(Credit-Canva)
When something is going wrong in your body, there will be signs. They may be subtle, but they are visible in close observation. If you are a smoker, you may be worried about the smell of smoke emanating from your mouth or clothes. However, there are other signs that tell whether you smoke or not and these signs are difficult to get rid of!
Smoking is the harmful act of inhaling tobacco infused smoke and is a common activity all over the world. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 480,000 deaths happen each year due to smoking or smoke inhalation. The organization explained that smoking causes harm to nearly all organs and quitting lowers the risk of early death and other smoking related diseases.
Like many other substances, there are clear tell-tale signs when someone is smoking. This is especially important for finding lung problems like Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe, sooner so people can get help.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) explains that tobacco smoke has more than 7,000 harmful chemicals like nicotine, carbon monoxide, and various metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead, quickly reach your lungs and then travel through your blood to all your organs, including your skin. Smoking damages your skin's ability to heal because it increases an enzyme metalloproteinase (MMPs) that breaks down collagen. Collagen is what keeps your skin smooth and elastic. As you lose collagen, your skin sags. Squinting from the smoke and puckering your mouth when smoking also cause wrinkles around your eyes and mouth.
Smoking also reduces blood flow to your skin, which means it gets less oxygen and nutrients. All these things together lead to what doctors call a "smoker's face." Quitting smoking can help prevent or slow down these skin problems."
Here are some visible signs of smoking in people, according to 2013, Lung India
When people smoke, the tar and other chemicals in the smoke stick to their fingers and nails. This repeated contact causes a yellow stain that's hard to wash off. It's a very common sign that someone regularly handles cigarettes or biris.
Especially in older people with white moustaches, smoking causes a yellowing effect. This is most noticeable in the center of the moustache, where the smoke from the nose directly hits the hair. The consistent exposure to smoke colors the hair over time.
Heavy smokers often have a bluish-black tint to their lips. This discoloration happens because the chemicals in tobacco smoke affect the blood flow and the color of the skin on the lips. The constant exposure changes the lip's natural color.
Smoking causes teeth to stain both inside and out. The outside of the teeth turns yellow from the tar, while the inside develops a brownish-black stain. This happens because the smoke seeps into the enamel and discolors the teeth over time.
Smoking makes the skin age faster. This leads to wrinkles like "crow's feet" around the eyes and "cobblestone wrinkles" on the neck. This happens because smoking reduces blood flow, limiting oxygen to the skin, and damages collagen, which keeps skin elastic.
This condition, also known as "Favre–Racouchot syndrome," causes blackheads and wrinkles, especially around the eyes and temples. It is made worse by both sun exposure and heavy smoking. The skin becomes discolored with visible nodules and wrinkles.
A study published in Thorax 2006 found a connection between wrinkles on the face and COPD, a lung disease. It's thought that smoking affects both the skin and lungs through similar processes. If doctors notice signs like "crow's feet" on a smoker's face, they might recommend tests for COPD. This early detection can help people get treatment sooner and improve their lung health.
Credit: X.com
When John Cena started noticing blurry vision, he assumed it was simply part of getting older. But the worsening eyesight was also accompanied by redness, itchiness and crusting around his eyes.
“I had a lot of redness and itchiness, and every once in a while, waking up with eye crusties and stuff. At the same time, given my age — I'm 49 now — my vision was going a little bit, so I just figured it was par for the course. But because my vision was going, I needed to see if I needed glasses or prescriptions.”
Until then, Cena had delayed getting his eyes checked. He believed that the symptoms were caused by bright lights, excessive screen time or ageing.
However, an eye examination gave him a surprise. Cena learned that his symptoms were caused by Demodex blepharitis, a condition he says he had never heard of.
“Diagnosed with Demodex blepharitis, which I didn't even know existed.”
Also read: Study Decodes Why COVID Survivors Continue To Suffer Vision Problems
Demodex mites are tiny, eight-legged organisms that live naturally on human skin, particularly around hair follicles. Measuring just 0.15 to 0.4 millimeters, they are invisible to the naked eye but are present on the skin of almost every adult.
These microscopic mites feed on sebum (the skin's natural oil) and dead skin cells, helping remove accumulated debris under normal conditions.
Demodex mites are most active at night. They emerge from hair follicles after sunset because ultraviolet (UV) light is harmful to them. While people sleep, the mites feed, crawl and reproduce on the skin's surface.
They are also believed to be stimulated by melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep, creating a unique relationship between humans and these naturally occurring organisms.
Although harmless in small numbers, Demodex mites can cause problems if they multiply excessively—a condition known as demodicosis.
According to Dr. Richard Locksley, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, an overgrowth of Demodex mites can contribute to:
Read More: Wegovy More Likely To Cause Rare Blindness Than Ozempic And Other Similar Drugs, Recent Study Finds
People with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable because their bodies may be less able to control mite populations. In addition, inadequate sleep may increase oil production, providing more nourishment for the mites.
