So you would like to decriminalize and make marijuana legal in the U.S. huh. After all, people believe it’s much safer taking a few tokes than drinking alcohol all of the time which contributes to hundreds of thousands of deaths yearly, three million globally and accounts for thousands of driving fatalities yearly. Sure marijuana is commonly believed to be safer than alcohol which is legal in the U.S. but with lots of inaccurate information circulating around deceiving people and creating different views on the subject, it’s important to get the facts straight especially when pot use is on the rise. The underlying truth is that smoking weed is subject to abuse similarly to the way alcohol and other substances or drugs are used and abused, causing problems in peoples lives and could actuate detrimental societal issues overall. This articles’ objective is to review the side effects of weed and allow you the ability to recognize, intervene or reduce marijuana misuse which could hinder the quality of living well if abused.

Though research and evidence has shown marijuana helps treat some debilitating diseases or illnesses, if misused there are risks and side effects associated with smoking or using to much of it. Although the repercussions of using marijuana are usually low for the most part, research has also shown that users have the possibility of experiencing a certain amount of short and long term side effects.

Short-term effects

Though every persons tolerance, metabolism and body works differently, some of the short-term effects of smoking weed affect the body and mind similarly and all commonly involve marijuana triggering parts of the brain. The short-term effects of weed which usually last a few hours from the time the drug is ingested can include changes in mood, altered sense of time, impaired judgment or reasoning skills, difficulty problem solving or thinking and impaired memory. Some of these psychoactive effects vary from person to person and also depend on the method the marijuana was used.

When smoked the effects can appear within seconds and last for several hours, 1 to 3 depending on a persons tolerance and the type of weed they smoked. One of the first effects some people experience is increased heart rates and cardiovascular issues such as fluctuations in blood pressure. Smoking marijuana can raise your heart rate depending on the person and can increase the chances of having a heart attack which some actually do right after smoking some pot. The elderly and people with cardiovascular problems are usually the one’s at a higher risk of being susceptible to these cardiovascular effects though.

After a person smokes weed and becomes stoned or gets high, their sense of time can be dramatically altered. Seconds may seem like hours and you may experience a plethora of ideas and thoughts in a short amount of time when you’re stoned. Having an altered sense of time is a very common side effect of weed.

Along with distorted perceptions of time users may experience lightheadedness and disorientation when under the influence of marijuana. Lightheadedness or dizziness and feeling stupefied are commonly experienced and reported by pot users. In the addition to feeling this way the active ingredient in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) modifies the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain and can actuate feelings of paranoia and anxiety as well. These two are the most common side effects pot users often complain about.

The changes in levels of different neurotransmitters associated with marijuana use generally cause psychoactive effects and create the feelings experienced as euphoria, giddiness or a relaxed, mellow, stress free feeling or increase sensations, creativity and even libido. Scientific research has suggested that THC plays a significant role in marijuana’s psychoactive effects and the drug can be categorized similarly to those of stimulants, depressants or hallucinogenics.

Some other common short-term side effects often reported are dry mouth, red eyes, fatigue and feeling tired or exhausted at times. A strong strain of cannabis will get you red eyed and put you to sleep.

Long-term effects

If you’ve been smoking weed or using marijuana for a long time and still frequently use it, its probable that you’re experiencing some of it’s long-term effects or will eventually encounter them especially since the active ingredient in marijuana is now higher and strains much stronger than ever. The long-term effects can have physiological and psychological consequences and result in adverse developments to body and mind notably when used as a teen or young adult.

One of the most notable, especially in long time users, is the respiratory and pulmonary issues pot smokers experience similar to those of cigarette smokers. Though studies haven’t proven that smoking weed can be linked to it causing lung cancer, many of the lung related issues such as tar buildup, coughing, wheezing, lung infections, chest colds, breathing and other respiratory problems like bronchitis have often been reported by pot smokers. Depending on how long a person has been smoking cannabis there has been studies documented that indicate some level of respiratory or lung related health issues in long time smokers compared to those that have never smoked or used marijuana.

The second long-term effect which usually takes place and is possibly the most controversial subject when marijuana discussions are held is whether the drug is addictive or if one can become dependent to it. Contrary to popular belief, studies have shown that people become dependent on marijuana and even addicted to it.

