What is Stress?    

Stress is what we have when life gives us challenges. There are many ways that we may be challenged. Perhaps we have to change the way we live (like when we get a new job or have a baby). Perhaps we have to solve a problem (like finding ways to pay bills). Perhaps we have to get a task done in a short amount of time (like when the boss wants our report first thing in the morning). Perhaps we have to make a hard choice (for example, whether or not to have surgery). When we are challenged we may have stress. These challenges are called stressors. Stressors come in all shapes and forms. Major events that happen to us are one type of stressor.

Tobacco is a well-established risk factor for various diseases including lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease. Passive smoking has been associated with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and bronchial asthma in children (Stanton, Lowe & Silva, 1995). Despite its health risks, the use of tobacco is common throughout the world, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. The consumption of cigarettes in Pakistan was estimated at 90,000,000,000 cigarettes in 2005.

Adolescent smoking is associated with various factors, including demographic characteristics, interpersonal issues (e.g., social norms and social influence of smoking), and physical environmental factors (e.g., availability of cigarettes and space for smoking). The proximal and distal psychological risk factors of smoking behavior and intention vary based on the cultural context (Way, Stauber &  Nakkula, 2007). Proximal factors include peer influence, which is often expressed as peer pressure , and positive attitude toward smokers and smoking cohabitants (Leventhal & Cleary, 2002). Distal factors include emotional distress from having a reciprocal relationship with smoking behavior , such as social motives, effect and stress, knowledge about smoking, perceived benefits of smoking, risk perception of smoking, media, and tobacco advertising/promotion, and family and school environment (Kandel  & Davies, 2006). Barriers or physical constraints are similarly related to the change in smoking behaviors among adolescents (Igra  & Irwin 2004).

Smokers commonly report smoking more under conditions experienced as stressful, and it has been suggested that smoking is a technique for dealing with stress. Prospective studies have found associations between anxious, aggressive, and generally neurotic personality traits in childhood and a tendency to smoke later in life. Using a crosssectional sample of 668 adults, Billings & Moos (1983) found that smokers, especially heavy smokers, differed from non-smokers in showing higher levels of anxiety/depression symptoms and negative

life events.

The large overlap between mental illness and smoking is not entirely surprising considering the known effects of nicotine on the brain. Nicotine is a psycho stimulant that effects several neuro regulators that influence behavior and mood (Leonard, Adler, Benhammou & Berger, 2001). In some circumstances, nicotine can relieve symptoms of both depression and anxiety (Picciotto & Brunzell, 2002). Nicotine cessation can also precipitate depressive symptoms, particularly in people with a history of major Depression (Berman &  Glassman 2001). However, it has been questioned whether these are independent depressive symptoms or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms (Glassman, 1993). The onset of depressive symptoms following smoking cessation has been linked with lower quit rates, and most commonly occurs in people with depression (Ziedonis  & Hitsman, 2008). These factors have lead to the self-medication hypothesis – that smokers with mental illness choose to smoke because it is the easiest, most readily accessible way to control symptoms of mental illness, especially for those who are not receiving any prescribed form of treatment for their mental

health condition (Khantzian, 1997).

While the self-medication theory implies there is a therapeutic benefit to smoking which people with depressive or anxiety symptoms find helpful, research suggests that smoking provides temporary relief from immediate symptoms, while overall creating a greater level of anxiety and stress (Williams & Ziedonis, 2004). Thus the alleviation of stress and anxiety by smoking may be part of the withdrawal feedback mechanism. It has been suggested that the self-medication hypothesis has too often been used as a justification for not acting to curb cigarette smoking in this population despite the fact that nicotine is not regarded as the most appropriate therapy for any mental health problem, and that even if it were, cigarettes would not be an appropriate form of administering it (Ziedonis, Hitsman, Beckham  &  Zvolensky, 2008).  

Although most people understand that smoking harms a person’s health, many smokers believe it helps them cope with stress. Since nicotine is a psychoactive (mood altering) drug, tobacco use seems to make the subjective effects of stress (such as feelings of frustration, anger, and anxiety) less severe. This is because the nicotine in cigarettes reaches the brain in only 8 seconds, releasing a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine causes an initial sense of calm and well-being, and causes your body to crave that sensation again and again. This is a cruel illusion; while one may feel an initial sense of calm when he/she smokes, the body is actually under a great deal of increased stress. Blood pressure and heart rate increase, muscles become tense, blood vessels constrict, and less oxygen is available to the brain and body to facilitate healthy coping. Smoking also leads to ineffective coping, as the causes of the initial feelings of stress are still present – smoking does not change the situation at all.

