SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH

SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH

Since ages we are hearing this phrase “Smoking is injurious to health”.

Yes, very true, it is injurious to health and life as well, more so when it comes to the peri-operative period.

Patients are asked to stop smoking right away when a operation is scheduled.  It is easier said than done but quitting can make a huge difference to health and recovery. An upcoming surgery can be the motivation a smoker needs to finally kick the habit. This is a very vulnerable period wherein patients understand risks better. The person who smokes faces several problems as a direct effect but the passive smoker has not made this choice still has to undergo all the consequences of smoking and the consequences are not less dreadful.

Cigarette smoke has over 4000 substances some antigenic some cytotoxic some mutagenic and some carcinogenic it has gaseous phase and a particulate phase.90% of cigarette smoke is gaseous has nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide and it also has carcinogens senior boxes irritants important carbon monoxide.In particulate phase the main ingredient is nicotine, it also has tar and a few tumour accelerators.

The effects of smoking are seen on all the organs. Lungs are affected to a greater extent which results in decreased oxygen carriage leading to hypoxia, irritable upper airways prone to laryngospasm, irritable lower airways prone to bronchospasm and decreased ciliary function causing retained secretions giving rise to chest infections. Another common condition is difficulty in breathing which is known as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).In this condition obstruction to the airflow leads to difficulty in breathing.

Smoking affects heart badly. Smoking compromises heart function, risk of heart attack after surgery increases up to 77% more than non-smokers. Nicotine causes adrenaline release leading to high blood pressure,increase in heart rate and also increase work of heart muscles causing increased consumption of oxygen by heart muscles. Problems like hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, hyper coagulation, thrombosis are rampant.

Smoking paves the way for the deposition of cholesterol in the arteries that supply blood to the heart that hampers supply of blood to the heart and results in various severe complications that lead to decreased blood supply to extremities of the body resulting in gangrene.

It also has increased risk of developing high blood pressure which has effects on organs like kidneys liver and eyes. As far as digestive system is concerned diseases like Crohn’s disease, gastroesophageal reflux, peptic ulcers can occur.

Smoking retards healing

Oxygen is essential to help wound heal.Wounds take longer to heal as carbon monoxide in a smoker’s body robs tissues of oxygen they need to heal. Blood absorbs carbon monoxide and nicotine and oxygen levels fall. In smokers,carbon monoxide is increased to as much as 10% (normal2%).Nicotine found in cigarettes increases hormone called vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone)which leads to vasoconstriction (tightening of blood vessels) and decreases blood flow to an area leading to poor healing.

During perioperative period smokers in  particular are predisposed  to many complications.They have higher risk of lung and heart complications, infection, impaired wound healing,more chances of admission in ICUs, increased risk of death in hospital,increased risk of hospital readmission and remain in hospital longer.

Smoking undermines the fundamental aims of safe anaesthesia and surgery which is nothing but safety of patient with uncomplicated recovery.The threat is because of smoking induced

• 1. Changes in oxygen carriage in blood.

• 2. Damage to the lung and airway.

• 3. Changes in the heart and circulation.

Quitting smoking before surgery reduces the risk of post-operative complications, reduces lung, heart and wound-related complications, decreases wound healing time, reduces bone fusion time after fracture repair and reduces length of stay in hospital.

Counselling combined with nicotine replacement therapy can help you quit smoking. It relieves withdrawal symptoms after you stop smoking. There is less nicotine in nicotine patch or gum and they do not increase the level of carbon monoxide in the body.

It is time that an anaesthesiologist plays a stronger role in advising smokers to stop smoking, as they have to work harder to keep smokers breathing while under anaesthesia fighting against compromised lungs.