Scientists performed various studies and found that animals which were stimulated with marijuana’s mind-altering THC ingredient formed new connections in their brains adapting to the unnatural reward system where as natural rewards that usually prompt dopamine release, like food, sex, being social, communication with others, the usual stimuli, were much less gratifying. These are the same results that cause higher dopamine blasts when drugs are used and drug abusers seek, becoming dependent and even addicted to. For the people who believe a person cannot become addicted or dependent to marijuana, you are completely wrong! Almost all of the things which are abused by a person in their lifetime, can one way or another be detrimental to them somehow throughout their life. If you smoke weed everyday there’s a high probability of becoming dependent and even addicted to it. That’s the truth! And it’s been scientifically proven.

So in addition to the lung problems, dependency or addiction issues faced with pot use, abusers should be aware of the brain abnormalities that marijuana may cause as stated in a Northwestern University & Harvard Medical study. With other numerous findings from different studies that have been completed for decades now, many of them provide some kind of evidence that suggests marijuana abuse can cause brain irregularities and other mental issues as memory problems, learning or problem solving concerns, impaired decision making skills, low concentration troubles and lower IQ or intelligence consequences. Many studies suggest that smoking weed as a teen or a young adult could have negative repercussions on brain functions and pose greater risks for acquiring brain associated diseases than non-smokers. While much of the supporting data isn’t solid the overall agreement is that there’s a possibility marijuana could harm a person’s brain in comparison to someone that’s never used it all.

So as you’ve read marijuana has numerous side effects that can interfere with a users well being. The overall consensus is that marijuana abusers could be subjective to a lower quality of life, be susceptible to poorer health, lower physical and mental standards, have more relationship and societal issues than people who don’t smoke pot or use it all. When at the end of the day all the research is reviewed the truth is that marijuana should only be used for medicinal purposes and only prescribed to those that have legitimate illnesses. If you feel that you’re addicted, dependent or have issues in your life due to marijuana use and are looking for help, contact a licensed professional in your neighborhood or seek assistance from online sources such as drugabuse.com.

Back in the day from the 1950s to the mid 1990s individuals who experimented or used drugs were indulging in the common illegal ones or regular party drugs such as Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, alcohol and cigarettes. With the beginning of the 21st century though, emerging trends brought designer drugs into the mix making drug usage much more dangerous than ever. By the mid 2000s prescription pain medication took the world by storm becoming popular amongst teens, young adults and thousands of people everywhere making it the worst drug epidemic ever.

One of the main reasons for the increase in pain medication use other than it’s highly potent pain killing properties are it’s mind altering effects and notions among teens and young adults that they are safer than the traditional party drugs to get high. What they failed to recognize is that some of these painkillers such as Oxycodone are synthetically designed and exponentially stronger than the highest grade of heroin making them extremely addictive and deadly if they aren’t used properly without the prescription of a doctor. They usually realize this when it’s too late or someone they know overdoses. Unless prescribed by a physician for having moderate to severe pain or other legitimate reasons, recreational or irresponsible use of these pills and medication can lead to severe addiction, unintended overdoses, even death.

Are You Addicted or Physically Dependent?

If you’re addicted to painkillers or find yourself physically dependent, you may be in trouble and should beware. Are you addicted or physically dependent? Knowing the differences between the two is important in diagnosing and treating your addiction or dependency accordingly. It’s important to primarily learn or understand the difference between having an addiction or being physically dependent. Addiction can be described as having an uncontrollable urge to use a drug or substance that harms you and despite knowing the damage it causes, you continue to repeatedly use it. If you’re physically dependent this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re addicted. This could mean that your body has adapted to the medication, built up a tolerance for it needing higher doses to attain the same effects. In this case the user can experience severe withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking the pain medication abruptly. Do some research and educate yourself with the distinction between the two. One good online source that references both is The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment.

If you’ve been prescribed pain medication by your physician, it’ll comfort you to know that the majority of users find pain relief from their medication without developing an addiction. With responsible dose management, addiction can be avoided and the pain medication will be safe and effective. But for the people whom aren’t experiencing pain and are using these drugs recreationally, they are the one’s susceptible to severe addiction and even death especially if mixed with alcohol or other illegal drugs.

