CP

History of Tobacco and Its Health Impacts

History of Tobacco

  • Originated in Central America, grown for 6000 years.
  • Used as medicine by early Europeans.
  • Seeds brought to Virginia; first African slaves supported production for British consumption.
  • Used as currency in early Colonial times.
  • Earliest evidence of toxicity published in early 1800s.
  • Cigarettes first made from leftover chewing tobacco.

Key Developments

  • 1881: Invention of rolling machine made tobacco accessible, turning a luxury into a staple.
  • Common during WWI and WWII.
  • Early 1900s: Anti-smoking campaigns began, with Nazi Germany linking smoking to lung cancer.
  • 1960s: Surgeon General's warning appears on cigarette packaging.
  • 1971: US government banned TV advertising for cigarettes.

Health Risks

  • Tobacco contributes to 5 million deaths annually worldwide; the greatest risk is lung cancer.
  • Number one preventable cause of death.
  • Methylation from tobacco can alter DNA, leading to uncontrolled diseases.

Nicotine Effects

  • Highly addictive; binds to nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors, increasing dopamine.
  • Peripheral nervous system effects: Increased blood pressure, heart rate, gastrointestinal activity.
  • Tolerance leads to cellular desensitization.

Withdrawal Symptoms

  • Severe cravings, irritability, anxiety, poor concentration, impatience, increased appetite, weight gain, insomnia.

Prenatal and Postnatal Effects

  • Tobacco passes to the fetus, causing addiction and low birth weight; increases risk of addiction in adulthood.
  • Smoking bans and smoke-free environments critical for babies.

Secondhand Smoke

  • Includes sidestream smoke from lit products and thirdhand smoke on surfaces, both harmful and carcinogenic.

Smoking Cessation

  • 1300 Americans die daily from smoking-related causes; 70% want to quit, but only 5% succeed without help.
  • Effective methods include counseling and medications, with nicotine replacement therapy options.

Vaping Overview

  • Developed in China in 2010; fewer toxins than combustible tobacco.
  • Marketing to youth raises concerns about conversion to traditional tobacco use.
  • Regulatory issues exist regarding nicotine content.
  • No risk from secondhand exposure, but possible pathway to nicotine dependence.