Susan Wilson, School Nurse; Annette Kessler, Health Clerk Pick & Click: General Info Immunization Scoliosis Screening Vision & Hearing Tests Human Growth & Development Films Health-Related Articles Health-Related Articles Drawing by Katie Kushner, grade 8 Study finds just a few cigarettes can hook (Thousand Oaks Star) Smoking: What Time Do You Have? Taste and Smell Smoking dulls the senses. Smoke blocks air from reaching pungency receptors (nerve endings), so the sense if smell and taste are lessened. Hair and Nails Smoke stains fingers and nails yellow. Cigarettes also slow the circulation of nutrients to hair and nails, making them dry and brittle. Skin Tobacco smoke slows down the flow of nutients to the skin, reducing elasticity and softness. The result can be thick, leathery skin and wrinkles. Teeth Tobacco stains the teeth a yellowish brown and also increases the amount of plaque. This can lead to cavities, receding rums, gum disease, and tooth loss. Physical Fitness Smoking robs the blood of oxygen by replacing it with carbon monoxide, making the heart work harder. The result can be shortness of breath and poor endurance during physical activities. Phlegm and Cough The lungs produce mucous to defend against the tar and cheicals in cigarette smoke. Too much phlegm causes coughing and breathing problems. Immune System mmune cells are busy fighting off the damage of cigarette toxins and are less available to fight off disease and infection. Respiratory Morbidity Smokers get more colds, and other respiratory infections. These are more likely to develop into bronchitis and pneumonia. Asthma Asthma can be caused by any of these allergens: dust mites, pets, smoke, cockroaches, etc. Airways narrow and fill with mucous, causing tightness in the chest and even suffocation. Smokers with asthma produce even more mucous and are even more susceptible to immediate asthma attacks, infection, and lung damage. Asthmatics who smoke are two times more likely to die from asthma attacks than asthmatics who don’t smoke. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) COPD, i s also known as a constant blockage of the lungs, is the obstruction of airflow to into the lungs and requires artificial breathing assistance. It includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Damage begins years before it’s noticed. Chronic Bronchitis Over time, cigarette irritants entering the airways can cause attacks of obstructed breathing, leaving airways inflamed and clogged with mucous. The result can be continuous production of heavy mucous, chronic coughing, and severe shortness of breath. Emphysema Cigarette smoke destroys lung tissue, tearing and stretching air sacs. The lungs are unable to hold fresh air and can’t fully release oxygen to the body. Over time, simple breathing suffers and it becomes impossible to exhale completely. This can lead to oxygen tank dependency. Damage is not reversible and eventually leads to death. Heart Disease Carbon monoxide robs the heart of oxygen, keeping it from functioning effectively. Nicotine is a stimulant that increases the heart rate and blood pressure and narrows blood vessels. Smoking causes cholesterol levels to increase, and blood vessels to become more susceptible to plaque. Smoking causes blood cells to become stickier and more likely to clot. Any combination of these factors (among others) can lead to a heart attack. Lung Cancer Constant irritation by cigarette smoke destroys cilia leaving lungs unable to get rid of toxins. Mucous acts as a substitute for missing cilia trapping toxins, which can lead to the uncontrolled growth of abnormal, cancerous cells. Early stages may be without symptoms; often when the disease is discovered, it is far advanced. Quitting Smoking Does Make a Difference The moment a body becomes smoke-free it starts to repair any damage that it can. Appearance improves, breathing is easier, the lungs waork more efficiently. Remaing smoke free substantially decreases the risk of developing cancer and heart disease. Most importantly, by quitting smoking you can have a positive impact on the quality of your life. Tragic experience compels man to warn of smoking dangers Wesley Austen - Staff Writer Struggling for one clean unimpeded breath. Nothing will come except a dull sticky, raspy gasp like the crackle of some ancient fire. Many would say that smoking does not effect you in such a way, at least not for many years. Jerry Leavitt, The Tobacco Prevention Specialist for the Conejo Valley Unified School District, is a witness of three lorn accounts that speak quite the contrary. According to a national survey, 85% of high school smokers will be lifelong nicotine buffs. Mr. Leavitt’s reason for becoming involved in tobacco prevention among high school students began closer to home. Nine years ago he watched helplessly as three close friends died within the same year of smoking related lung cancer. Two of these friends were 50 years old, the other was 32. The 32 year old smoked about two cigarettes a day and was “physically active and looked very healthy. The shock was so much I think psychologically that she gave up,” said Leavitt. Since those times of woe Mr. Leavitt has felt that this issue would only go on destroying if left idle. For the past two years he has been working with the Conejo Valley Unified School District and various other non-profit organizations in an effort to blight these lifelong nicotine troubles before they bloom. The American Cancer Society sponsors the third Thursday in November as a day for persuading people not to light up for 24 hours. In the midst of such persuasions there is an event called “ The Great American Smoke-out” The activity will take place on November 19 on the quad at lunch. There will