It’s very difficult for people to ascertain if someone else is addicted to pain medication but ultimately the person themselves who is using truly knows if they have a problem. If you are the one taking prescription pain medication without having them prescribed from your doctor, then you might want to keep in mind the repercussions that could possibly ensue with your pill usage. Below you’ll find some of things that can happen to you.

3 Main Reasons to be Wary 

Addiction: These drugs can be highly addictive and should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Don’t try to set your own doses, decrease or increase medication on your own and report experiences to your physician on whether or not the drug is helping with the pain. Let your doctor create a plan for you and manage the drugs and doses. They’ll know if you need higher doses or lower ones to wean you off the drug if need be. Overdosing is one of the risks in taking these medications along with its highly addictive properties. If you’re taking painkillers associated with pain and feel as if you are becoming addicted, talk to your doctor about it, they will know how to address your concern. If you’re using pain medication for non medical purposes and you think you’re addicted seek help from licensed substance abuse professionals that will help with your addiction and assist you in recovering from the drug. According to government data millions of teens and young adults are addicted to pain medication, so it’ll benefit you to educate yourself about the drug you’re taking even if your doctor prescribes it. It also never hurts to ask questions and be communicative with your physician to ensure you don’t end up as one of these statistics. If you know someone who is addicted to pain medication or abusing them get help for the person immediately before it’s too late.

Physical Dependence: The main objective to use pain medication should be to control pain so you’re able to perform daily activities, function well with family, friends and in society generally. If the medication isn’t sufficiently reducing pain your doctor might increase doses if your life’s daily activities are going normally. Otherwise increasing doses, though some people legitimately need it, is frowned upon because of the chances of becoming physically dependent to the drugs but most importantly because painkillers will not cure the pain only temporarily alleviate it. For those individuals that have been using pain medication for a long time chances are that you are physically dependent and will need your doctor to slowly wean you off of the drug if it’s causing problems in your life. If an individual finds themselves continually trying to alleviate pain using higher doses as time goes by only to realize that they can’t function normally throughout their days then they’ve become physically dependent and they should inform their doctor about it. When you become physically dependent your body adapts to a drug, sometimes requiring more of it to achieve certain effects or pain relief. The downside of pain management through medication is that your body and mind will actuate physical and mental ailments if the medication is not used or abruptly stopped causing severe withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal: If a person has been using pain medication for a long time and they need to get off the drug they can experience a variety of withdrawal symptoms. Kicking the habit can be a horrible experience and the withdrawal symptoms very agonizing making relapses and continued use highly probable. Some of the withdrawal symptoms may include severe muscle and bone pain, involuntary muscle movements, pulmonary or respiratory issues, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, stomach issues as constipation, diarrhea and possible flu-like symptoms among many others. Users who have been taking high doses of pain medication for years can experience shallow breathing and respiratory arrest which can cause death when weaning off the drugs. A person addicted to painkillers will need to endure withdrawal symptoms to detox, get sober and eliminate pain medication use from their lives. If a person is having difficulty through their recovery they should seek help because these professionals will implement tactics to assist you through withdrawal symptoms and help you wean off the drugs. People who successfully follow through and abstain from pill use and are pain free usually reframe from ever taking painkillers again.

So as you’ve read people that aren’t legitimately in need of painkillers should think twice before using them as they are highly addictive, very dangerous and can possibly kill you. Individuals who legitimately take them should be careful as well. People addicted to painkillers should be cautious because of the adverse effects that comes with pain medication use and withdrawal. Addicts should seek help from trained professionals if they plan on quitting. Long time pain medication users will have difficulty detoxing and recovering from pain medication use and will easily relapse because of the difficult experiences they will undergo. Trained professionals can help stabilize, treat their medical condition and allow them to normally function in life again.

Millions of people around the world use Cocaine regularly. It has been used by humans for hundreds of years and the plant that Cocaine is derived from has been utilized for thousands of years. It was originally used for medicinal and religious purposes but later for it’s stimulating and euphoric effects. At first cocaine was believed to be beneficial in aiding multiple health issues but by the early 1900’s it gained recognition for killing thousands of people and being one of the most dangerous drugs known to mankind. In the following paragraphs we will show the facts of what Cocaine does to a person’s mind and body to allow you to see how dangerous this drug truly is.

What is it

In order to fully understand what Cocaine does to you it’s important to learn what it actually is first. The powdered form of it that people snort, the liquified version that’s injected or the rock form created that is smoked is extricated from the coca leaf which is native to the Andes and South America. Cocaine is extracted from the leaf using chemical processes that involve solvents which concentrate the alkaloids from the plant. The known powdered form is then manufactured which is the powerful stimulant and anesthetic that is used recreationally all over the world and is illegal in most countries. It’s used in either powder, liquid or rock form.

How Does it Take Effect When You Ingest it

The absorption of cocaine into the bloodstream is very rapid and it’s effects are fast-acting. The strength and the amount of time its effects or high lasts, depends on the way it’s administered. Cocaine users often describe that the drug produces lots of energy and alertness at first. People become very talkative and excited. Coke users express that they feel a sense of extreme elevated moods and feelings of superiority when they use the drug at first. When it starts to wear off though and they want to sustain their high, they need to snort or use more of it in relatively short periods of time increasing the amounts that they’re ingesting. Repeatedly using the drug like this to maintain your high is what makes Cocaine so dangerously addictive. Users often describe feelings of uncontrollable urges to do whatever it takes to get their hands on the drug, no matter what the consequences. As you can imagine, this is not a good thing. The drug messes with your mind, and after long term usage of it, Cocaine begins to scramble your thoughts as well.

What to Expect with Continued Use

The reality of this expensive drug that has been sensationalized in our society, especially through visual media, would be that it’s toxic to whomever uses it. The physiological and psychological repercussions, including life long damage it brings, far outweighs the temporary pleasure users experience. Many cocaine users fall prey to it’s life threatening effects. The more you use it and the longer you keep using it, the greater the risks become that it will inevitably ruin your life and even kill you.

What Does it Do To You Physically

Cocaine interferers with the normal functioning systems of our body and mind. The detrimental physiological effects that could be experienced is really not worth the mystique of doing blow. As the drug travels through your blood stream it affects your brain and entire body.

• The Heart: Snorting the hydrochloride salt powdered form of Cocaine, inhaling the vapors or smoking the crystalized rock version of it, or liquifying coke with water and injecting it, are all awful for the heart. Which ever of the three ways you chose to administer it Cocaine will compress the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This restricts oxygenated blood to the heart and can trigger arrhythmia’s, cause heart attacks and heart disease even in young people. Cocaine causes increased blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature as well. Cocaine related emergency room visits and deaths in the U.S. are usually the result of cardiac arrest and seizures followed by respiratory failure. Regardless the amount of Cocaine used or how often it is used, the user is prone to experiencing a heart attack or stroke.

• The Lungs & Respiratory: Repeated Cocaine use is toxic to your lungs, nose and entire respiratory system especially when snorted or smoked. Long term Cocaine users experience upper respiratory and pulmonary issues throughout their lives. Cocaine usage actuates all kinds of respiratory problems including shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, nasal infections, nasal damage and eventually more serious pulmonary infections.

• The Kidneys: Cocaine use stresses the kidneys which filter waste products from blood, regulate blood pressure, electrolyte balance and red blood cell production. Waste product buildup in the body can incite all kinds of health issues that cause shortness of breath, weakness, stupor and confusion. Kidney deterioration isn’t worth the short lived pleasure cocaine brings. When your kidney’s fail there are very limited treatments available like dialysis or kidney transplant.

• The Liver: This organ now has to work extra to detoxify and metabolize Cocaine and all of its chemicals from your body. If you drink alcohol and use cocaine the combination of both produce a substance called cocaethylene that is toxic to your liver. Many people that use Cocaine do it when they drink to wake them up from the sleepy effects alcohol produces but they do so without knowing the dangerous chemical compound they’re creating in their blood stream. This metabolite lingers in your liver slowly destroying it while subjecting it, to prolonged periods of stress.

• Appetite: Cocaine represses hunger which eventually leads to malnutrition compromising the bodies’ ability to be able to recover properly. The drug causes stomach damage suppressing urges to eat. Cocaine robs you from being able to get the basic nutritional requirements such as essential vitamins, minerals, calories, protein and all the elements a body needs to be healthy and productive.

