Health/Addiction: Stuff You Should Know

Stuff you should know to avoid, and the signs of the bad habits/addiction nowadays.

Nicotine
Smoking resulted in 4.9 million deaths in 2000. That number is expected to rise to 8.9 million by 2020. - (Action on Smoking and Heath, Australia 2003; WHO 2002)

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including ammonia (floor/toilet cleaner), arsenic (rat poison), formaldehyde (body tissue preserver), hydrogen cyanide (gas chamber poison). - (Surgeon General's Report, US Government 1989)

"A cigarette is the only consumer product that when used as directed kills it consumers." - (Dr. G.H Brundtland, Director - General Emeritus, WHO 2005)

Tobacco and puberty form a vicious link. Tobacco tends to be consumed more by the poor. In turn, it contributes to poverty through loss of income and loss of productivity due to ill-health and premature death." - (Dr. S. Pilanbangchung - Regional Director, WHO - SEAR 2005)

Substance Abuse
Drug abuse is the use of any chemical substance, which results in an individual's physical, mental, emotional, or social impairment. These include anxiety, depression, paranoia, psychosis, respiratory tract infections, nose and mouth ulcerations and other systematic diseases. Other diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Septicemia can also result from needle sharing among users of injection-type drugs. Cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer and lung disease can occur when drugs are used as high doses or fter prolonged use, however, some may occur after just one use. - (CESAR TODESILLAS, The Manila Times, November 21, 2005)

2 million people die premature deaths each year due to alcohol and illicit drug use. These substances are responsible for about 9 percent of the total global burden of disease. - (Action on Smoking and Health 2006)

Warning signs of substance abuse:

- sudden change in their behavior - like wanting to be left alone, paranoia, change of sleep patterns, becoming easily irritated or secretive.

- physical changes such as dilated pupils, blood shot eyes, unsteady movements, weight loss, and neglect of personal hygiene.
(Cesar E. Todesillas, "A Time to Reflect on Our Drug - Abuse Problems", "The Manila Times, 21 November 2005)

Pornography and Sexual Addiction
"I look at pornography as addiction. You keep craving something that is harder and harder...until you reach a point where pornography only goes so far. You reach that jumping-off point where you begin to wonder if actually doing it will give you that which is beyond just reading about it or looking at it."
(Serial Killer and rapist Ted Bundy talking about the impact of pornography on his life. This statement was given shortly before his execution. Focus on the Family, 1991.)

"Pornography is the gateway drug of most sexual addiction... Like any other addiction, sex addiction is progressive. There is a built-in dynamic that always drives the addict to the next level and the next.

"Sex that is void of intimacy (such as pornography and casual sex) work as additively as any pill or injection. Sex provides a quick mood change. It is a reliable escape. It masks the pain. Eventually the sex addict becomes powerless over it. The addict goes out of control as the compulsion takes control. Even harmful consequences cannot deter the sex addict's compulsion to repeat the act and find temporary relief."
(Stephen Arterburn, M.Ed., "Sex As An Addiction, "When Sex Becomes An Addiction", (1998)

HIV/AIDS
More than 40 million people worldwide are currently infected with HIV/AIDS. AIDS has killed about 25 million people since it caught the world's attention in the early 1980's in 2005.

- 4.9 million people were newly infected with HIV
- 3.1 million people died from AIDS complications
(USA Today, November 27, 2005)

Abstaining from sex before marriage is the best protection against HIV/AIDS infection.
(Steve Sternberg, "UN Report: More than 40 million HIV - positive, USA's Numbers Top 1 million, "USA Today, (22, November 2005)

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Most STDs have hidden symptoms, allowing a person to have them for months, or years, without being detected. This results in spreading the disease without even knowing it.

Condoms do not eliminate the risk of acquiring STDs. Condoms offer minimal to no protection against Chlamydia, HPV, and Syphilis. They offer only 40-60 % protection against Gonorrhea.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common cause of cervical cancer in women. Like HIV there is no cure for HPV.

Gambling
A lottery ticket buyer is 5 times more likely to be eaten by the shark, 7 more times likely to be struck by lightning, 6,000 more times likely to be hit by a car than to win in a lottery."
(Rex Rogers, Seducing America: Is Gambling a Good Bet?, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1997)

Some warning signs of problems among card players and other forms of gambling:

- Playing cards begins to replace all other interests.
- Borrowing money and not paying it back.
- Losing time from studies or work due to gambling.
- Risking or losing a significant relationship, job, or educational opportunity over gambling.

(Ben Bostdorf, Massachusettes Council on Compulsive gambling News, Volume XVII, No. 1, Fall 2004.)

Gambling exhibits the lowest form of human motivation.

"I can't begin to remember all the lies I told when I was gambling. I lied about where I was, how much money I was losing, when I would be home, and my biggest lie was assuring my wife I would quit gambling...after just one more time..."
(John M. Eades. Gambling Addiction: The Problem, The Pain, and the pathway to Recovery (Winchester, TN: John M. Eades, 1999)

Eating Disorders
Abnormal and unhealthy eating behaviors can develop from obsessive attitudes about food or body image. Some turn to food for comfort and end up consuming unhealthy amounts of food in a short period of time - BINGE EATING. others in search of the 'perfect body" starve themselves or limit calories to an absurdly low level - ANOREXIA, or they practiced forced vomiting after eating and take diuretics or laxatives like candy - BULIMIA. People struggling with anorexia and bulimia also often become addicted to exercise.

So what are the risk factors of eating disorders? Here are just a few:

- Binge Eating - obesity, heart disease, liver and kidney problems, certain types of cancer, energy loss
- Anorexia - dry brittle bones, hair and nails, digestive problems, fainting, stunted growth, kidney failure
- Bulimia - inflammation of the esophagus due to frequent vomiting, dehydration, tooth and gums problems, heart problems that can lead to death.

Fatigue
Maybe you think you have too much living to do, so you're adding hours to you day by cutting on sleep. But does it really work?

Here's what a habit of short nights will get you (less than 6 hours):

- Difficulty waking up in the morning
- Inability to concentrate and impaired memory
- Falling asleep at work
- Moodiness, irritability, depression, or anxiety

Establishing a consistent sleep routine is one of the best ways to improve your mental, physical, and emotional health.

Stress and Depression
What stresses you out?

- Studies
- Negative thoughts and feelings
- Work
- Broken relationships
- Problems at home
- Chronic illness
- Lack of money
- Traumatic memories

Just one of the above is enough to cause stress, but you may find that you're having to deal with more than one of them at a time. When this happens stress can turn into depression. Sometimes the progression is so gradual we don't even realize it. What are some signs of depression?

- Sadness that won't go away
- Irritability over even small things
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Lack of enthusiasm or motivation
- Anger, rage, anxiety
- Thoughts of death or suicide

What should you do about this?

You are not alone. Feelings of depression are far too common. reach out and talk to friends, parents, or teachers whom you trust. Avoid hanging out with those who use drug and alcohol to cope with difficult situations. Above all, do not do anything that can cause permanent damage or death. Remember "suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem."