their daily lives. As wildfires continue to pose challenges across many regions, staying informed and prepared is key to maintaining your health and well-being in the face of environmental hazards.

How to Deal With Headaches From Fire Smoke

Wildfires have become an increasingly common year-round problem in the U.S., especially in the western states. They not only damage landscapes and manmade structures, but can also lead to a host of health problems, particularly respiratory issues and cardiovascular problems. Exposure to wildfire smoke can also cause headaches. The reason for this is complicated, but it does not mean we cannot take steps to avoid headaches from fire smoke. Let us dive into what smoke does to your body and your head specifically so you can be better prepared to prevent the pain and discomfort.

What, exactly, is wildfire smoke?

Wildfire smoke consists of countless tiny particles, each one with a different size and made up of a different mix of partially burned solids and liquids. The energy from the fire that turned a tree or a house into smoke also leaves behind free radicals and other reactive, and therefore toxic, chemical substances on the surface of smoke particles. Due to their small size, these particles are small enough to get into your lungs and pass into your bloodstream. From there they are pumped to the heart and sent throughout the body, which, in turn, can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including headaches.

Headaches explained

Your head contains a complex system of organs, bone, cartilage, nerves, blood vessels and tissue, making it one of the most sensitive areas of the body. Unfortunately, one of the most prominent sensations we feel in this area is the dreaded headache. We have all experienced at least one kind of head pain, and may have been told that we suffer from tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, stabbing headaches, sinus headaches, or one of the many other names that doctors use to help characterize such symptoms. Headaches are often temporary and no cause for alarm, but they can also become chronic and possible indicators of a serious health problem — in which case you should consult with a doctor. If you have the sudden onset of a serious headache, it is also advisable to seek medical attention.

It is difficult to narrow down the cause of any one headache, but the medical community agrees that the physiology of headaches involves how the blood flowing into your head interacts with pain-sensing nerves and brain activity. Chronic headaches like migraines have always had an elusive exact mechanism so most of the research is focused on the indirect causes, such asstress, poor diet or fatigue.

Smoke increases blood pressure

One of the many effects of exposure to smoke from any source ishigher blood pressure. Extended exposure can result in hypertension, which is chronic high blood pressure, and in turn lead to headaches. These symptoms are caused by particles not just from smoke but also car exhaust, power plants, or any other place where organic matter is burning.

The composition of the smoke influences how it affects your body. Cigarette smoke, for example, can cause headaches in some, but this is likely a result of nicotine in addition to the particles. Not only does nicotine impact blood flow and pain nerves,but it can also decrease the efficacy of pain medication like Tylenol and Aleve. This is an unfortunate conundrum becausepeople who have chronic headaches are more likely to smoke cigarettes. Quitting can be a challenge for those who suffer with migraines, as well. If headaches during wildfires are a problem, it might help to take any extra steps to avoid exposure to cigarette smoke in the meantime.

While smoke can dysregulate almost any system in your body, some types of headaches are more associated with smoke than others. For instance,migraines are more likely to be triggered by smoke than tension headaches. Your cells are very sensitive to small chemicals they use to communicate internally and with the rest of your body. When reactive smoke particles are floating around in the blood, they are likely to interrupt this delicate interplay. Exposure to air pollution (including smoke) is also linked toall sorts of neurological diseases likedementia and multiple sclerosis in addition to diseases of the internal organs likediabetes.

How to deal with a headache

If you have chronic headaches you should talk to your doctor to get a diagnosis if appropriate. Some headaches may be the result of tumors, strokes, or other injuries and need professional medication attention. But when the headaches are the only problem, there are a handful of ways to help your blood, brain and nerves better regulate themselves.

Reduce smoke exposure: Before trying medication or anything else, remember the physical particles of smoke cause or exacerbate headaches,so just avoiding them can be effective. During a wildfire event, it is best to leave the area if possible. If not, choose one room in the house as the clean room, the bedroom is best since it is where you will spend the night. Seal any windows and keep the door closed as much as possible. If you have an air purifier, put it in your clean room.

