Issue #2: Smoking

Statistics:

Current statistics say that about 60% of Filipino men smoke and more than half of Filipino households are not smoke-free. As many as 40% of Filipino adolescent boys smoke and mostly began in their teens. Every year, there are about 20,000 smoking-related deaths in the country. Many vendors of cigarettes are children. Sadly, there are no laws prohibiting minors from buying or selling cigarettes.

Effects of Smoking:

Cardiovascular Diseases: Recent statistical studies say that smoking is the most prevalent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases including heart attack and stroke among Filipinos.

Cancer: Tobacco contains nicotine, carcinogens, and other toxins capable of causing gum disease and oral cancer. It has also been shown that incidences of cancers of the lung, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, kidney and urinary bladder are increased in smokers.

Respiratory Disease: Cigarette smoking is responsible for >90% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking induces inflammatory changes in the small airways at the early stage but after more than 20 years, pathophysiologic changes in the lungs develop and progress proportional to smoking intensity and duration.

Pregnancy: Smoking is associated with several maternal complications of pregnancy including premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption, placenta previa and several others, which all lead to fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.

Other effects: Smoking delays healing of peptic ulcers, increases the risk of osteoporosis, results in premature menopause, wrinkling of the skin gallstone and inflammation of the gallbladder in women and male impotence.

"Quit!" or "Don’t try smoking!"

These phrases are the best ways to lessen or avoid the adverse effects of smoking. Some smokers find it harder to stop smoking because of a failure of previous attempt, concern about “withdrawal” symptoms and lack of information about the possible adverse effects of smoking. Only a third of smokers think that smoking is a risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

"Okay I will quit, but what do I get?"

Cessation of cigarette smoking reduces the risk of a second coronary event within 6-12 months after quitting, and rates of first myocardial infarction (heart attack) or death from coronary disease. After 15 years of cessation, the risk of a new myocardial infarction or death from coronary heart disease in former smokers is similar to that in those who have never smoked.

Cessation of cigarette smoking reduces the risk of developing cancer relative to continuing smoking, but even 20 years after cessation there is a modest persistent increased risk of developing lung cancer.

Changes in the small airways of young smokers will reverse after 1 to 2 years of cessation. There is a slowing of the rate of decline in lung function with advancing age rather than a return of lung function toward normal.

"I am a non-smoker; does this mean I will not be affected?"

Long-term exposure to environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of lung cancer and coronary heart disease among nonsmokers. It also increases the incidence of respiratory infection and asthma in children. But at least your risk of developing these diseases is lower compared to smokers.

This means that the drive for cessation of smoking should be everybody’s concern. Awareness to the several adverse effects of smoking must begin in as early as the elementary school years.

Simple coping-after-quitting tips:

1. Exercise: It will serve as an outlet and can drive you away from temptations. Further, it can make you feel better about yourself.
2. Chewing gums: Use it as an alternative to put into your mouth.
3. Avoidance: Avoid smoking areas and smokers. If it is impossible to do so, just think of the reasons why you should stop smoking. At least, it will strengthen your resistance against temptation.
4. Always brush your teeth after every meal. Use mouthwash often to keep your mouth fresh.