Introduction
This article may in some ways surprise you, as, certainly in the UK, you have not been able to smoke in public places for a number of years, however, this has not stopped people from doing so wherever it is legal to do so.
You may ask why I do I want to write this article, it is really very simple, not only did I smoke from a very young age, at one time I would often smoke forty cigarettes a day. That is if I was not trying to give them up and smoke cigars instead. Even rolled my own to see if it would help.
Please understand that this article is not aimed at making smokers repent of their ways, but rather my story of smoking and how it can not only damage your health, but those of others around you, and the space in which you live.
Last week (I think) it was twenty-nine years since I quit the weed, boy did I struggle, one reason was that my daughter was about to give birth to our first Grandchild, we knew that the birth would be difficult, also that the child would do well to survive.
If I was in any doubt about no longer smoking, it was confirmed when our Grandson (who was 29 in May), was born with one lung, with very strict instructions must not be near smokers.
This article might be entitled Stop Smoking, but is really the reasons why you should, not how to stop the habit.
The Space Around You
Smokers do not always realise of how smoking can impact on the space in which you live, work and breathe:
- After one of my spells of not smoking, when I started again my wife asked me if I would mind smoking outside as the smoke got in her eyes and on her chest, as a result I smoked either in the car which was in the garage, outside, or even went for a walk, was not going to upset my wife because of my addiction.
- Smokers clothing smells, as does their hair and skin, not pleasant for non-smokers.
- Rooms that house smokers become stained with nicotine.
- If you smoke in the car that too becomes tainted.
- Many smokers tend to have chesty coughs, I still have one in the winter after all these years of not smoking.
- If you smoke in a public place the surrounding people can suffer by breathing in the smoke, also it can affect peoples eyes.
- Inconsiderate smokers often discard their finished smoke on the pavement, causing litter, not to mention the risk of a fire in the countryside.
I could of course, go on and on, but think that the items that I have mentioned will suffice and give you the general picture of why smoking is bad for those around you who do not smoke.
Health
We read volumes of the dangers of smoking and how it can affect your health, also as mentioned above, of those around you. To my mind there are a number of major areas or health problems caused by smoking:
- Lung or chest infections
- Heart problems
- Cancer, have separated this off, as throat cancer is often caused by smoking.
- There is evidence that smokers can develop cataracts, I have had both my eyes done, in fact my eyesight got so bad that I was not able to drive for three months.
- Smoking can in fact suppress the body’s immune function.
- Smoking contributes to chronic sinusitis, have had that, but it has eventually cleared up since I stopped smoking, but it did take a few years to do so.
- Nicotine is considered to be just as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Seeing those who vap no seems to confirm this point.
- As a young man I remember people saying that an Uncle had died of cancer and that they could not understand it as he did not inhale when he smoked, this of course is very wrong as smoke can enter the body through nose, mouth and skin.
- Your skin can age faster due to smoking.
- Your stomach acidity is increased which can irritate the stomach lining.
The ten possible problems listed above should further convince you of the dangers of smoking.
Conclusion
Having read through this again, it does appear to be an article that really condemns smoking, OK, it probably does, because I have seen at firsthand what damage it can cause to not only those who smoke, but those around them.
I do have a simple attitude to this, kill yourself if you want too, but not those who do not smoke, do not want to smoke, do not need to smoke, but are close to you.
Forgive the bluntness of this article, but it is part of my website dealing with health.
The next article which will be posted on Monday will be “Alcohol and You”
Be Healthy
Stuart
https://healthyyouonline.com.
Stopping smoking is a very important decision that can significantly improve one’s overall health and well-being. It’s been proven that smoking causes many health problems, from lung cancer to heart disease, and quitting smoking can help reduce these risks. However, quitting is not easy, and many people struggle with it. How can society as a whole work towards reducing the prevalence of smoking and promoting healthier habits? This is an important question that needs to be addressed in order to encourage more people to stop smoking and lead healthier lives. Awesome article
Hi,
Many thanks for this reply which highlights a major question how do we educate people to stop? Think that at the end of the day it is down to the individual, which will of course lead to other problems, good comment though, many thanks.
Stuart
Smoking has a long time effect on our lungs. I struggled with a cough until I quit smoking. And every time I remember it, I am always grateful to my wife. It can be challenging to stop smoking. But with the necessary assistant, you can stop the habit. I cultivated the habit out of peer group pressure. It became a health challenge, and my wife could not help nursing my heart condition. So she started reading books and discovered how she could help me
This reply really does open people’s eyes to the danger of smoking, many thanks for sharing this with us.
Stuart
Stuart, thank you very much for this article. It is a must-read for all that are smoking and want to quit the habit. Whatever you have highlighted is true, and backed up by scientific studies. The dilemma I see facing most of smokers is addiction!! This weakens the willpower and it is the major hindrance to the success of quitting smoking. While it is not good for any of us to blame smokers, especially bearing in mind the difficulty they experience, your article is spot on in not hiding the danger and what one needs to do. I will also be glad if you can guide anyone on how to overcome addiction. Thank you once again.
Hi, so many thanks for these comments, my only comment regarding advice on addiction, is mind over matter, if you want to stop any addiction then you need to go for it. I stopped smoking several times before I finally won the battle.
Stuart