SMOKING: What's In It For Me??????

ANSWER: Arsenic, acetic acid, acetone, ammonia, benzene, butane, cadmium, carbon monoxide, carbon tetrachloride, ethanol, formaldehyde, hydrazine, hexamine, hydrogen cyanide, lead, methane, methanol, naphthalene, various pigments, nickels, phenol, polonium, stearic acid, styrene, tar, toluene.

For those of you fond of very long lists, here's a partial list of the other ingredients. Please note that each brand of cigarette has their own "recipe", so not every ingredient listed below will be in every brand of cigarette. But, keep in mind, you don't know which of these ingredients are in the cigarette you choose to smoke. And all cigarettes have most of these ingredients in them.

Acacia gum, Acetyl, Ace anisole, Acetic acid and/or its potassium and sodium salts, Acetoin, Acetone, Acetophenone, 6 Acetoxydihydrotheaspirane, Acetyl methyl cellulose, 2 Acetyl pyridine, 2 Acetyl pyridine, 3 Acetyl pyridine, Alga resinoid, oleoresin and oil, Allura Red, Allyl hexanoate, Aluminum acetate, Aluminum carbonate, Aluminium citrate, Aluminium lactate, Aluminium oxide, Aluminium phosphate, Aluminium tartrate, Aluminium trihydroxide, Aluminosilicates, Amber oil, Ambergris extract, Ambrette seed oil and absolute, Ambrox, Ammonium acetate, Ammonium carbonate, Ammonium chloride, Ammonium citrate, Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, Ammonium hydroxide, Ammonium lactate, Ammonium sulphate, Ammonium tartrate, +Amyl acetate, Amyl alcohol, +Amyl benzoate, +Amyl butyrate, alpha Amyl cinnamaldehyde, +Amyl formate, +Amyl hexanoate, +Amyl isovalerate, +Amyl octanoate, +Amyl phenylacetate, +Amyl salicylate, +Amyl valerate, trans Anethole, Angelica root extract and oil, Anise and oil, Anisole, para Anisyl acetate, para Anisyl alcohol, Arachis oil, Ascorbic acid, Azorubin, Balsam oil, Bay leaf, oil and sweet oil, Beech tar extract, Bentonite, Benzaldehyde, Benzoic acid and/or its potassium and sodium salts, Benzoin, Benzoin resinoid, Benzyl acetate, Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl benzoate, Benzyl butyrate, Benzyl cinnamate, Benzyl formate, Benzyl isobutyrate, Benzyl phenylacetate, Benzyl propionate, Bergamot oil, Boric acid and/or its potassium or sodium salts, Bornyl acetate, , Brilliant Black BN, Brilliant Blue FCF, Butyl acetate, Butyl butyrate, 1,3, Butylene glycol, Butyl phenyl acetate, para tert Butyl pyridine, Butyric acid, Cadinene single or mixed isomers, Cajeput oil, Calcium acetate, Calcium chloride, Calcium citrate, Calcium hydroxide, Calcium lactate, Calcium phosphate1 (mono, di or tri ), Calcium tartrate, Camphene, d Camphor, Camphor oil2 (safrole free), Caramel1 obtained by heating a sugar solution with or without a small amount of acid, alkali or alkali carbonate, Carbon dioxide, Carboxy methyl cellulose and sodium salt, Cardamon oleoresin, extract, oil, seed oil and powder, Carvacrol, 4 Carvomenthenol, Carvone, beta Caryophyllene, Caryophyllene alcohol, Caryophyllene oxide, Cascarilla oil, bark oil and extract, Cassia buds, bark oil and extract, Cassia extract, Castor oil, Castoreum extract and absolute, Cedar leaf