Over the Counter Medication: Non-prescription headache medication is the first line of defense for most people with a headache. There are two primary types — acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, and NSAIDs, which are a class of drugs that are typically labeled ibuprofen, aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, Advil, among other names. Tylenol is thought to work on the pain nerves in the head, and has few side-effects so is relatively safer and can be given to children. NSAIDs are any one of a number of drugs that reduce inflammatory chemicals that trigger pain nerves throughout the body. They can cause kidney or liver problems over time andshould not be taken for longer than 10 days without talking to a doctor. Both Tylenol and NSAIDs can make existing kidney or liver problems worse and can have negative interactions with alcohol.

Hydration: Some headaches are exacerbated ordirectly caused by dehydration, so keeping hydrated is always a good plan. This includes avoiding diuretics like coffee and alcohol that may deplete your internal stores of water, and making sure to drink a lot if you are sweating.

Caffeine: This solution should be used with caution. Caffeine in coffee or teachanges the blood flow in your head, which can help to reduce headaches. However, your body can become dependent on caffeine very easily with daily use and will rely on it to regulate blood flow. When caffeine is not available your body can take a day or two to start regulating the blood flow in your brain again, and in the meantime it will not flow as well as when your body is in its natural state, leading to worse headaches in addition to drowsiness and being less alert.

Relaxation: Meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques can help regulate the nervous system and are effective for avoiding many types of headaches includingtension headaches andmigraines. While almost anything that relaxes can be effective, alternative techniques likeacupuncture may not be as good as pure relaxation.

Alternative methods: There are several herbs and supplements that haveat least some promise in helping with headaches. Riboflavin, coenzyme Q10 and magnesium supplements along with butterbur and feverfew have been studied and shown to have a potential impact on migraines.

If you have chronic headaches and want to avoid them getting worse next time there is a wildfire, there are a few other ways to prepare. Talk to your doctor about any prescription medications that might be appropriate, and ask them about biofeedback. Biofeedback is a relatively new pain management treatment that involves attaching electrodes to the headache sufferer to measure stress and pain nerve activity. The patient then watches their own responses on a monitor and uses a relaxation technique to attempt to calm their stress and alleviate their headache.It is unclear why this is effective, butdoctors have been finding some success in using it to treat pain.

Headaches usually result from some type of dysregulation of a body system, sostaying fit can help reduce migraines.Maintaining a good diet that is low in inflammatory foods like gluten may also be effective, as can low-carb diets with a low glycemic index like Atkins and keto.

At Molekule we want everyone to breathe clean air and to be prepared when the air is not clean. Keep an eye on this blog or our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts for more information on how to do that.

How wildfires and climate change impact headache and migraine symptoms

Neurologists say the increasing effects of climate change could impact health outcomes, including headaches.

By
• Zoë Read

June 9, 2023

A man crosses Broad Street past a hazy City Hall, June 7, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

This story is part of the WHYY News Climate Desk, bringing you news and solutions for our changing region.

From the Poconos to the Jersey Shore to the mouth of the Delaware Bay, what do you want to know about climate change? What would you like us to cover? Get in touch.

Sarah Shaw was outside cleaning her car Tuesday evening before she felt lightheaded and dizzy. At the time, the poor air quality caused by wildfires in Canada didn’t cross her mind.

Shaw said her symptoms worsened, and on Wednesday morning she woke up with a throbbing migraine.

“I haven’t woken up to one of those in a very long time,” said the 33-year-old West Windsor, New Jersey resident.

Shaw was diagnosed with migraine disease about eight years ago, and she now works as a patient advocate for the Global Healthy Living Foundation. Along with an intense stabbing headache, migraine symptoms can include sensitivity to light and sound, vertigo, vision changes, speech problems, brain fog, and severe fatigue. Migraine attacks are unpredictable, and patients can miss school, hobbies, and even lose their jobs.

Shaw said her migraine medication took much longer to work than usual, and her symptoms lasted until Friday. She said she never knew particles from wildfire smoke may spark headaches and migraine symptoms, and wonders whether her migraine attack was caused by the poor air quality in the region.

“I can sit in front of a bonfire with the smoke and I’m never triggered. This was on a whole other level of pain,” Shaw said.

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Migraine symptoms can also be triggered by stress, weather changes, light, and scents.

