Smoke Signals
March 1993
Page 8
More Facts About Tobacco, Addiction, And Your Children
Just about everyone agreeseven smokersthat
the use of tobacco is damaging to one's health. Nonetheless,
while the percent of smokers in the United States has
declined from42 percentin 1965 (U.S. DepartmcntofHealth
and Human Services, 1982, p. ix) to just under 33 percent in
1983 (U.S. Center for Health Statistics, 1984), the total
number of smokers has remained almost constant And in
some categories, such as for women between 20-34 the
percent of smokers increased from 1980 to 1983.
Employers have a significant role to play in helping
smokers quit. As the Assistant Secretary for Health of the
U. S. Department ofHealth and Human Services stated in the
1984 Surgeon General's report on smoking, "Smokers can
realize a substantial health benefit from quitting smoking, no
matter how long they have smoked." Approximately 10-15
years after quitting, a smoker's risk of dying is nearly the
same as for those who have never smoked. According to one
major study, death from all causes was almost 30 percent
loweramongthosewhoquit, compared to thosewho continued
to smoke, after just six years of abstinence.
But for those who continue smoking, the health
facts are rather frightening. Each year, 340,000 persons die
prematurely from smoking-related illnesses. The Surgeon
General has stated that unless smoking habits change, 1 in
every 10 people living today could die prematurely of heart
disease alone. In addition to smoking's contributions to heart
disease, it is estimated that 30 percent of all cancers are
caused by smoking and that 85 percent of all lung cancers are
due to cigarette smoking. So, from the point of view of the
health of one's employees, smoking is a bad business.
Here are just a few more facts about the impact of
smoking on the health of one's employees:
Heavy smokers (two or more packs per day) are three to four
times more likely to die of cancer than non-smokers and,
overall, the risk to smokers is two times greater than for those
who don't smoke.
Smoking A Risk Factor For
Drug Abuse Among Teens
New data from the National Institution of Drug
Abuse suggests that cigarette smoking is a risk factor for
drug abuse in teenagers. Jack Henningfield, Ph.D., chief
of clinical pharmacology at the institute, reports
adolescents who smoke cigarettes are 14 times more
likely to smoke marijuana and 32 times more likely to use
cocaine than those who do not smoke.
Addiction to nicotine "teaches a person to use a
shortcut to deal with anxiety, weight control, stress, or
boredom," and for adolescents who are going through
changes, "using a drug to cope short-circuits natural
development and problem-solving abilities," says Dr.
Henningfield. He warns that cigarettes are particularly
dangerous because they are easily accessible to young
children who can get hooked on them before they are old
enough to evaluate smoking and make the choice not to
smoke.
Dr. Hemmingfield adds that learning to inhale
makes other smokable drugs, such as crack, more inviting.
Heavy smokers are 15 to 25 times more likely to die of lung
cancer than non-smokers, and overall, smokers are ten times
more likely to die of lung cancer than non-smokers.
Eighty to 90 percent of such long-term severe diseases as
emphysema and chronic bronchitis are related to smoking.
It is estimated that 30 percent of all cancers are caused by
smoking. That means that 138,000 Americans will die of
cancer this year because of smoking.
More than 550,000 Americans will die of coronary heart
disease this year, and up to 30 percent of those deaths will be
attributable to cigarette smoking.
Heavy smokers have a 200 percent grater risk of dying from
coronary heart disease than non-smokers, and overall risk
for all smokers regardless of the amount smoked, is 70
percent greater than for those who do not smoke.
Evidence demonstrates that smoking during pregnancy has
significant adverse effects upon the well-being of the fetus
and the health of a newborn, including causing lower birth
weight infants and increasing the risks of spontaneous
abortion and neonatal deaths.
Children of smoking parents have an increased prevalence
of respiratory symptoms and have increased frequency of
bronchitis and pneumonia early in life.
Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. Many are
poisonous. More than 40 of them cause cancer.
Cigarette smoke is harmful to all those who inhale it,
including non-smokers.
Your children are twice as likely to be smokers when they
grow up.
Sure, you know smoking is bad for your health. But
no one ever thinks, "Smoking will really hurt me." If you
smoke, the odds are against you. Just think about the facts.
Submitted by Vernon Kennedy
"I Never Thought It Would
Happen To Me."
"My greatest regret is that I did not stop smoking
earlier, not necessarily for me, but for my family.
I'm at a point in my life where my husband and I
could do so many things, but we can 't do them
because I'm disabled. "
Ruth & Age 57 Emphysema
Smoked 1 12 packs per day for 40 years
"I've always -worried about getting lung cancer;
the possibility of heart attack never entered my
mind."
Joe F. Age 38 Heart Attack
Smoked 3 packs per day for 20 years
"I've probably thrown away IS years of my UfefoA
the privilege of smoking."
Bob & Age 54 Lung Cancer
Smoked 1 12 packs per day for 40 years
"Now that I have the time to do the things I've
always wanted to do, I'm not so sure I'm going to
have the time anymore. "
George K. Age 63 Cancer of the Larynx
Smoked 1 pack per day for 45 years
Understanding Illnesses Caused During Food Preparation
We've all been hearing about the sick or dead children
who ate contaminated hamburger. The contamination
refers to a bacteria call "Escherichia coli", most often
called "Ecoli".
This bacteria used to be found a lot in drinking
water, which is why we test water supplies on a regular
basis, to be sure it is not contaminated.
WenowknowthattherearefourtypesofE.coli.
One type causes infantile diarrhea; another causes
traveler's disease associated with travel in foreign
countries. Another type causes a dysentery-like illness
with diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever.
The fourth type of E. coli produces a severe
illness characterized by bloody diarrhea caused by
hemorrhaging of the blood vessels in the large intestine
and severe aMorninal cramps. This may lead to other
complications in children that could cause kidney failure.
To say the least, this is a very serious illness. If you see
symptoms of E coli illness in your children, be sure to get
them adequate medical attention as soon as possible.
E. coli used to be considered less harmful though
something we tried to elirninate. The major source of
bacteria is from human excreta which contaminates
water and food. That's the reason for signs in the rest
rooms requiring employees to wash their hands before
returning to work.
It is the same reason why parents should tech
their children to wash their hands after they use the
bathroom.
Flushing the toilet is also important. Children
may find all kinds of handles on toilets that are different
from the ones in their home. Some you push with your
foot, while other facilities have a button in the wall you
push. Show your children where these handles are, so
they will flush.
Good sanitation in food preparation is very
important. Wash your hands before you begin. If you
are sick or coughing, you should not be handling food for
other people. Sick people can spread the E. coli bacteria
and other illnesses when they handle food.
Cook meat until the red does not show. Heat will
kill the bacteria, but the heat must get to the center of the
hamburger patties for a long time in order to kill the
bacteria. Be sure to wash kitchen tools used on the raw
meat before you touch the cooked meat with them.
When you have finished with the meal, scrub
counters and cutting boards with bleach and soapy water
before you use them to prepare other foods.
If you are interested in learning more about
food-borne illnesses, contact you local office of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
-Reprinted from Spilvav Tvmoo
i