be anti-smoking literature as well as question-and-answer booths. All students planning to participate are strongly urged to bring any clothing articles with smoking logos to exchange them for anti-smoking clothes that will be provided. While some may wonder what all of the ruckus about tobacco is, the industry is in the process of presenting just such notions for the young to wonder at, according to Jerry Leavitt. “The tobacco industry spends more money advertising their products in 20 minutes than “prevention” does in one year,” said Leavitt. Tobacco is more often than not the doorway to other drugs such as marijuana. While not all abusers of narcotics began as cigarette smokers, the majority did. Another factor of smoking is the amount of money spent every day to take care of tobacco related ailments. “Smokers use up 65% of the health care funds in this country. I have a friend and a cousin who are both doctors, both of them said that if all of their patients quit smoking they’re incomes would go way down,” said Jerry Leavitt, an exsmoker himself. The intent of The American Cancer Society, Jerry Leavitt, Dr. Dee, Scott Veres, Tom Lee, and most other associations and peoples involved in this program is not to force anyone to stop smoking. Leavitt ,when asked if he supported the outlawing of smoking said,“ I like the idea that everybody has a choice. I just want them to know both sides of the issue because the tobacco industries are the biggest liars on the face of this Earth.” The “Great American Smoke-out” is to be a novel event, this November being the first in many years to take place within the Ventura County. Smoking Facts & Figures As CDC releases a new study on youth and tobacco, Congress will adjourn without tobacco legislation! The Centers for Disease control has released a new study that shows that the number of youth who take up tobacco increased by 73% between 1988 and 1996. The Joe Camel and similar campaigns were instrumental in this increase. Some other findings: - In 1988, 708,000 youth began to smoke, in 1996 the number rose to 1.2 million -More than 6,000 youth under the age of 18 try their first cigarette each day. More than 3,000 become daily smokers each day. -More than 66% of all new smokers in 1996 were under the age of 18. -At least 4.5 million adolescents (aged 12-17) in the US smoke cigarettes. -Young people vastly underestimate the addictiveness of nicotine. -70% of adolescent smokers wish they had never started smoking. The study concluded that a comprehensive program is needed that includes raising the price of cigarettes, reducing teen access, school based prevention programs, regulating tobacco products and advertising, and decreasing tobacco use by parents and other role models. (We know that 13 of these new smokers or 167,000 annually, will ultimately die of smoking related disease.) What Parents Should Know About Scoliosis Have you looked at your child’s back lately? Maybe you should, because you might just spot the start of scoliosis – better know as curvature of the spine. “For the most part, scoliosis in adults is a condition that went unnoticed during an adolescent’s growth years, when a curve can progress very rapidly.” Says Alexis P. Shelokov, M.D., a spine surgeon at the Texas Back Institute in Plano, Texas. “Parents often do not recognize spinal curvature in their own children: either the pediatrician or school screening nurse is the first person to bring it to their attention. For one thing, children and adolescents are involved in out-of-home activities much more. And adolescents – especially girls – become more modest when they are around the house. “What we like to do now is identify these children early via school screening and treat them effectively, as well as not over treat those children whose curves are unlikely to progress – those who have finished growing or have only a mild curve.” While scoliosis occurs in 22 of every 1,000 people, fewer than one-fifth of the cases are serious enough to require treatment. The condition can be caused by abnormally shaped spinal bones, defects present at birth, but most cases occur for no known reason. Many schools now have scoliosis screening programs. Typically, spinal asymmetry – an unevenness of the shoulders or hips – can be observed by an individual trained in what to look for (see illustrations) – either a school nurse, pediatrician, or parent. An abnormal finding should be checked by a pediatric orthopedist. Girls mature sooner than boys, so the optimal ages to check for scoliosis are 11 to 14. For boys, it’s approximately 13 to 16. While it was once thought that spinal curves progress more commonly in girls than in boys, a recent study from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons warns that boys may be equally at risk. Thankfully, scoliosis doesn’t usually cause pain in children. In serious cases, scoliosis can become painful or deform ribs and crowd lungs, impairing normal breathing. If scoliosis is confirmed, most experts suggest observing the curve to see if it progresses: Mild curves require checkups and X rays every three to six months. A child with a moderate curve or a curve that’s getting worse may need a lightweight plastic brace, which can often halt progression of the scoliosis. The brace is worn for a period of time, until the child stops growing and the curve stops progressing. Both exercise and electrical stimulation to strengthen back muscles have been studied as possible means of avoiding bracing or surgery. Neither of these therapies has proved to be effective, says Dr. Shelokov. Severe curves usually require surgery. Fortunately, improved techniques are making the operation safer and recovery easier, with no brace required during recuperation.