Contrary to the belief that smoking is an aid for mood control; it actually heightens tension, irritability and depression, during nicotine depletion in the body (Farrell,  Howes,  Bebbington  &  Brugha,  2001). This mood swing arises between smokes or during periods of nicotine abstinence. Dependent smokers need nicotine to remain feeling normal (Hastie  & Tibshirani, 1986).

So this was about the relationship between smoking and stress. Stay connected, because i am comming with more amazing articles.

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TAGS:  Stress, The Relationship Between Stress and Smoking, stress management, stress symptoms, what is stress,  definition of stress , smoking

Top Ten Home Remedies for Tooth cavity

Are you a victim of tooth cavity pain? Obviously speaking, every tooth problem is always painful and very difficult to tackle. This one is even better than the cavity pain. Cavity is fundamentally recognized as a small hole that is found in the tooth due to the occurrence of the tooth decay. Tooth decay usually occurs because of lack of the dental sanitation and piling up of plaque and bacteria in the tooth. Also, it can occur because of insufficient quantity of minerals in the diet. For a long period of time, it has been the common believe of the people that only dentist can treat any tooth cavity problem but there are natural remedies for tooth decay which you can use and do it by yourself.

Here are top ten natural remedies for tooth decay cavity:

1. Fluoride Mouthwash

Medically, fluoride is very good for teeth and enable more mineral in them. Now that insufficient minerals remain as one of the root cause of tooth decay, by making use of fluoride mouthwash is indeed a good natural remedy for tooth decay and heal your cavity problem.

2. Calcium and Magnesium Powdered Mixture

Mix calcium and magnesium powders together and use it to rinse your mouth. The two minerals are highly beneficial to your health. In the first place, both of them help in re-mineralizing your teeth. Also, it maintains the alkalinity level of your mouth thereby protect your teeth from being affected by your cavity acid.

3. Take Cod Liver Oil and Butter Oil

Both butter oil and cod liver oil are rich in vitamin A, D and K and all the three vitamins are very good for dental hygiene maintenance. Either of the two can be taken separately as supplement or better still; take capsule that consists of the two.

4.Bone Broth

Bone broth is the type of broth extracted from animal bones. The animals include lamb, beef, poultry and at times bison, all in addition to water. There are lots of advantages in broth. Such include:
It enhances digestive system.
It strengthens nail, skin and hair.
Since broth is rich in calcium and magnesium, it enhances the removal of cavities and as well as fighting tooth decay.

5. Mouthwash with Salt Water

This is very common among other home remedies for any kind of tooth pain. What you need to do in this type of application is to add a teaspoon of salt to warm water and mouthwash with it. Ensure that you rinse it with your cavity very well.

6. Clove Oil

Put a little bit of clove oil on your forefinger and gently use it to massage your teeth where you are affected in your cavity. Clove oil relief you of your pain which you experienced from your cavities and tooth decay.

7. Wash Your Mouth with Vegetable Oil

Vegetable enhance the effective removal of your tooth infection and thereby relieve you from pain. All what you need to do is to take little cup and pour vegetable oil. Wash your mouth with the vegetable oil and ensure it stays on it for about one and a half minutes before you finally spit it out.

8. Alcohol Compress

Take gin, whiskey and vodka and add them together. Mix them thoroughly. Pour some inside a bowl. Take clean wash cloth and dip inside the solution. Then use it directly by compressing it against the tooth cavity. At the first contact of it to your tooth, the alcohol could sting but after some time, it lessens and you start feeling relieve of the compress as the pain begins to reduce.

9. Mouthwash with Vanilla Essence

Vanilla essence in its pure state is an effective mouthwash which can be used as tooth ache relieve.

10. Dental Care Hygiene

The best way to deal with tooth cavities is to stop them to occur in the first place. Make sure you brush your teeth two times per day, floss and use mouthwash as they are very essential to thoroughly clean your mouth from any impurity. This will prevent your mouth from plaque and bacteria from piling up on your teeth and thereby preventing your cavities. However, if the problem persists after trying all the above mentioned guides, then you can reach out to your dentist from medical application.

All the above mentioned remedies are very simple which you can easily apply by yourself most especially when you are experiencing tooth cavity symptoms. Before any severe tooth pain could occur, there must be tooth cavity symptoms and when you get rid of the symptoms, you can quickly overcome the probability of having tooth cavity problem.