What Does it Do to Your Brain and Mind 

Aside from the risk factors for strokes and heart attacks, constricted blood flow in the arteries also slows the supply of blood to your brain which can lead to unusual behavior, cause paranoid thoughts, auditory hallucinations and make a person lose touch with reality. The drug heightens senses at first when it is being used then diminishes decision-making skills, a persons focus and attention. It causes depressions, irritability, anxiety and restlessness.

Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant that shuts off the signals between communicating nerves in the brain. It’s responsible for increasing the levels of dopamine which are associated with pleasure and movement. This disruption of chemical messengers or neurotransmitters causes increased amounts of dopamine buildup as Cocaine prevents the brain from recycling or reabsorbing it. The excess amount of dopamine is responsible for feeling high or for cocaine’s euphoric effects. With repeated use of the drug a high tolerance for Cocaine develops and users often increase the dosage to try and enhance the high or euphoria. This is what makes Cocaine very addictive. The continued use of it can lead to dependency and increase detrimental psychological effects.

The Comedown and Reality of What Cocaine Does

After the Cocaine high wears off and the reality of it’s detrimental attributes set in, the user will experience a multitude of psychological and physiological negative health issues. The reality of this sensationalized drug is that abusing it will only hamper the user from being a productive member of society because of the way it disrupts your mind, scrambles your thinking process, and changes the manner you feel and act around people. In addition to the psychological issues Cocaine brings it will inevitably actuate physical health problems ranging from respiratory problems, heart issues, liver or kidney troubles and will inevitably age you very quickly. The drug is very addictive and ruins lives. It will either wreck your relationships with family, friends and others, or get you in trouble with the law, bankrupt you, make you homeless or eventually kill you.

If you have been smoking cigarettes for a long time and you’ve decided it’s time to quit, make a change and better your life, you will need to prepare for the side effects of quitting smoking. By choosing to quit smoking you’ve already taken the most important step toward the pursuit of living a healthier life. In order to ensure that you can abandon this detrimental habit permanently though, it is pivotal to fortify yourself with all of the tools needed to help you succeed. If you’ve been smoking for years the first few weeks without cigarettes will be very difficult and it will be of the utmost importance for you to fully understand the effects that you will experience psychologically and physiologically when you initially stop. If you prepare for the things that will happen before they occur, you will be better equipped to succeed and overcome this damaging habit. Below you will find some information that we’ve compiled in order to give you a quick glance at what to anticipate when you quit and to hopefully assist in alleviating some of the withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Side Effects You’ll Experience

Now that you have taken the first important step and have decided to quit it’s essential to quickly prepare for the psychological effects that will develop soon after. When you initially stop smoking begin by understanding that this is something you have been doing for years and the behavior pattern developed will take some time reverse. It will take approximately ninety days for your body to detoxify itself from all of the chemicals in cigarettes you’ve become accustomed, even addicted to. But the psychological addiction you’ve developed could take just as long as the time that you’ve been smoking, to get rid of. The reality is that after a certain period of time, usually ninety days you will probably be able to live cigarette free if you’re a strong minded individual. But the possibility of relapsing is very real and could happen at any given time, during any given thought or situation throughout your life. It will require constant reminders of any progress made and of the reasons you originally chose to quit smoking. The recovery and new cigarette free lifestyle could be something that you’ll need to continually work on throughout the remainder of your life. That is the truth. Inevitably there will come the day that you’ve totally kicked the habit and feelings of addiction and you will be 100% certain that you will never smoke again (depending on the level of your addiction, psychologically), but it might be something that you will have to keep in mind from time to time and continually make an effort, not to do.

