Author: Dr. David Busby

Most people have their first encounter with cigarette smoking after a friend or classmate in their younger years had invited them. For smokers that start a bit later in life, it’s often because many of their close associates are doing it – you’re not ‘part of the tribe’ if you aren’t smoking socially.Some ‘luckier’ smokers only associate lighting a cigarette whenever they’re out drinking with friends. While they’re not smoking daily (only during the consumption of alcohol during parties) it makes little difference to how cigarettes negatively impact their health.Peer pressure and a sense of belonging are all factors in the…

In recent years, Australia has witnessed a surge in public health campaigns, bringing attention to the hazards of smoking and the risks associated with secondhand smoke. However, there’s a lesser-known effect of cigarette smoking that often lurks in the shadows: thirdhand smoking. Instead of being inhaled by a smoker (firsthand) or a non-smoker near someone who’s smoking (secondhand), thirdhand smoking leaves behind a toxic trail that can have far-reaching consequences for both smokers and unsuspecting non-smokers. In this post, let’s learn more about thirdhand smoking and its impact on your environment.What is Thirdhand Smoking?Thirdhand smoking isn’t a term casually thrown around at BBQs,…

Beautiful hair isn’t just the result of proper care and everyday washing – it’s the result of taking care of your body for years. A diet that provides the vitamins and minerals your body and hair needs (like zinc, iron, vitamin D, and protein) will ensure it’s always in good shape.However, if you’re regularly lighting a ciggie, chances are your hair is in poor shape and smells terrible due to cigarette smoke. It might look full now, but later on, you might experience premature hair loss.Research has shown that smokers are highly likely to experience hair loss earlier than their…

You’ve probably heard of secondhand smoke endangering those living with smokers. When someone lights a cigarette in a closed room, everyone inhales the same dangerous smoke as the one puffing the cigarette.Think of it this way – there’s a reason for strict chimney regulations in the country. Any source of smoke, from leaves and wood to cigarettes, contains dangerous chemicals and carcinogens.Industrial workers must always wear protective equipment to ensure they don’t expose themselves to dangerous fumes, especially if they’re working in poorly ventilated areas.Let’s take a close look at the effects of secondhand smoke on the environment and anyone…

We’re pretty sure that right now, you’re looking for ways to ‘ease’ through the quitting process – which you’ve probably read is quite challenging for most smokers.Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is one of the best ways to make quitting smoking a lot smoother and more manageable. But the truth is, NRT doesn’t work for everyone, and patches may cause side effects after weeks of using them.In this post, we’ll explore the potential side effects of nicotine patches, why they happen, and what we can do about them.The Long-Term Side Effects of Nicotine Patches During the first week or two, you might not…

For some smokers, it feels satisfying to light up a stick right after you’ve eaten lunch or dinner. The fullness feels much more ‘complete’ after you take that first hit and exhale.While you’re enjoying the sensations, your body isn’t agreeable with the smoke you’ve just inhaled. We’ve seen how smoking can harm your stomach. For some people, in fact, it can cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to nicotine in the short term – meaning right after you’ve eaten.One other thing that the spotlight doesn’t always hit is the interaction between smoking and gut health. The gut – referring to your entire…

Smoking is a hard habit to shake off, even after knowing the damage caused by tobacco smoke to your lungs, stomach, and blood.Even if the damage has been done after years or decades of smoking, you’ll experience plenty of improvements to your physical, mental and emotional state after you successfully quit.In this post, let’s talk about the state of your body before and after quitting smoking.Dental Health ImprovementsA smoker’s teeth, tongue, and the entire oral system endure some of the worst effects of smoking. Your gums before and after quitting smoking will feel very different, health-wise. If you’re still smoking, you’re…

Smoking is one of the most preventable burdens worldwide in terms of health and finances. Many smokers suffer from various ailments brought on by chemicals in the smoke. In addition to the health expenses they would incur from cigarette smoking, smokers will also have to deal with the increasing taxes on cigarettes – the Australian government’s mandate that strives to push out tobacco from anyone’s monthly budget.Facing this issue, many Australian smokers are moving on to nicotine vaping products (NVPs) from their local pharmacy.Given a motivated smoker only has to take 1 to 3 puffs of their NVP when they feel…

Most people smoke because they believe it relaxes them or gives them great relief from the stresses of life – something that’s quite untrue. But, the consequences of smoking are very real, severe, and lethal. You only need to look at the packaging warning labels on cigarette packs to know how tobacco smoke affects your lungs, stomach, skin, heart, and other organs. It isn’t a pretty sight at all. As you may well guess, smoking over the years and decades will increase the risk of developing various lethal diseases and pervasive disorders. In this post, let’s take a look at…

You’ve done it. You’ve embarked on a journey towards wellness by stopping smoking. Congratulations! While many quit-smoking aids can make the journey easier, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products and pharmacy-sold nicotine vaping products (NVPs), it’s important to remember your body is still adjusting to the absence of nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical that makes you want to light a stick. Depending on how long you’ve been smoking, you might feel mild to severe withdrawal symptoms.  Sometimes, these symptoms can manifest as physical pain – your muscles and joints feel weak and slightly painful when you move. This…