The Philadelphia region this week was alerted to dangerous air quality caused by wildfire smoke traveling from Canada to the northeastern United States. People were advised to remain indoors with their windows closed, and wear N-95 or KN-95 masks when outside.

Particulate matter from wildfire smoke is known to cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems. However, neurologists say it may also contribute to increased headaches, and trigger migraine symptoms.

A University of Pennsylvania study published in January 2023 found that poor air quality caused by wildfires is likely to increase the odds of getting a headache. The researchers evaluated emergency room visits in California during wildfires.

“The importance of understanding the impact of climate in the environment on not only neurologic outcomes but health outcomes more broadly can’t be understated,” said lead researcher Dr. Holly Elser, a neurologist at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

The particulate matter found in wildfires, known as PM 2.5, is even smaller than a strand of hair — and is more robustly associated with adverse health effects.

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Wildfires can produce at least 2 to 4 times more, or up to 10 times as much, PM 2.5 than average urban pollution, said Dr. Shahir Masri, an air pollution scientist at the University of California, Irvine. He said high levels of PM 2.5 were measured in southern California while wildfires burned further north in San Francisco.

“We’re talking seven times higher than what I would normally see in my neighborhood due to a wildfire that was hundreds of miles away,” Masri said.

Elser said the association between wildfires and headaches deserves greater medical attention as climate change is expected to reduce air quality in the future — and as wildfires continue to impact the East Coast.

“The climate and the environment are going to have implications for patients with neurologic disorders — whether that’s headache, MS, stroke, dementia — and, we as clinicians need to be ready to care for our patients as the climate changes,” she said.

A number of other climate change-related weather events can contribute to headaches, said Dr. Marilyn Howarth, an environmental toxicologist at the University of Pennsylvania. Rainstorms, which are expected to become more frequent and intense, can worsen headaches, as well as mold growth caused by flooding, she said.

Physicians also are concerned about related stormwater runoff, Howarth said.

“We’re concerned about the movement of that surface soil, because in Philadelphia and other post-industrial cities, we have a lot of hazardous materials in our soil,” she said. “We have lead, other heavy metals, poly aromatic hydrocarbons that come from years and years of motor vehicles in the city.”

“If floodwaters wash across volatile chemicals, those chemicals can then be taken places, and then when they’re airborne can cause headaches,” Howarth said.

Elser said she hopes her wildfire research will spark awareness, as well as continued research into the health impacts of particulate matter.

“We need more national data that speaks to the experiences not only of people who are in the most highly affected areas when there are these big wildfires, but also whether or not there are remote health effects for people who live far away,” she said.

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The impact of smoking on the human body

On November 15, 2018, the action “Breathe easy” is held as part of the international Day of No Smoking,
dedicated to the prevention of COPD and other lung diseases human

There is not a single organ or system in the human body that would not be adversely affected by tobacco smoke and its components.

The smoker’s central nervous system is in a state of constant tension due to the stimulating effect of nicotine. But at the same time, less blood flows to it (due to spasm of the cerebral vessels), and the oxygen content in it, which is necessary to maintain the active activity of the brain, is reduced. But even the oxygen that comes to the brain is hardly used by brain cells, so the smoker has reduced mental performance, memory is weakened, and volitional qualities suffer. In addition, he feels increased irritability, sleep is disturbed and headaches are often noted.

Once inhaled, tobacco smoke has a detrimental effect on the entire respiratory system. Thus, harmful substances contained in tobacco smoke cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, nose, larynx, trachea and bronchi. As a result, chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract develops, colds and colds and infectious diseases, tonsillitis and other disorders of the tonsils occur more often. After smoking, the action of small cilia of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is inhibited for 20 minutes, which, with their rapid flicker, expel harmful and mechanical substances that have got here and settled on the mucous membrane. Prolonged smoking leads to irritation of the vocal cords and narrowing of the glottis, which changes the timbre and color of the sounds pronounced, the voice loses its clarity and sonority, becomes hoarse.

