The Cigarette
Good day to you guys. This is Blondie signing in. Today, we will explore the plant tobacco. It’s history and it’s danger.
Tobacco has grown naturally in the America’s since approximately 6000BC. The indigenous people of this region used tobacco roughly around 1000 BC. In the Indigenous society tobacco was used as a vital medicine. Curing wounds, toothache and other forms of disease. Tobacco was also used for cultural and religious ceremonies.
Later in the 1492 when Christopher Columbus voyaged to the America’s. He discovered the plant and introduced it to Europe. In 1606 The Virginia Company, an enterprise chartered by King James I of England, set sail for what was later named Virginia. No other industry could turn a profit in the colony until John Rolfe an Englishmen acquired tobacco seeds from Trinidad or South America and brought the seed to Virginia. This made tobacco Virginia’s number one source of revenue. In this period the Spaniards were the only European nation who had excess to the seed. It was punishable by death to sell tobacco seeds to a non Spaniard.
In 1619 slaves were brought to Virginia to work the tobacco fields. Gold and silver became scarce in Jamestown, so tobacco was being used as a supplementary currency. A man’s wealth was measured in annual pounds of tobacco. All fines and taxes were paid in tobacco. In 1660 a large amount of tobacco was being produced much of it in poor quality; therefore, there was an incident of inflation as tobacco was the local currency and the colony barely survived due to heavy dependency on tobacco exploitation. Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina were known as the tobacco colonies.
Tobacco continued to be smoked undisturbed for centuries in America and Europe. Starting in 1826 scientist discovered that nicotine and other harmful poisons were deadly to the human body. In the late 1800’s tobacco became very popular due to the frontiers men’s era of the American West. At this times Cigars and cigarettes were handed rolled. In 1881 James Albert Bonsack invented the cigarette rolling machine. After this invention the general public had access to what was once a luxury.
Cigarettes had become available to everyone. This made cigarettes the number one tobacco product. In World War 1 cigarettes were very popular earning them the nickname soldier smoke. In the early 20th century various anti-smoking campaigns were established. None were taken seriously until the German’s anti-smoking campaign started in the 1940’s. The Nazis started banding cigarettes on trains and buses, while promoting health education in the schools. It was discovered that American doctors in the 1950’s also agreed cigarettes were dangerous to one’s health. In the 1960’s the hazards of cigarette smoking were reported to the public. However the tobacco companies were denying the truth about the harmful chemicals in their products. They simply covered up the truth, while still promoting their product. America and Great Britain established government regulations to ban cigarette commercials on public television. In the 1980’s smoking was banned in most public places. Law suits were filed against the tobacco companies for hiding the truth.
It was also discovered that cigarette smoking was highly addictive. Due to the chemical nicotine. Let’s take a look at nicotine and examine why it is so harmful. Millions of people all over the world still smoke cigarettes today in spite of the knowledge that cigarettes are killing them slowly. Lung cancer is the number one disease associated with cigarette smoking. Persons with asthma and trouble with breathing are encouraged not to smoke. There are also the dangers of second hand smoke.
Trying to stop smoking can be difficult but not impossible. You may relapse several times before you truly quit for good. First let’s take a look at nicotine and examine why it’s so harmful. Nicotine actually naturally occurs in tobacco leaves, but it’s not until the leaves are burnt or headed that the chemical is released. Once inhaled it takes a matter of seconds to be aborted into the bloodstream where it travels directly to the brain. From there it binds itself to specific receptors and triggers the release of dopamine. This causes pharmacological effects, including increase in heart rate as well as blood pressure. Nicotine should never be used by pregnant women or adolescents.
Here are five steps that can be used to stop smoking:
1. Find a clear purpose to stop smoking. Such as health reasons, or the health of your love ones who could be affected by second hand smoke.
2. Set a clear date. This gives you a clear target to look forward to and a better chance of quitting.
3. Once you stopped smoking you will need something to replace the habit. This is especially important when having a strong urge to smoke. Activities such as playing a game on your phone, having a health snack, chewing gum or simply calling a friend.
4. Use medicines to help quit smoking. They can help with mood swings, and craving withdrawals. Nicotine patches or gums have been found to help. Consult your doctor for the best medication for you.
5. Tell your family and friends you are trying to quit. They can be a sources of support and understand your challenge. Include them in your journey for freedom. Keep in mind you may relapse, but don’t give up. You have nothing if you don’t have your good health.
As always call someone, text someone. Reach out and give a mental hug. This is Blondie signing off until next time.