oil, Cedarwood oil, Cedrol ,Citric acid and its tripotassium and tri sodium salts, Cedryl acetate, and oleoresin, Cellulose acetate propionate, Cellulose alpha alkanoylalkanoates, Cellulose fibre, Chlorophyll, Cinnamaldehyde, Cinnamic acid, bark oil and extract, Cinnamyl acetate, Cinnamyl alcohol, Cinnamyl butyrate, Cinnamyl cinnamate, Cinnamyl isobutyrate, Cinnamyl isovalerate, Citral, , Citronella oil, Citronellal, dl Citronellol, Citronellyl acetate, Citronellyl butyrate, Citronellyl formate, Citronellyl isobutyrate, Citronellyl phenylacetate, Citronellyl propionate, Civet absolute, Clary sage oil and absolute, leaf oil, bud oil and extract, cocoa distillate and butter, Coffee extract, concentrate and powder, Cognac oil, white and green, Coriander extract and oil, Cubeb oil, Cumin, cumin seed oil and absolute, Cuminaldehyde, Cyclamen aldehyde, para Cymene, Cypress oil, beta Damascenone, beta Damascone, Davana oil, delta Decalactone, gamma Decalactone, Decanal, Decanoic acid, Dextrin, Diacetyl, Diammonium hydrogen phosphate, Diatomaceous earth, Dibenzyl ether, alpha 2,3 Diethylpyrazine, 2,3 Diethyl 5-methyl pyrazine, Diethyl sebacate, Dihydroactinidiolide, Dihydrocarvyl acetate, 3,4 Dihydrocoumarin, Dill seed oil and extract, para Dimethoxybenzene, alpha alpha Dimethylphenethyl acetate, alpha alpha Dimethylphenethyl butyrate, 2,6 Dimethoxyphenol, 3,4 Dimethyl 1,2 cyclopentadione, para alpha Dimethyl benzyl alcohol, 2,5 Dimethyldihydrofuranolone, 3,4 Dimethyl phenol, 1,1 Dimethyl 2-phenylethyl isobutyrate, 2,5 Dimethyl pyrazine, 2,6 Dimethyl pyrazine, 3,5 Dimethyl pyridine, para alpha Dimethyl styrene, Diphenyl ether, Dipotassium succinate, delta Dodecalactone, gamma Dodecalactone, beta Elemene, beta Elemol, Erythrosine, Estragole, Ethanol, Ethyl acetate, Ethyl acrylate, Ethyl benzoate, Ethyl butyrate, Ethyl cellulose, Ethyl cinnamate, Ethyl decanoate, 2 Ethyl 3,5 dimethyl pyrazine, 3 Ethyl 2,5 dimethyl pyrazine, Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, Ethyl formate, 4 Ethyl guaiacol, Ethyl heptanoate, Ethyl hexanoate, Ethyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose, 3 Ethyl 2 hydroxy 2 cyclopentene 1 one, Ethyl isovalerate, Ethyl lactate, Ethyl laurate, Ethyl maltol, Ethyl 2 methyl butyrate, 3 Ethyl 2 methylpyrazine, Ethyl myristate, Ethyl nonanoate, Ethyl octanoate, Ethyl palmitate, para Ethyl phenol, Ethyl phenyl acetate, Ethyl propionate, 3 Ethyl pyridine, Ethyl salicylate, Ethyl 10 undecenoate, Ethyl valerate, Ethyl vanillin, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus oil and absolute, Eugenol, Eugenyl methyl ether, Farnesol, Fennel and sweet oil, Fenugreek extract, resin and absolute, Formic acid, d Fructose, 2 Furan methane thiolformate, Furfural alcohol, Furfuryl methyl sulphide, Gentian root extract, Geraniol, Geranium rose oil, Geranyl acetate, Geranyl acetone, Geranyl butyrate, Geranyl formate, Geranyl isobutyrate, Geranyl phenyl acetate, Geranyl propionate, Ginger oil, d Glucose, Glycerol, Glycerol 1,2 diacetate, Glyceryl triacetate, Glyoxal1 (tobacco sheet or paper no free residue), Guaiac gum extract, Guaiac wood oil, Guaiacol, Guaiol