• Cravings: A person that is accustomed to smoking at certain times throughout the day and suddenly stops will experience major cravings to smoke during the times there’re habituated to, sometimes to unbearable levels. If you are the one trying to quit, you will need to substitute smoking with other activities and or distract yourself until the cravings go away. The cravings will last for a few minutes and decrease overtime. If you are able to stick with the game plan to not smoke, keep yourself busy and follow new approaches or regimens to curb urges they will subside and become less frequent as time goes by. It is pivotal to keep yourself entertained during the times you are accustomed to lighting up. It will be very important to be strong minded and think in a positive way, eliminating any thoughts of smoking from your mind and allowing them to freely pass you by, removing them from your thinking process all together. This will be a new technique or practice in your life that you will need to utilize often on a daily basis until you become acclimated to the new regimen, any activities or lifestyle you’ve put in place.
• Anxiety: When you quit smoking chances are that the first few weeks will be very anxious one’s as you will be adapting yourself to a different lifestyle without smoking. When daily situations or pressures arise that you would ordinarily turn to a cigarette to deal with them you will need a new repertoire. The anxiousness and irritability you will experience will not only be psychological but physiological as well since your body will demand the nicotine blast it’s accustomed to receiving. You will need to prepare yourself ahead of time for anxious moments that will arise and use methods to diffuse them like exercise, mediation, breathing techniques and anything that will get you through these tense times.
• Restlessness: As your body and mind wean off of the Nicotine there will be days of restlessness, insomnia and lots of tossing and turning throughout the night. Try to avoid any foods or drinks that interfere with healthy sleep patterns such as coffee or alcoholic drinks. You will need to implement tactics that support your success and help you during abstinence. Take some time to research and write down notes of methods to calm your mind and things you can do before bed as practicing meditation techniques, playing brain games or apps, watch TV shows, movies, read books or any engage in hobbies that will relax and help you to wind down before bed.
• Irritability: Prepare for a variety of emotions to surface while you abstain from smoking cigarettes initially. There will be times that you become very irritable and will immediately want to light up a cigarette to settle yourself down. It will be important for you to learn to think a certain way and cast aside negative thoughts that will cause further irritability and trick you into smoking as a way to cope.
• Short Attention Span: In the first few weeks abstaining from smoking you can find yourself through moments of feeling spaced out, not being able to concentrate and focus on tasks at hand. You could feel lethargic from time to time. Cigarettes stress out your heart and constrict blood vessels causing poor heart rate, poor circulation, metabolism to slow down, producing feelings of exhaustion and lackadaisicalness. The lack of Nicotine and cigarette smoke will exacerbate these symptoms. Try to eat healthy, take vitamins and minerals that will supply your body and mind with the energy it requires to keep focused. Make sure you get plenty of rest every night and keep reminding yourself that your body will eventually get back to it’s normal rhythm of things once you’ve fully detoxified from nicotine and smoking cigarettes for good.
• Mood Swings: Similar to the way that you will experience irritability, the mood swings you will undergo could be out of control. You may become an angry person and hostile towards others when you quit and are battling to stick to the program. Try to control your emotions around others as days will arise when you feel very moody and annoyed. Be aware of the times you’re having mood swings and implement tactics to deal with unordinary emotional flare ups. It will help to research ways to de-stress and manage your emotions rather than suppress them.
• Depression: When you stop doing something that you love, you might undergo periods of mourning as if you’ve lost something precious to you. Depression could arise and make things difficult creating the need for lighting up a cigarette. Try to identify the emotions that you’re experiencing. Figure out if you’re exhausted, lonely or just bored and implement ways to manage the times you feel depressed. Keep your mind entertained by doing things around the house, start some new hobbies and simply just increase the levels of physical activity to get moving and distract yourself from any negative thoughts. It’s important to do whatever it takes to get your mind off of smoking. If you feel that you’re depressed more than usual for an unusual amount of time like several weeks, seek the help of a physician that can prescribe medication to help you cope with the side effects of quitting smoking.

Physiological Side Effects You’ll Experience

The physical consequences that you will deal with are just as complicated as the psychological ones. You need to prepare yourself for respiratory and pulmonary issues, headaches, digestive problems, weight gain and others that may emerge when you quit smoking. The reality is that the first few weeks acclimating yourself to a smoke free life (if you are able to make it that far) will task your body initially and you could possibly experience physical distress. Below you’ll find just some of the complications and health issues that may arise.