A typical sign of a smoker is a cough with dark-colored mucus, especially tormenting in the morning. Cough causes the lungs to expand by reducing their elasticity and ability to collapse on exhalation to such an extent that the alveoli are completely emptied of rich CO., air. All this provokes the development of shortness of breath and makes breathing difficult. Long-term chronic inflammation of the airways and lungs leads to a decrease in their resistance and the development of acute and chronic diseases, such as pneumonia, bronchial asthma.

A systematic smoker develops many diseases of the circulatory system: high blood pressure, disorders of cerebral circulation and heart activity up to myocardial infarction, etc. The heart rate during smoking increases by 10-18 beats per minute and is restored only after 15-20 minutes. Considering that the consequences of smoking one cigarette persist for 30-40 minutes after stopping smoking, this means that by smoking a new cigarette every half an hour, the smoker keeps the circulatory system in a state of constant tension. For example, during the day his heart makes up to 10-15 thousand extra contractions.

The smoker’s mouth smells unpleasant, the tongue is covered with a gray coating, which is one of the indicators of improper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract

Irritating the salivary glands, nicotine causes increased salivation. The smoker not only spits out excess saliva, but also swallows it, exacerbating the harmful effect of nicotine on the digestive apparatus. There are other changes in the state of the organs of the oral cavity: the destruction of tooth enamel, the development of caries and the appearance of yellow plaque on the teeth, loosening and bleeding of the gums.

During smoking, the stomach vessels constrict, the amount of gastric juice is increased, and its composition is changed; appetite decreases, and digestion is inhibited (which is why a smoker grabs a cigarette when he feels hungry). As a result, all these causes often lead to the development of stomach ulcers.

Tobacco smoke reduces the sharpness of smell and taste sensations, so smokers often have difficulty distinguishing the taste of sweet, salty, bitter, sour. In addition to these effects on the body, smoking gives a number of other consequences and complications. In particular, in smoking men aged 25-40, sexual activity is half that of non-smokers.

Only 25% of tobacco smoke enters the smoker’s lungs, the remaining 75% poison the air, harming others – this phenomenon is called “passive smoking”. The concentration of tobacco smoke in indoor air that is hazardous to the health of non-smokers is created when only a few cigarettes are smoked, so non-smokers in a family with only one smoker passively “smoke” up to 10 cigarettes per day.

Reasons for addiction to smoking are different. At first, this is usually an imitation, then in the process of smoking a persistent conditioned reflex is developed, and, finally, the main reason for the development of long-term chronic tobacco smoking is addiction to nicotine as one of the varieties of drug addiction.

The vast majority of smokers do not enjoy smoking and are ready to quit this harmful habit, but refer only to “lack of will”. In fact, the main reason is the lack of motivation, goals. That is why up to 99% of smokers, getting to doctors with severe consequences of smoking (myocardial infarction, brain stroke, signs of cancer), instantly forget about smoking. It has been found that more than 70% of smokers can easily quit smoking because they do not have a true need for tobacco. Therefore, the smoker should, without waiting for dangerous consequences, realize that this habit itself can become a serious prerequisite for a life-threatening disease.

Smoking is one of the leading factors of self-destructive behavior, a prolonged suicide. Smoking is not fashionable, smoking is not prestigious! In civilized states, this has long been understood. In our country, the number of cigarettes consumed over the past 17 years has increased from 170 billion to 700 billion.

The fight against smoking and propaganda about the dangers of smoking should be started from primary school age, using all means for this (conversations, lectures, films, posters, etc. ) in order to develop a negative attitude towards smoking in a student. Parents and public organizations should be widely involved in this work.

Consequences of constant smoking

If a nervous breakdown occurs, in stressful situations, the smoker wants to smoke. This indicates the emergence of the so-called mental dependence on nicotine. Both chemical and psychological dependence is explained by the fact that this bad habit is quite difficult to give up, since any interruption in the flow of nicotine into the body can lead to a significant deterioration in health.

The effect of smoking on the nervous system of a growing child’s body is especially strong. These children are often unbalanced, their memory and attention suffer, their sleep is disturbed. It is children’s and youthful smoking that causes the development of hypertension in adolescence.

The negative effect of smoking on the nervous system is manifested by the incorporation of nicotine into the transmission of impulses through nerve fibers, while acetylcholine reactions are canceled. There are quite a lot of nerve endings in the human body that are most susceptible to the action of this neurotoxin, therefore, it becomes possible to change the work of not only the central nervous system, but also various life-supporting systems of the body.

