It’s too shocking to see those statistics on smoking. We consider a major part of the people in this world as educated, then why does this happen? It’s so sad to know that there are 15 billion cigarettes sold daily which shows how much demand the product has, may be no other product has so much demand.
The sight we see these days are how easily small children between the age of 14 to 17 get into puffing, whom we find changing to chain smokers until they realize it’s evil effects. Who is responsible for this? Is it the children themselves? Is it the parents? Or is it the society?
I would say all three are equally responsible. Children who are educated should have a sense of consciousness that smoking is injurious to health. Even if they accept this fact they do not realize the gravity until they practically face the consequences. Parents, you find these days are so busy that they don’t even get to know that their child is into ruining his life. They spoil their children by just providing them with money and ample freedom, because they don’t have time to devote to spend with their children, to know their problems and guide them through the right way. Next comes the society who indeed has equal contribution to this disgusting situation.
Coming back to the situation at home, you find that children grow by seeing their father smoking which gives them temptation and think that ‘Why not I too try it?’ They get a feeling that if dad can do it why can’t I. But this I would say is not of course the major reason for the growing rate of smoking.
Children are greatly attracted to electronic media and films. Today’s generation mainly have film stars, politicians etc as their role models. If they see their role models itself taking a puff, then that’s enough and more of an excuse for them to smoke. When you find two ad’s sending a message of ‘SAY NO TO SMOKING’, there exist 100 films, which encourages the use of cigarettes. I am sure that there isn’t even one film, which doesn’t show either the hero or villain or any of the main characters using a cigarette. Children become snobs of this heroes and villains in their quest to imitate them.
I have had many ill experiences in public places. I became a passive smoker. One such situation was when I was traveling from kannur to palakkad in train. A man in his middle age was going on puffing making his co-passengers suffocate. I am sure he would have at least smoked 20-25 cigarettes with a span of 2-3 hours. I started have breathing problem due to this and when it became unbearable, I requested the man to stop smoking giving due respect to his age. Similarly I have people among my friends who smoke either for fun or to forget their problems. I don’t understand what kind of fun and enjoyment they get even when they know what the end result would be. And is this a solution to forget your pains. It’s just escaping from your problems rather than facing it boldly. It’s rubbish if someone thinks that smoking can relieve you from your problems.
Health hazards caused by smoking
The effects of smoking are legion. The following are the various health related problems that will be faced due to smoking:
1) Smoking has effect on the respiratory system and cardiovascular system, the most dreaded effect being lung cancer.
2) Smoking not only affects active smokers but it equally affects the passive smokers.
3) It is found that smoke contains more than four thousand poisonous substances, which cause various diseases, which can even lead to death. Some of them are cancer-producing substances, carbon monoxide, nicotine, and other irritating substances.
4) Smoking results in lung, heart and blood vessel diseases.
5) Smoking makes you less healthy, less fit and less likely to succeed in life.
6) Causes breathing problem, wheezing, coughing and headaches and damages your sense of taste and smell.
7) Causes premature wrinkling of the skin, bad breath and it stains your teeth and fingernails.
Effects on NON-SMOKERS
For every person who smokes, there are two who don’t. But still the non-smoker breathes the smoke that has been inhaled and then exhaled by the smoker, which thus exposes the non-smoker to the same disastrous effects that a smoker faces.
Non-smokers who are more exposed to inhaling smokes exhaled by the active smokers have a 35% increased risk of getting lung cancer than those who live with non-smokers. Chronic cough and phlegm are also more frequent among children of parents who smoke.
Measures to curb smoking
1) Creating awareness among the younger generation through seminars, debates and media publicity.
2) Strictly implement legal measures against smoking in public.
3) Give incentives for non-smokers in the various organizations.
4) Increase taxes and cess on cigarettes and similar products.
“SAY NO TO SMOKING”
