Studies show that at a minimum 10 Filipinos die every hour from a tobacco related death like heart disease, stroke, cancer, or high blood pressure. Chances are, you who are reading this article, do not smoke. But you probably know of someone who smokes. Life is precious. Smoking related death is the world’s number one preventable cause of death.
Here are some facts on what happens to our bodies when exposed to cigarette smoke. This is a summary taken from the World Health Organization poster SmokersBody.
Psoriasis, which is a skin disease that causes inflamed red, itchy patches on the body. Blindness from eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration. Chronic respiratory conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These conditions by themselves can severely make someone’s quality of life miserable. But usually, from what I have seen from my patients, smokers suffer from multiple illnesses not just one or two.
Cancers of the mouth, throat, tongue, lungs, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, cervix, and breast. There are even studies that link increased risk of contracting cancer in children of men who smoke.
Increased miscarriages and deformed sperm. Osteoporosis which is a condition that causes bones to be brittle and easily break. Heart disease because smoking increases the accumulation of plaque in your arteries increasing the risks for a heart attack and stroke. Smoking also affects blood vessels increasing the risk for vascular diseases that restrict blood flow to the extremities like hands, legs, and feet. This results in increased risks for severe infections like gangrene and ultimately amputations. The decreased blood flow also affects small blood vessels to the ears leading to early deafness.
Fortunately, it does not take too long for your body to recover once you stop smoking. Some of the adverse health risks mentioned above decrease by as much as 50% after just one to five years of not smoking.
So how to kick your smoking habit? Be ready and prepare. Set a quit date. Get rid of all your cigarettes and anything that might remind you of smoking. Think about the last times you tried to quit, if you had, and try to figure out what worked and what didn’t. When you get to you quit dates stop smoking and never light up.
Get help. Studies show that people who get help are more successful at quitting than those who go at it alone. Tell everyone that you are quitting smoking so you can get some support. Have a list of your “go to” group. These are people close to you whom you could go to for support and accountability at any hour of the day.
Create new patterns. When you feel like lighting up, think of different things to do instead: go for a walk, read a book, call a friend. Take up new hobbies like exercise, art, writing, cooking. Volunteer your time for a good cause. You feel good and you are helping others.
Be prepared for setbacks. Quitting is easy. It is staying smoke free that is the hardest. It is like losing weight. It is the maintenance that is the hardest to keep. Get back on track quickly if you have a setback. Get your support group to rally behind you and get your motivation up again.
There are some available resources for the public here in Dumaguete and even for those living in the outlying areas. The City Health Office here in town near the Boulevard, has a smoking cessation clinic. Anyone can drop by and get counseling and support. They also offer weekly support group meetings. The Department of Health also has similar programs. You could also talk with your own health care provider or doctor for assistance in quitting smoking.
Quitting is hard but you can’t afford to continue to smoke. Be kind to your body and each other, kick cigarettes out of your life forever!
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Author’s email: floridamsn@safe-mail.net