acetate, Guar gum, Gum tragacanth, 2,4 Heptadienal, gamma Heptalactone, Heptanoic acid, 2 Heptanone, 4 Heptenal, omega 6 Hexadecenlactone, gamma Hexalactone, 3,4 Hexanedione, Hexanoic acid, cis 3 Hexen 1 ol, Hexen 2 al, Hex 2 enyl acetate, 3 Hexenyl acetate, Hexyl acetate, Hexyl alcohol, Hexyl phenyl acetate, Honey, Humic acid, Hydrochloric acid1 (for tobacco sheet or paper no free residues), 4 Hydroxy benzoic acid and/or its ethyl, propyl esters and their sodium salts, 4 Hydroxybutanoic acid lactone, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxycitronellol, 2 Hydroxyisophorone, 4(p Hydroxyphenol) 2 butanone, Hydroxypropyl cellulose, Immortelle oil and absolute, , *Indigotine, Indole, alpha Ionone, beta Ionone, Iron oxides, alpha Irone, Isoamyl alcohol, Isobornyl acetate, Isobutyl acetate, Isobutyl alcohol, Isobutyl butyrate, Isobutyl cinnamate, Isobutyl phenethyl alcohol, Isobutylphenyl acetate, Isobutyraldehyde, Isoeugenol, Isoeugenyl methyl ether, Isopentane, Isophorone, 4 Keto dihydroisophorone, 4 Keto isophorone, Isopropyl alcohol, Isopropyl myristate, Isopulegol, Isovaleric acid, Jasmine absolute concrete and oil, Juniper berry oil, Labdanum absolute, oleoresin and oil, Lactic acid and/or its potassium and sodium salts, Lauric acid, Lavender absolute or oil, Lecithin, Lemon oil and extract, Lemongrass oil, Licorice root, fluid, extract and powder, Lime oil2 (terpeneless), d Limonene, Linaloe wood oil, Linalool, Linalool oxide, Linalyl acetate, Linalyl butyrate, Linalyl formate, Methyl 2 octynoate, Methyl 2 pyrrolyl ketone, 2 Methyl 4 phenyl butyraldehyde, Mimosa absolute, Mint oil, garden 2 Methoxy 4 methylphenol, 2 Methoxy 4 vinylphenol, 1 (para Methoxyphenyl) 2 propanone, Methyl acetate, 4 Methyl acetophenone, Methyl anisate, para Methyl anisole, Methyl benzoate, alpha Methyl benzyl acetate, alpha Methyl benzyl alcohol, 2 Methyl butyraldehyde, 3 Methyl butyraldehyde, 2 Methyl butyric acid, Methyl cellulose, Methyl cinnamate, Methyl cyclopentenolone, Methyl ethyl ketone, 5 Methyl furfural, 6 Methyl 3,5 heptadienone, 6 Methyl hept 5 en 2 one, 2 Methyl heptanoic acid, 2 Methyl hexanoic acid, Methyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose, Methyl hydroxy propyl cellulose, Methyl isovalerate, Methyl linoleate, Methyl linolenate, Methyl mercaptan, 2 Methyl 5 (methylthio)furan, Methyl beta naphthylketone, 3 Methyl pentanoic acid, Methyl phenyl acetate, 2 Methyl pyrazine, 5 Methyl quinoxaline, Methyl salicylate, Methyl sulphide, 2 Methyl undecanal, 3 Methyl-1 cyclopentadecanone, 3 Methyl 2(2 pentenyl) 2- cyclopenten 1 one, mint oil, wild mint oil2 (partly dementholised), Molasses extract and tincture, Mullein flowers, Musk ketone, Musk pod extract, acetate, Phenethyl alcohol, Phenethyl isobutyrate, Phenethyl isovalerate, Phenethyl phenylacetate, Phenethyl valerate, Phenyl acetaldehyde, Phenyl acetic acid, 4 Phenyl 3 buten 2 one, 3 Phenyl propionaldehyde, 3 Phenyl propionic acid, 3 Phenyl 1 propanol, ortho Phosphoric acid, Pine needle oil, dwarf, Pigment Red 18, Pigment Yellow 1, alpha Pinene, Piperonal, Pipsissewa leaf extract, Polyvinyl acetate