• Respiratory and Pulmonary Issues: Smoking incapacitates the lungs with chemicals cigarettes contain and can produce different kinds of breathing and pulmonary complications. When you quit smoking your lungs immediately begin to restore themselves but symptoms as coughing, shortness of breath, chest congestion, mucus buildup, pulmonary problems as Bronchitis, Emphysema, and COPD may manifest themselves. You may experience poor quality of breathing and feel as if you aren’t inhaling sufficient amounts of air causing anxiety and a poor quality of life. These breathing issues are often the problem people complain most about when they quit smoking and finally realize the damage cigarettes have caused.
• Poor Circulation: Smoking cigarettes causes arteries to narrow and blood to circulate poorly. When you quit smoking and begin to exercise moderately you can start to improve or restore your circulatory issues once again if not much damage has been done.
• Digestive Issues: Smoking has been found to increase digestive system diseases, health risks and complications. When you quit smoking it’s common to experience digestive problems as indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn amongst many others because your digestive system has been accustomed to Nicotine assisting in it’s regular processes and bowel movements. People who quit smoking are still at high risk to develop digestive diseases that cigarette smoking can evoke such as colon polyps, Crohn’s Disease, peptic ulcers, liver and pancreatic diseases. If you’ve quit smoking it will help reverse some of the effects and damage that cigarettes have caused though. If you’ve quit smoking, implemented a healthier diet with plenty of liquids (water) and after a few weeks are still experiencing digestive and gastrointestinal tract issues visit a physician to help with the problems and assist in your recovery.
• Mouth & Dental Problems: Cigarettes and tobacco products can cause gum diseases, tooth discoloration, plaque, tarter, bone loss and make your mouth more susceptible to cancers and infections in your mouth. If you’re lucky when you quit the only oral consequences you might experience will be stained teeth and bad breath. Regardless of the amount of time that you have been smoking cigarettes quitting immediately can help reduce the risks to your mouth and throat.
• Skin Problems: Believe it or not the amount of oxygen that smoking deprives your body of affects your skin as well. Not only does it deprive your skin of oxygen but the nutrients it needs as well. All of the chemicals tobacco contain are destructive to collagen and elastin also. While it’s always been known that sun exposure damages your skin, smoking cigarettes makes your skin more susceptible to age spots, much older looking skin and appearance as well. Recent studies have shown that smoking also contributes to greater risks of developing skin diseases such as Psoriasis. When you quit smoking chances are that you’ll start noticing skin damage if you haven’t already. The sooner you stop smoking the quicker you can allow your skin to recover.
• Weight Gain: Nicotine is an appetite suppressant, so naturally when you quit smoking, chances are that you can experience some weight gain if you aren’t careful with the amounts of food you eat. When you quit smoking its very easy to replace lighting up cigarettes with eating. It’ll help to be aware of the foods and snacks you consume throughout the day. Try to create a daily meal plan and stick to it. Don’t forget to exercise or walk regularly as well. If you take some time to plan ahead, in this case create a meal plan when you quit smoking, successful weight control and a smoke free life could be achieved.

The Importance to Replace Smoking Habits with Healthy Ones

Try to replace the habit of smoking with healthy new behaviors or routines. It’s important to develop a game plan with everything you’ve read, stay informed, research and replace smoking with habits that will benefit in building a healthier lifestyle. Keep busy and entertain yourself when you initially quit smoking. Implement schedules or create “to do lists” immediately as it will help greatly especially the first few weeks you quit. Research and write down notes of ways to replace smoking such as reading, meditation, exercise and things of that nature which will be beneficial to you. It can very easy to replace your smoking habit with another detrimental one if you aren’t careful. Seek informative information that’s motivational, insightful and will support your new smokeless future. Visit whyquit.com and other reputable sources to help you quit smoking once and for all.

As you’ve read there are numerous side effects that will occur when you quit smoking. It’s important for you to fortify yourself with as much knowledge as possible regarding what will happen to your body and mind as you’re clearing them from the harmful chemicals contained in cigarettes. By doing so, you’ll be prepared for the battle ahead especially the first few weeks. Realistically if you’re able to stick to the new lifestyle without smokes, your body and mind should be back to it’s normal rhythm of things within 90 – 180 days. If you’re having a difficult time and can’t handle the side effects of quitting smoking then seek help from your medical doctor. There are also many good resources online that can help you cope with withdrawal symptoms such as smokefree.gov/withdrawal which will even text you encouragement, advice and provide tips to help you quit permanently.

