CHAPTER-12 ADDICTION AND HEALTHY LIFE STYLE

Addiction

  • The term addiction is used to describe a compulsion by an individual engage in some specific activity.
  • Histologically, addiction has been defined as psycho-active substance which cross blood – brain barrier temporarily altering the chemical nature of the brain.
  • Drugs and alcohol affect the central nervous system, liver spleen, kidney, heart etc., Slowly the individual becomes addicted to these drugs and alcohol.

Kinds of addiction

Alcoholism

  • Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence , is a disabling addictive disorder.
  • Ethyl-Alcohol(C2H5O6) or ethanol, is an intoxicating found in beer, wine and liquors.
  • It is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the blood stream.

Harmful effects of Alcoholism

  • Cerebellum (small brain) is affected, that is why the skeletal muscles have an impaired function.
  • Liver cirrhosis: A healthy liver is able to regenerate most of its own cells when they become damaged.
  • Every year, there are about 27,000 deaths because of liver cirrhosis.
  • In South America vehicles like buses are powered with ethyl alcohol. It is a very good pollution free fuel.
  • Ethyl alcohol is also is very good solvent for paints and varnish.

Smoking Cigarettes

  • A cigarette (French “Small cigar”) is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper of smoking.
  • Nicotine is one of the most frequently used addictive drug.

Cigarette smoking

Cigarette contain many toxic substances like nicotine,carbon,etc

When inhales , these toxic substances get deposited on the inner walls of the blood

 

vessels that carry blood to the heart

This results in plaque formation

This plaque causes narrowing of the blood vessels. Blood supply to the walls of

 

the heart is gradually reduced.

                     As blood carried oxygen to heart, Oxygen supply is also reduced.

                     As there is no sufficient blood supply and oxygen supply to heart,

 

                                          it damages the heart muscle

                                                 Leads to heart attack

 

Lungs

  • Smoking destroys small hairs(cilia) present in the upper respiratory track(trachea). In normal persons these hairs protect lungs from germs, dust, smoke and other harmful chemicals enter lungs causing infection, cough and lung cancer.

Digestive System

  • Smoking causes heart burn, delays the healing of peptic ulcer, increases risk of Crohn’s diseases and formation of gall stones.

Eyes

  • The sensitive blood vessels of eyes are easily damaged by smoking.

Bones

  • It accelerates the process of Osteoporosis.

Cancer

  • Smoking causes cancer in lungs, larynx, oral cavity, pharynx, oesophagus and bladder.

In women

  • Smoking imbalances estrogen hormone in women and it reduces blood flow to genital organs. Women who smoke can get diseases in fallopian tubes and their egg production is affected.

Drug abuse – Narcotic Drugs

  • Heroin, Opium, Cocaine are some of the drugs that are injurious to health. These drugs are also called Narcotics.

Harmful effects of drug abuse

  • Impaired health, infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS.
  • Absence from school and college.
  • Possible death due to the frustration or illhealth.

Signs of drugs abuse

  • Sudden change of mood and temper.
  • Bouts of drowsiness or sleeplessness.
  • Body pain, nausea, unsteady gait.
  • Losing interest in job and studies.
  • Telling lies and stealing money.

Obesity

  • Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of fat in the body which leads to increased health problems.
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