homo-polymer, Polyvinyl acetate/vinyl alcohol copolymer, Polyvinyl alcohol, Ponceau 4R, Potassium carbonate, Potassium or sodium chloride, Potassium hydroxide paper1 (no free residue), Potassium hydroxide sheet1 (no free residue), Potassium phosphate, Propane, Propenyl guaethol, Propionic acid and/or its sodium salts, n Propyl acetate, n Propyl alcohol, Propyl butyrate, Propyl phenyl acetate, Propylene glycol, Pyroligneous acid extract, Pyruvic acid, Quebracho bark extract, Reaction products1Known and specified mixture of amino acids and reducing sugars heated under pressure, Rhodinol, Rhodinyl acetate, Rose water, Rose oil and absolute, Rosemary oil and absolute, Rum ether, Saccharin and/or its sodium salt, Saffron, Sage, sage oil and oleoresin, Salicylaldehyde, Sandalwood oil, yellow, Shellac, Silicic acid, Sodium alginate, Sodium bicarbonate, Sodium bisulphate, Sodium carbonate, Sodium hydroxide paper1 (no free residue), Sodium hydroxide sheet1 (no free residue), Sodium phosphate, Sorbic acid and/or its potassium or sodium salts, Sorbitol, Spearmint oil, Spike lavender oil, Spiranol, Spirits, distilled, Star anise oil, Starch, Starch, modified including cationic, Styrax gum and extract, and oil, Sucrose and sucrose syrup, Sunset Yellow FCF, Tamarind extract, Tannic acid, Tarragon oil, Tartaric acid and its potassium and sodium salts, , Tartrazine Yellow, Tea, absolute and resinoid, Terpineol2 (alpha , beta and gamma), Terpinyl acetate, 4,5,6,7 Tetrahydro 3,6 dimethyl benzofuran, Tetrahydro 4 methyl 2- (2 methylpropen 1 yl) pyran, 2,3,5,6 Tetramethyl pyrazine, Thiabendazole, Thyme oil, white and red, Thymol, Titanium dioxide, Tobacco extracts, Tolu balsam gum and extract, Tolualdehydes2 (ortho ,meta and para ), para Tolyl 3 methylbutyrate, Tolyl phenylacetate, Trichlorofluoromethane, Triethyl citrate, Triethylene glycol, 2,2,6 Trimethyl cyclohexanone, 2,3,5 Trimethyl pyrazine, Tuberose absolute and oil, Turpentine oil, gamma Undecalactone, Undecanal, Urea, Valeric acid, gamma Valerolactone, Vanilla beans or pods, or extract and oleoresin, Vanillin, Veratraldehyde, Vetiver oil, Violet oil and absolute, Violet leaf absolute, Wheat extract and absolute, Wine and wine sherry, Ylang Ylang oil and absolute. Myrcene, Myrrh oil, absolute and resinoid, beta Naphthyl ethyl ether, beta Naphthyl methyl ether, Nerol, Neroli oil, Nerolidol, 2,6 Nonadien 1-ol, gamma Nonalactone, Nonanal, Nonanoic acid, 2 Nonenal, Nutmeg and oil, Oak bark extract, Oak moss absolute, delta Octalactone, gamma Octalactone, Octanoic acid, 1 Octanol, 2 Octanone, 1 Octen 3 o1, 2 Octenal, Olibanum oil, resinoid and absolute, Opopanax oil and gum, Orange leaf absolute and blossoms water, Orange oil and extract2 (whether or not terpeneless), Orange peel oil and extract, bitter and sweet2 (whether or not terpeneless), Orris root, concrete, oil and extract, Palmarosa oil, Palmitic acid, Parsley seed oil, Patchouli oil and absolute, Patent Blue V, Peach kernel oil, Pectin, n-Pentane, Pent-3 en 4 olide, omega Pentadecalactone, 2,3 Pentanedione, Pepper oil, black and white, Peppermint oil, Petitgrain oil and absolute, Phenethyl.