We congratulate you in taking the necessary steps to ensure you live a cigarette free lifestyle because as you’ve noticed, the health effects of tobacco aren’t very good one’s. Through recognition of the issues at hand and implementing tactics to assist in your success, the addiction of cigarette smoking can be managed and even overcome. Try to keep in mind that recovery from cigarette smoking is only temporary and if you fight hard to achieve a healthier life without them, you’ll feel better and live an overall healthier happier life.

Over half of our society aged 15 or older drink alcoholic beverages on regular basis, whether to be sociable, to de-stress or because they like the taste of a particular alcoholic drink. Many people drink alcohol to escape from the tensions, frustrations and anxieties of everyday stresses. Alcohol consumption periodically and overtime can take a serious toll on your health and life especially if it’s kept unchecked. The truth is any level of alcohol consumption could have a negative effect on your health without even realizing it. The abuse of alcohol can lead to serious health issues that involve vital organs such as your heart, brain, liver, pancreas and immune system. By making some small changes to your drinking habits and consuming in moderation, you can help improve your wellbeing and long term health. Learning about the effects of alcohol on the body and mind will help develop a healthier lifestyle and eliminate excessive drinking habits, alcoholism and avoid other major health problems.

Effects on the Body

Heart: Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can damage the heart and actuate heart health issues such as high blood pressure which is the most serious risk factor for having a heart attack or stroke. Drinking too much can stretch and elongate the heart muscle (Cardiomyopathy) causing irregular heart muscle function, but can also cause irregular heart beats (Arrhythmia) causing a stroke. People that drink alcohol often and heavily have a higher percentage of suffering from hypertension and strokes.

Liver and Pancreas: Drinking alcohol repeatedly over time can also take a serious toll on your pancreas and liver. It can create a variety of problems such as liver inflammation, Cirrhosis of the liver, swelling of blood vessels in the pancreas (as in acute or chronic pancreatitis) inhibiting proper digestion and regulation of your blood sugar, producing toxic substances that will eventually kill you. Excessive drinking will actuate liver and pancreatic health issues eventually interfering with your body’s function of filtering blood, eliminating toxins, managing blood sugar, absorbing nutrients and controlling infections.

Immune System: The more you drink alcohol the greater the chances of depriving your body of immune-boosting nutrients and the ability to defend against illness and disease. The more you drink, chances of damaging your immune system increase. Having more than three or four drinks a day can dramatically weaken your immune system and reduce white blood cell counts which is needed to fight off diseases. Drinking daily will lower the ability of your immune system to operate optimally and efficiently, allowing diseases and illnesses to attack your body. The more you drink the weaker you’ll become.

Effects on the Mind

Brain: Alcohol abuse effects your brain negatively by damaging the brain’s communication pathways and disrupting moods, behaviors and psychological processes. Since alcohol is a depressant and not a stimulant it acts on the control centers of the brain to depress them. This allows the person to exhibit certain kinds of behaviors and attitudes that are usually repressed. The most common effect of alcohol on the brain is intoxication which causes confusion, disorientation, being unbalanced or exhibiting uncoordinated movements. Long term heavy drinking will shrink the brain and cause all sorts of alterations in neurons or brain cells. The effects of alcohol on the brain can even begin during birth if a parent consumes alcohol while being pregnant. It can lead to a wide range of birth defects but especially learning, behavioral and mental disorders.

Mind: Alcohol produces a wide range of psychological emotions and different states of mind. In addition alcohol’s effects on the mind include slurred speech, slowed reaction times and impairments to your memory. Repeated use of alcohol will undoubtedly have negative effects on your mental health.

If you’re diagnosed with any of the aforementioned described above or you feel you’re experiencing one of the effects described, you should stop drinking alcohol immediately for at least 6 months to allow your mind and body to recover. If you find it hard to stop drinking you should seek help and advice from medical professionals.

It’s important to know the effects of alcohol on your body and mind and develop a healthier drinking lifestyle, eliminate excessive drinking habits to avoid any health problems. The truth is that any level of alcohol could have a negative effect on your health without even realizing it. By making some small changes to your drinking habits and consuming in moderation, you can improve your wellbeing and long term health.