In active smokers, the natural neurotransmitter is almost completely replaced by nicotine, since its constant intake into the body leads to inhibition of the production of acetylcholine. This creates a paradoxical situation. Much more nicotine enters the body than is necessary for the functioning of the nervous system. Consequently, there is an intensification of all vital processes, the next stage is their oppression. For example, under the influence of nicotine, the vessels first expand, and then their spasm occurs.

What happens when the intake of nicotine in the body stops? There is a development of an abstinence syndrome (in other words, a withdrawal syndrome). Consequently, a person rejects smoking, and the nervous system reacts to this. This is manifested by various physiological and mental disorders, which are completely removed after smoking the first cigarette. The clinical picture is as follows:

• changeable mood;
• decreased attention and perseverance;
• increased sweating and hypersalivation;
• decrease in cardiac pressure.

The harmful effect of tobacco smoke on others

When smoking only one cigarette, up to 2 liters of tobacco smoke are formed, each cubic centimeter of which contains up to 6 thousand particles of soot.

In this smoke, compared to what is absorbed by the smoker’s lungs, the amount of tar and nicotine is much greater, benzpyrene – three times, carbon monoxide – five times, ammonia – ten times higher.

Not everyone knows about the so-called “passive smoking” – forced inhalation of tobacco smoke by persons who do not smoke themselves, but are in contact with smokers. Tobacco smoke delays ultraviolet rays, so necessary for a person, is deposited in the lungs, pollutes the room. Air polluted with tobacco smoke causes discomfort to non-smokers, reducing their performance. They have headache, lethargy, weakness, bronchial asthma may worsen, and painful symptoms may occur in susceptible individuals with allergic diseases.

Inhalation of tobacco smoke in a smoky room by non-smokers for an hour corresponds to their “smoking” of four cigarettes.

Persons systematically staying in smoky, poorly ventilated rooms can get tuberculosis, inflammation of the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi. For example, a post-mortem examination of non-smokers revealed radioactive polonium in their bronchi, which probably appeared there from the smoke of other people’s cigarettes. Nicotine has been found in the blood and urine of non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke. Recent studies have irrefutably shown that non-smokers who systematically inhale tobacco smoke develop lung cancer just as often as those who smoke. The researchers randomly selected 200 patients from the clinic, and 32 of them were found to be susceptible to dry particulate tobacco smoke. This indicates that millions of people with allergic diseases suffer from passive smoking. Many adults who smoke indoors are unaware of the harm they cause to children. Sometimes adults smoke even holding a child in their arms. Studies have shown that in children whose parents smoke, the frequency of bronchitis and pneumonia doubles in the first year of life, especially life-threatening infants. Studies of the urine of such children in some cases reveal in it carcinogens from tobacco smoke, which, of course, passed through the children’s body.

Tobacco prevention

Nicotine addiction is a serious problem, strongly binding the human psyche. Today, there are several different ways to deal with addiction that will help you quit smoking. But, despite this, it is better not to start smoking at all than to try to get rid of this bad habit.

Tobacco prevention should be comprehensive and include all of the following:

1. Do not set an example for your child. If you smoke, then your child is very likely to pick up a cigarette sooner or later. So you need to quit this bad habit. In addition, reciprocal measures are also important: set a positive example for your child through sports and physical education.

2. Prohibition of tobacco advertising. In many countries, such measures are already actively used, so it is almost impossible to see cigarette advertising in the public domain. This leads to the fact that the child does not have an excessive interest in tobacco. In addition, some states even prohibit the free laying out of cigarette packs for sale, and the packs themselves depict the consequences of smoking in the form of various diseases.

3. Information. It is very important to tell children about smoking, and not try to completely protect them from all information. You should explain to your child in detail about the negative effects of smoking.

4. Promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction have only one serious alternative – a healthy lifestyle. By promoting sports and physical education, you can save the younger generation from falling into the clutches of harmful addiction. As mentioned above, for children and adolescents, the society around them plays a very important role. The healthier the society, the healthier they will grow up.

5. Prohibit the sale of cigarettes to children under 18 years of age. This is a natural measure that has long been adopted by all countries of the world. Unfortunately, many unscrupulous sellers allow themselves to sell cigarettes to children for personal gain.

6. No smoking in public places. Another useful anti-tobacco law that has recently come into force in Russia. Thanks to him, children not only avoid a negative example, but the people around them do not suffer from passive smoking.

Conclusion

It is hardly possible to tell about the dangers of smoking in a nutshell. The number of negative aspects exceeds all reasonable limits. The damage caused by cigarettes exceeds in scale all known large-scale accidents and man-made disasters. The World Health Organization reports in its materials that over 5,000,000 people die every year from diseases caused by this addiction in the world. In this regard, one and only conclusion suggests itself: the best thing is not to start smoking. For those who smoke, quit! Call on your willpower to help you. This way you will prevent many troubles. Health must be protected, not dissolved in tobacco smoke.

A reasonable alternation of work and rest, rational nutrition, physical education and sports, interesting and exciting leisure activities, quitting smoking and drinking alcohol will preserve and strengthen your health, prolong your working capacity, active creative activity.

Healthy lifestyle

APRIL 7 – WORLD HEALTH DAY

CONTROL

Arterial hypertension (hypertension) is a condition characterized by a repeated increase in upper (systolic) blood pressure (BP) up to 140 mm Hg and above, and the lower (diastolic) – above 90 mm Hg.

About 40% of the Russian population over the age of 18 has high blood pressure. It is possible to establish the causes of arterial hypertension (AH) only in 5-10% of persons with high blood pressure. Approximately only half of patients are aware of their disease, since the disease can go unnoticed. And at the same time, very often the first manifestation of the disease can immediately become the development of myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke. That is why AG is called the “silent killer”. You should be alerted by such unpleasant sensations as headache, palpitations, pain in the heart, periodic shortness of breath, dizziness, nosebleeds, fatigue, weakness, tinnitus, which may be caused by high blood pressure. But even in the absence of any complaints, it is necessary to periodically measure your blood pressure. To do this, it is necessary to have at home in each family a device for measuring blood pressure – a tonometer. Remember that people with high blood pressure have a 3-4 times higher risk of coronary heart disease and a 7 times higher risk of stroke compared to people with normal blood pressure.

WHAT LEADS TO HIGH BP?

Remember some of the risk factors that lead to this disease:

• overweight;
• excessive salt intake;
• excessive drinking;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• stress;
• diabetes mellitus;
• smoking (even one cigarette smoked can increase blood pressure. )

These risk factors can and should be influenced by improving your lifestyle and thereby reducing the likelihood of developing hypertension.

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MAY 31 – INTERNATIONAL NO SMOKING DAY

“On the dangers of tobacco smoke on health”

The general effect of tobacco smoke on the body.

Smoking, regardless of the number of cigarettes, cigarettes, pipes consumed per day, always (always!) sooner or later leads to coronary heart disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, and finally cancer. Smoking does not so much cause many diseases, but promotes evolution or directly stimulates the development of diseases, weakening the body’s defenses.

According to a committee of WHO experts, studies carried out on a large scale have shown that: 1) mortality among smokers in general is 30-80% higher than among non-smokers; 2) mortality increases with the number of cigarettes smoked; 3) mortality is higher among people who started smoking at a young age; 4) disability rates for smokers are higher than for non-smokers.

Recently, additional data have been obtained that confirm the development of disease processes arising or exacerbated by smoking and affecting mortality and morbidity. Thus, among people who smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day, mortality is approximately 15 times higher than among non-smokers. Ages 40 to 49years, smokers die 3 times more often than non-smokers, mainly from myocardial infarction and lung cancer. When smoking is stopped, mortality rates tend to decrease. Numerous scientific studies have clearly shown that smokers live on average 5-6 years less than non-smokers. In heavy smokers, life is shortened, according to some reports, by more than 10 years. In England, a large number of premature deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are associated with smoking. In France, about 35,000 people die every year from diseases caused by smoking, in the USA – 300,000 people. At 19In 1967, a major study was conducted in Japan to find out the relationship between mortality and smoking.