Tobacco is one of the strongest legal drugs on the market today. It has been compared to crack cocaine and heroin in relation to addiction. And you don’t even need a prescription to obtain it. Considering the number of ingredients in a cigarette (even the partial list above), it's no wonder lung cancer caused by smoking is so deadly. I can't imagine that I used to put all of those chemicals in my body. Some of the ingredients don't sound bad, but heat them and they become deadly. Then inhale them. It's a slow suicide indeed.

Hopefully, this list has helped a few people trying to quit. I welcome comments. And, I wish all who are trying to quit much success in their endeavor. Life if wonderful and we all should be able to smell the roses!

Smoking Hurts Kids and Pets

Most people are not aware that each time they light up, if they own a dog or cat, or any other type of animal, the pet's tiny lungs are assaulted as well. Think of it: Rover smokes when you smoke and he can't stop you. Small children are also at the mercy of parental smoking. I had a friend years ago who couldn't figure out why her kids were always catching colds, always had runny noses, and always had chest congestion. Finally, one day, she realized it was HER smoking in their presence that was causing these maladies. So, if you smoke, and you choose not to quit, please smoke away from your kids and your pets. It's not their choice to smoke. Obstetricians urge their patients to quit. It is suggested that babies in utero smoke each time their mothers light up resulting in early labor and often, smaller birth weights. So, if you don't want your kids and pets to suffer, please quit. Just as important is the fact that you may die and leave your children without a mother or father. Lung cancer doesn't just strike older people. There are many cases of young people (in their 30's even) who have developed lung cancer. It all depends on when you started to smoke and how many packs per day you smoked during those years. A young heavy smoker is committing slow suicide.



Cigarettes have gone up in price dramatically since I started smoking years ago. I remember paying 25 cents per pack. Now, a pack can cost up to $6.00. The new taxes will be spent on smoking-related illnesses and on children who do not have health insurance. A lot of smokers claim lawmakers are "punishing" smokers, and this is just not true. The tax payer often has to pay for smoking-related illnesses. It's only fair to add an extra tax on to the price of cigarettes. Big Tobacco certainly isn't going to help pay your medical bills.



Look for my next blog soon.

THE DAY I QUIT SMOKING

On June 10, 1982, I quit smoking FOREVER! I have 3 friends who are currently giving up this health-killing habit. It's not easy. But, you know what, it's the best thing I could have ever done (and the hardest).

This is how I felt on the first day: HORRIBLE! All I could think of was smoking. Just one puff, just a sniff. I couldn't wait to go to bed that night so I could stop thinking about it. I was tired, cranky, mean, miserable, depressed, ticked off at the world, and yet, I stayed the course. My coughing increased a bit (my lungs were already cleaning up the damage). I was constantly chewing on hard candy. I held a small pencil between my 2 cigarette-holding fingers so that my brain would "think" I had a cigarette in my hand. I had a rubber band on my wrist which I snapped every time I had an uncontrollable urge to smoke. I wrote in a diary about my successes. My activities included ONLY things that would not allow smoking. In 1982, that part was difficult. Church, the library and local movie theaters were pretty much the only places where you couldn't smoke. These days, nonsmokers have lots of places to visit where smoking is NOT allowed. Yay for us! I never could understand smoking and no smoking sections in restaurants. Smoke goes where it wants to go. How can a no smoking section stay smoke-free when the smoking section is in the same room? Duh! A few restaurants had a "no smoking table" near the restrooms (I always thought the manager was a smoker when that happened). It was the manager's way to "get even" with nonsmokers when laws started tightening up. Wow, now nonsmokers are the majority. Yay for that!

I saved up all of my cigarette butts from the previous 2 weeks of smoking, put them in a jar, and filled the jar with water. When I had a strong urge to smoke, I opened the jar and took a whiff. Gross! But it worked. Who wants to smell like that? And yes, that's what a smoker smells like. You don't realize it until you're off cigarettes for a week or so. When food smells like food again and flowers are fragrant, you begin to realize just how nasty smoking is. Even my dog was healthier. Yes, dogs, cats and children breathe in second-hand smoke making them more susceptible to illness, allergies and difficulty breathing.

If you are able, exercise. Take long walks. Drink fluids. Lots of water. Try to stay away from caffeinated beverages for a short while since caffeine is similar to nicotine and may increase your cravings. Alcohol is also something to avoid for a while. Most of all, change how you live. Avoid situations where you used to smoke. I stopped sitting at the kitchen table in the morning. That's where I smoked the most. I changed my routine. I got up, ate in the dining room, and got busy.

It takes time to be a nonsmoker. It took me 2 years to mentally kick the habit. Yes, 2 years. It took 22 years to become a 2-3 pack per day smoker. However, after only 2 weeks, my body was free of the nicotine cravings. Now, 27 years later, I have absolutely no desire to smoke. I hate the smell. I just had a lung capacity test (pulmonary function test), and I passed with flying colors. My lungs are as healthy as a nonsmoker's lungs.

So, hang in there. It gets better and better. There are gums and medications that can help, but my recommendation is to try everything else first. One more thing, beware of "jealous" smokers who will sabotage your efforts. Avoid them until you are comfortable with your new status. Or invite them to join you in quitting. Make a no smoking rule at your house, inside and outside. I did, and I didn't lose any friends.