Health Risks Of Smoking And Benefits Of Smoking Cessation
Introduction
Every organ of the body potentially can be harmed from smoking. Cigarette smoking causes many diseases and reduces overall health and wellness. Tom Seymour wrote an article The Reason why Smoking is Bad for You and he stated “that studies show that more than 480, 000 deaths occur in the US from tobacco related products. ” There are many consequences that occur when an individual smokes. Things will only get worse if this is a continued behavior. People put themselves at risk developing heart disease, lung cancer, problems with their immune system and many more.
Major Health Risks associated with cigarette smoking
- Lung Cancer
- Tuberculosis
- Heart Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Colorectal Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Asthma
- Vision Loss.
Lung cancer develops in your lungs and has become one of the biggest causes of deaths. This is common in people who smoke. Heart disease occurs when blood vessels have become narrow or blocked. This can result in a heart attack, and or chest pain. Diabetes is a disease that affects your body’s ability to generate insulin. Liver cancer starts in the cells of your liver. Vision loss is when your vision begin to decline. Tuberculosis is occurs from the growth of nodules (tubercles) in the tissues, especially the lungs. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in your joints. Painful is more common in the fingers, wrists, feet and ankles. Colorectal cancer is known as bowel cancer in the colon or the rectum. COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a type of lung disease that hinders normal breathing.
Health benefits of smoking cessation
Smoking cessation is the process when a person stops smoking. Benefits of smoking cessation include:
Longevity- It is never too late to stop smoking and it is encourage b/c the sooner the better.
Reduces your blood pressure- The chemicals in tobacco are known to increase blood pressure so when you quit smoking it can decrease your blood pressure.
Reduces chances of a stroke- Individuals who smoke have a high chance in having a stroke but if smoking is stopped the chances of having a stroke is reduced.
Reduce chances of heart disease - Heart disease comes from when a person smokes on a consistent basis. Also when you quit smoking it can reduce the chances of impotence, having difficulty getting pregnant, asthma and respiratory diseases.
Benefit of having a smoke free environment
A smoke-free environment creates a safe & healthy workplace. A smoke-free environment creates a safe & healthy workplace. The employer shows interest in the health of employees and their families through policy-development and efforts to address the effects of smoking on employee’s health. Direct health care costs to the employer may be reduced.
Workers bothered by smoke will not be exposed to it at the workplace. Maintenance costs will be reduced when smoke, matches, and cigarette butts are eliminated at workplaces. Smokers appreciate policies regarding smoking at the workplaceIt may be possible to negotiate lower life, health, and disability coverage if employee smoking is reduced. A clearly defined process is in place for dealing with smoking in the workplace. The risk of fires & renovations is lower. May encourage and motivate employees to quit or reduce cigarette consumption. Complies with local by-laws and legislation.
Employees who do not smoke take fewer sick days, go on disability less often, and are less likely to retire early because of poor health. Better corporate image.
Stage of Change Model
The Stages of Change Model can be used to evaluate a person’s readiness to quit smoking. -It is an integrative theory of therapy that assess an individual's readiness to act on a new healthier behavior and provides strategies or processes of change to guide the individual. It focuses on the decision making of an individual. People can also enter and exit from any part of the stages.
Motivation in each stage of the Stages of Change Model
- Precontemplation stage - Acknowledge and become aware of your position and know that you can change.
- Contemplation stage - Increasing your confidence and building off the first stage to continue to make change.
- Preparation - Get your plan together and build off your plan, knowing that you can make the change.
- Action- Behavior has changed and keep moving forward.
- Maintenance - Sustain and maintain the behavior and the changes you made and and know you came to far to give up and try to keep from relapsing.
- Termination - You’ve came to the end and came to far to turn back to your unhealthy ways continue to stay strong
Importance of role modeling positive lifestyle habit
Role modeling positive lifestyle habits is important because it gives us motivation. Role modeling positive lifestyle habits is important because it lays down a foundation for a potentially dark path. It shines and sheds light so that someone is able to reach their full potential.
Conclusion
Smoking is responsible for a number of things that's harmful to the body and others. Every organ can potentially be harmed from cigarette smoking. Smoking has been at the top of the chart for the number one cause of deaths;more than alcohol use, more than firearm related issues, more than HIV, and more than motor vehicle incidents. The mouth, lungs, brain, immune system are areas that can be affected from smoking. Luckily, if you quit you can reduce your chances of getting diseases and prolong your life.
