Ask Pat

First of all, congratulations on quitting smoking! Good for you. As far as your question goes, there is no set timetable for complete recovery. Nicotine affects, whether direct or indirect, every bodily process. It can take up to several months for your system to readjust. Your immune system can be more susceptible to colds and flu as a result. It's common for people to attribute long-term withdrawal symptoms to the common cold. You didn't mention how long you have been a non-smoker for, but if you quit within the last 30 days or so, you may just be experiencing your body's detoxification process. For some folks, detox stresses the immune system's capabilities to the breaking-point which could be causing you to be more vulnerable to the cold virus. In other scenarios, one's nervous system becomes so awake (after years of being numbed by nicotine) that the ex-smoker feels smaller discomforts than before. Not to worry; you will adjust to this level of sensitivity over time. Eat as well as you can, take lots of vitamin C. Once again, great job on the quit. You should be proud of yourself!

Clove cigarettes can be deadlier than cigarettes. This "natural" tobacco does not have anything to do with being healthier. Often times the clove cigarettes contain higher concentrations of tar and nicotine and the smoke has greater levels of toxic agents such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and carcinogenic hydrocarbons. Smokers of clove cigarettes also have increased risk of emphysema, heart disease and cancer of the mouth, lungs and throat. The anesthetic character of clove leaves the smokers susceptible to many serious respiratory problems including infections, pneumonia, difficulty breathing and bleeding of the lungs. These symptoms, unlike those associated with nicotine intake, can occur after one incident of clove smoking. One more thing to remember is that most clove cigarettes don't have a filter so you get the "full effect" of those chemicals! Bottom Line: There is no SAFE cigarette!

As of yet there is not enough data to say whether smoking clove cigarettes is worse than smoking a regular cigarette. However, remember that regular cigarette smoking is not at all healthy in fact, cigarette smoking is responsible for one of every five deaths in the United States. The active ingredient in cloves is a chemical called eugenol, which is a potent topical anesthetic. There have been a few cases of inflammation of the lungs with clove cigarettes, and any inhalation of substances will have an impact on lung airways which can cause irritation, spasm, and coughing. It can definitely be more dangerous if a person has asthma.

A brew of chemicals enter your body through cigarette smoke. Most of these chemicals tear down the body in many different ways. Items such as tar and carbon monoxide are precursors to breathing difficulties, as well as permanent lung and heart damage. Nicotine affects the heart, lungs, and stomachýbut it doesn't stop there. Recently, studies are showing that nicotine, which can act as a stimulant or depressant depending on the dose and history of use, launches a number of different brain functions. The short/long term dangers that nicotine appears to initiate is a chemical process of addiction that is similar to that initiated by other drugs of abuse. Nicotine as well as these other drugs appears to create long-term dependency or addiction. Specifically, when nicotine is present in nerve cells, a release of the brain chemical dopamine occurs, which is associated with pleasure. Two research teams recently found that nicotine just like heroin or cocaine activates the dopamine nerve cells directly involved in emotion and behavior. Dopamine released from the nicotine intake floods the nervous system in the brain for about 30-45 minutes. This is the main difference between "harder" drugs and nicotineýthe duration of the "fix." This may also explain why cravings can reoccur frequently throughout the day.

About one to three days depending on how much and how long you've been smoking.

First of all, they come from two totally different plants: marijuana--cannabis plant, tobacco--tobacco plant. Chemists have identified 421 different compounds in marijuana; the heat produced by smoking marijuana causes chemical changes that increase this number to more than 2,000. The major active euphoric principle is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana and is a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. Marijuana has a unique pharmacology unlike that of any other drug. The acute toxicity of pot is low; its most significant adverse acute effects are tachycardia, impairment of short-term cognitive functioning, and impairment of motor skills. Chronic use may lead to respiratory problems as minor as sinusitis or as major as cancer. Among the nearly 4,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke, nicotine is the most notorious. With quantities of nicotine provided by the smoking of cigarettes, the following pharmacological effects are observed: CNS-excitement of the brain Respiration-markedly increased Heart-increased rate Vascular system-increased blood pressure; constriction of peripheral blood vessels Adrenal glands-release of epinephrine GI tract-nausea and vomiting; increased peristalsis and activity of the intestines; diarrhea Kidney-reduction in volume of urine flow Blood-elevated concentration of free fatty acids ADDICTION!

Very important question! This is a topic that tends to be debated in the health research area. Most research finds that men who smoke cause damage to sperm and as well as cause a reduction in overall sperm count. The cause of either condition is mainly due to the toxic nature of cigarette smoke. In general, sperm quality/malfunctions can affect any male. However, men who smoke experience more issues around decreasing sperm quality and quantity than men who are not exposed to cigarette toxins. Cigarette smoking also can raise issues for the longer term. It is a well known fact that children are affected significantly by secondhand smoke. Some of these health related issues increase risk of developing asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and middle ear problems. There is double the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in households with a smoking parent. This risk is associated with exposure both during and after birth. Finally, recent studies show an increase in behavior and learning problems in children exposed to secondhand smoke including hyperactivity and aggressiveness with a decreased attention span. The bottom line .there is really NO SAFE LEVEL of exposure to cigarette smoke to ANYONE!

Thanks for your question..... a very good question. The bottom line is any time you inhale smoke of any sort, it is dangerous...no matter where the smoke comes from. Hookahs use water and a lot of people think the water "cleans" the smoke up. No such luck. A few facts about Hookah smoke:

1) They contain toxic compounds including carbon monoxide

2) They contain tobacco specific nitroamines that are cancer causing

3) Many studies show that levels of compounds coming through the Hookah are at least as high if not higher than cigarette smoke

4) Sharing a mouthpiece has a risk of infection including herpes

5)Chemicals found in Hookah that are at a higher level than cigarettes include:

• Tar
• PAH
• Chrysene (tumor initiator)
• Phenanthrene (co-carcinogen)

When you read information about Hookahs, make sure to look at the source of the information. Many times the information is put out by a Hookah manufacture or someone trying to sell something.

Our resource is: the National Cancer Institute: Tobacco Control Research Branch

Great question! As a student you have access to using the Health Center here on campus. Hartshorn Health Service actually provides 1:1 cessation sessions with a health educator. You may check out more on the health center's website and look under "health promotion" and see "tobacco cessation" This service is free to all fee paying students. Please call 491-1702 to schedule a brief informational session.

First of all we want to offer congratulations on quitting tobacco! Thanks for your question regarding tobacco cessation and appetite issues. Typically people tend to experience an appetite increase after discontinuing tobacco use. The fact that you are experiencing exactly the opposite is uncommon. My suggestion is that you schedule an appointment with a local registered dietitian in order to review your current nutritional habits and make appropriate changes if necessary. If you continue to lose weight after making the correct nutritional changes, we would suggest discussing this issue with your local health care provider. Wishing you continued success with your quit.