For most healthy people, Demodex mites are a normal part of the skin microbiome and are not considered harmful. Problems generally arise only when their numbers increase significantly.
To help reduce the risk of overgrowth:
Credit: iStock
A stroke can happen suddenly and without warning, making every minute count. The first 60 minutes after the onset of stroke symptoms are crucial because timely medical treatment can help reduce brain damage and improve recovery.
A stroke happens when the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off due to either the blockage of a blood vessel supplying that area or the bursting of the said blood vessel. Without adequate blood flow, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients and begin to be damaged within minutes.
The first hour after a stroke is focused on rapid assessment and treatment. Once the patient reaches the hospital, doctors evaluate the symptoms, determine when they started, and perform an urgent brain scan, usually a CT scan, to identify the type of stroke.
This step is important because treatment depends on whether the stroke is caused by a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). For eligible patients with an ischemic stroke, clot-dissolving medication or a procedure to remove the clot may be considered.
Although treatment windows may extend beyond the first hour for some patients, reaching the hospital as early as possible offers the greatest chance of saving brain tissue. In most patients, clot-dissolving medication is given within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, while selected patients may be eligible for treatment up to 9 hours. Mechanical clot removal is generally performed within 6 hours, although carefully selected patients may benefit from the procedure up to 24 hours after symptoms begin. However, earlier treatment is associated with better protection of brain tissue and improved outcomes.
Recognizing stroke symptoms early can help save valuable time. The BEFAST acronym is a simple way to remember the common warning signs:
B – Sudden loss of balance or coordination
E – Sudden vision loss or changes in one or both eyes
F – Face drooping
A – Arm weakness
S – Speech difficulty
T – Time to call emergency medical services
Other symptoms may include sudden loss of vision, dizziness, difficulty walking, numbness on one side of the body, confusion, or a sudden, severe headache.
During a stroke, brain cells continue to be damaged as blood flow remains interrupted. Delays in reaching the hospital can limit treatment options and increase the risk of long-term disability. Seeking medical care as early as possible gives doctors the best chance to provide appropriate treatment.
If you notice stroke symptoms in yourself or someone else, do not ignore them or wait for them to improve. Call emergency medical services immediately and note the time the symptoms first appeared, as this information helps doctors decide the most suitable treatment.
The golden hour is a critical window during which timely action can significantly improve outcomes. Recognizing the signs of stroke and seeking immediate medical care can make a meaningful difference in recovery.
Credit: AI
Massive wildfires have ravaged several parts of Canada and other regions of the world, filling the air with hazardous smoke. This has triggered health warnings far beyond the fire zones.
While most people experience immediate breathing problems during and after wildfires, experts say that some health effects can persist long after the skies clear.
Wildfire smoke is composed of harmful gases and microscopic particles known as PM2.5. These tiny particles are small enough to travel into our lungs and enter the bloodstream, where they can trigger inflammation throughout the body.
Unlike typical air pollution, wildfire smoke also contains toxic substances released from burning homes, plastics, furniture, vehicles, electronics, and industrial materials, making prolonged exposure particularly harmful.
Also read: Delhi's Poor AQI, Monsoon Conditions Put Children's Lungs at Risk: Ways to Keep Kids Safe
Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can have long-term effects on the respiratory system. Possible health effects may include:
Children, older adults, and people with existing lung conditions face the highest risk because their lung function is already compromised.
Also read: Phones, Pollution, AI: What Is Driving Cognitive Decline In Humans?
The tiny particles in wildfire smoke don't just stay confined to the lungs. Once they enter the bloodstream, they can affect the cardiovascular system. In the long run, research says wildfire smoke exposure can lead to:
With frequent incidences of wildfires, scientists are looking into how wildfire smoke affects the brain. Emerging evidence suggests smoke exposure may contribute to:
Wildfires can affect mental health in more than one way. Besides the stress of evacuation and property loss, smoke exposure itself may contribute to mental health problems directly. One is at the risk of the following mental health issues after exposure:
Communities repeatedly exposed to wildfire events may experience prolonged psychological distress that could often go undetected.
Growing evidence suggests that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke may increase the risk of several cancers. Studies have reported possible associations with lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and certain blood cancers
Although researchers say more studies are needed to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the findings highlight the importance of limiting repeated smoke exposure.
Also read: How Air Pollution Puts Heart Patients At Risk - What You Can Do About It
Pregnant women are among the groups considered most vulnerable to wildfire smoke. Research suggests exposure during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and other pregnancy complications.
Healthcare providers recommend minimizing outdoor exposure whenever air quality deteriorates.
Even after visible smoke disappears, harmful particles may remain in the air. Experts recommend:
© 2024 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited