Toxic
May 30, 2014
“With a taste of your lips I’m on a ride
You’re toxic I’m slipping under
With a taste of a poison paradise
I’m addicted to you
Don’t you know that you’re toxic.”
Toxic, Britney Spears, 2003
Smoking is recognised as the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. It makes you at greater risk of having a stroke and with each cigarette more than 4000 toxic chemicals are deposited on the lungs or absorbed into the blood stream.
Yet, around 3.1 million Australians continue to indulge in this toxic habit.
Today is World No Tobacco Day and we are calling on Australian’s to take control of their health. Put down the lighter, throw away the cigarettes and reduce your stroke risk. As the slogan says: ‘each cigarette is doing your damage’ and damage to those around you.
This habit not only increases the stroke risk of the person that chooses to smoke, but also those around them. Research shows non-smokers living with smokers are also more likely to suffer a stroke.
Some of the chemicals in cigarettes damage blood vessel walls, leading to narrowing and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This increases the chance of blood clots forming in the arteries to the brain and heart. Smoking also increases the stickiness of the blood. This further increases the risk of blood clots forming. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain suddenly becomes blocked, like in the methods above, or bleeds.
Giving up smoking is not easy, but nor is not being able to talk, to walk or think clearly. Around 65 per cent of stroke survivors are left with a disability that means they cannot complete everyday tasks unassisted. Please don’t be one of them.
Stopping smoking and changing your lifestyle can dramatically reduce your stroke risk.
So, how can you make quitting easier on yourself?
Quitline recommends you:
• Identify the reasons you want to quit
• Create your quitting plan
• Put your plan into action
There are many different ways to quit, from cold turkey to hypnotherapy, physician aided or even a phone app if saving money is your motivation. The most successful method is the one that best suits you, your motivation for quitting and your lifestyle.
Find out more information about methods here: Quit Now.
Remember you are not alone in saying no to tobacco, there is support available. Quitline is a telephone information and advice or counselling service for people who want to quit smoking. You can phone the Quitline on 13 7848 confidentially from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call only. There are also a number of online resources available through Quitline if that better suits your needs Quit Now.
Say no to tobacco today and lower your stroke risk, if not only for you, for those around you.
What are you tips for giving up a toxic habit?
Rebecca Naylor: Director of Programs National Stroke Foundation
You’re toxic I’m slipping under
With a taste of a poison paradise
I’m addicted to you
Don’t you know that you’re toxic.”
Toxic, Britney Spears, 2003
Smoking is recognised as the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. It makes you at greater risk of having a stroke and with each cigarette more than 4000 toxic chemicals are deposited on the lungs or absorbed into the blood stream.
Yet, around 3.1 million Australians continue to indulge in this toxic habit.
Today is World No Tobacco Day and we are calling on Australian’s to take control of their health. Put down the lighter, throw away the cigarettes and reduce your stroke risk. As the slogan says: ‘each cigarette is doing your damage’ and damage to those around you.
This habit not only increases the stroke risk of the person that chooses to smoke, but also those around them. Research shows non-smokers living with smokers are also more likely to suffer a stroke.
Some of the chemicals in cigarettes damage blood vessel walls, leading to narrowing and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This increases the chance of blood clots forming in the arteries to the brain and heart. Smoking also increases the stickiness of the blood. This further increases the risk of blood clots forming. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain suddenly becomes blocked, like in the methods above, or bleeds.
Giving up smoking is not easy, but nor is not being able to talk, to walk or think clearly. Around 65 per cent of stroke survivors are left with a disability that means they cannot complete everyday tasks unassisted. Please don’t be one of them.
Stopping smoking and changing your lifestyle can dramatically reduce your stroke risk.
So, how can you make quitting easier on yourself?
Quitline recommends you:
• Identify the reasons you want to quit
• Create your quitting plan
• Put your plan into action
There are many different ways to quit, from cold turkey to hypnotherapy, physician aided or even a phone app if saving money is your motivation. The most successful method is the one that best suits you, your motivation for quitting and your lifestyle.
Find out more information about methods here: Quit Now.
Remember you are not alone in saying no to tobacco, there is support available. Quitline is a telephone information and advice or counselling service for people who want to quit smoking. You can phone the Quitline on 13 7848 confidentially from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call only. There are also a number of online resources available through Quitline if that better suits your needs Quit Now.
Say no to tobacco today and lower your stroke risk, if not only for you, for those around you.
What are you tips for giving up a toxic habit?
Rebecca Naylor: Director of Programs National Stroke Foundation