Hello, a wonderful day to you all great people on Hive. It's another episode of the #weekend-engagement with @galenkp's prompt topics in #weekendexperiences community.
So this week I decided to share my view on the habit of cigarette smoking. One important reason I decided to do this is because I'm a medic, and I've had several encounters with patients and other individuals with this particular habit.
Topic One: - What are your personal thoughts on the habit/addiction of cigarette smoking? Write about your own experiences, for or against it, and generally discuss the topic.
To be frank with you all, it was difficult for me chosing what I would title this post. For some reason I felt some of the people who were going to read this post might probably still be smokers till date or ex smokers. and I sure didn't want to judge anyone just from the title of the post.
(Image is mine, with collegues.)
I had a neighbor some yeas ago who although he didn't smoke, owned a kiosk where he sold cigarettes and other types of drinks and beverages. He managed the place all by himself and people who patronized him normally sit around the store to either smoke or take their beverages. He came down later with some kind of respiratory illness that was diagnosed to be chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, popularly known as COPD or smokers disease. I have seen several patients with this particular lung diseases, ranging from mild, moderate to severe cases like lung Cancers or bronchogenic carcinomas. So just as you know well, the human lungs doesn't like tobacco smoke, and even more it doesn't like staying around people who smoke tobacco.
I have often wondered what could be the possible reasons why people smoked. Ok, I know it's an addiction right! A lot of people caught up in this habit can't just help it. Even though they know the effect on their health.
One important thing we all need to know is that tobacco smoke is carcinogenic. That means it has the ability to cause the development on Cancers, especially lung related Cancers, and not just the lungs only, it can also cause other types of health challenges and Cancers in other parts of the body. One of the tricks I used as medical student was knowing that cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol intake were risk factors for many diseases, so if any question is asked during ward rounds and I run out of the major options in front of my consultant, I Just mention alcohol intake and cigarettes smoking 😂. Funny but it's true and we all are supposed to be aware of that while we try to deal with this habit.
Health is just one aspect, and the most important. Not to talk about the huge sum of money that could have been saved if this habit didn't exist. Think about the chunk of years someone you know have probably spent smoking and how much is spent on a daily basis purchasing packets of cigarette. I'm sure if you pile up the money you'll sure get a reasonable sum.
Maybe a post mortem picture of a patient with lung fibrosis or any of the lung ailments with do justice to this talk, But I wouldn't have all the time to go through the process of getting permission from patient's relatives because it's weekend already, and I'm not in clinic today.
We all desire fresh air because fresh air is very vital for optimal function of our body system. Not just that, every form of life in it's entirety needs fresh air.
Talking about fresh air, our lungs need them because it knows our living depends on it. I have friends who smoke and I don't fail to discuss this health issues with them whenever I have the opportunity. And our topic of discussion always go down to the fact that it's a habit, I mean an addiction and even though they are aware of the health risks, and how badly it's taking useful money out of their pockets, they still find it difficult to quit. "It makes me feel good and high a friend once said to me" some other people say it helps with the stress and cold weather. But one can still see someone smoking even in a very hot weather.
So let's talk a little bit about dealing with this addiction. That's if you've seen enough reasons to deal with it and I think you should really see good reasons to deal with it. Chose your Life and chose your lungs. because truely, Our life needs our lungs and our lungs need a fresh air.
Your lungs are helping you to live, You should help it too.
These could help.
Think about the technique of tapering off the daily habit of cigarette smoking and set a date when you'll call it a quit from the habit entirely. Start from the number of packets to the number of sticks taken daily. Do this for a while and you'll discover gradually that you can survive with less amount of what you smoke daily, and you can even live better by not smoking at all. I know you don't have all the time. So call it a quit as soon as possible.
Seeing a doctor or a therapist is another very effective method especially for those whose addiction is associated with various forms of obsessive compulsive behaviours.
Dealing with habits and addictions is not always easy. It requires alot of discipline. And you should do better when it's a matter of health and Life.
Let's call it a day here ❤️. I hope someone benefits from this post, and thanks to @galenkp for this week's prompt topics.
