Tobacco or Health? : Physiological and Social Damages Caused by Tobacco Smoking

"Science tends to generalize, and generaliza­ tions mean simplifications . . . . And generaliza­ tions are also more satisfying to the mind than details. Of course, details and generalizations must be in proper balance: Generalizations can be reached only from details, while it is the generalization which gives value and interest to the detail:' . . . (A. Szent-Gyorgy, Science 1964) The first edition of this book, published in German as Tabak­ abhiingigkeit in 2001, was prompted by the fact that no single volume was available in Germany or elsewhere summarising the adverse repercussions of cigarette smoking on human health. As far as my own research was able to ascertain, the last comprehensive work dealing with this subject was writ­ ten in Germany by the Dresden internist, F. Lickint, whose Tabak und Organismus was published in 1939 by the Hip­ pokrates-Verlag. All subsequent monographs in this field have tended to focus on detailed aspects, and there has been no shortage of publications on subjects such as how smokers can quit smoking, healthy eating for smokers etc. Friends and colleagues abroad have urged me to prepare an English­ language version of Tabakabhiingigkeit. In gladly complying with this suggestion, I have intentionally prepared an up­ dated and slightly enlarged new edition, taking account of the rapidly proliferating literature on the subject up to the start of 2002. The harmful sequelae of smoking are played down by politicians in many industrialised countries, including Ger­ many. Front Matter....Pages I-XVIII History of Tobacco....Pages 1-16 Epidemiology of Tobacco Dependence....Pages 17-33 Tobacco Constituents and Additives....Pages 34-58 Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics of Nicotine....Pages 59-83 Smoking and Lung Disease....Pages 84-117 Cardiovascular Disease, Disturbances of Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis....Pages 118-147 Other Organ Systems....Pages 148-221 Smoking and Pregnancy....Pages 222-247 Passive Smoking....Pages 248-284 Non-drug Treatments to Promote Smoking Cessation....Pages 285-303 Pharmacotherapy of Nicotine Dependence....Pages 304-347 Primary Prevention....Pages 348-375 Tobacco Industry, Advertising and Advertising Bans....Pages 376-399 Society, Politics and the Tobacco Industry....Pages 400-419 Appendix: Experiences from the Erfurt Smoker Counselling Centre....Pages 420-433 Back Matter....Pages 435-446 This book presents a summary of the consequences that tobacco smoking has on health, taking into account all organ systems affected, such as the respiratory tract, cardiovascular system, central nervous system, and urinary tract, including mineral metabolism, the pregnant woman, etc. It also describes primary prevention measures as well as possible intervention modalities, established on evidence-based medicine, to help individuals stop smoking. The book is of a high scientific standard and thus differs from many popular-science treatises. It helps inform the reader of all smoking-related problems