Tuesday, April 01, 2008
PERILS OF SECONDHAND SMOKE
A reminder to all smokers -- especially family and friends -- about the hazards of secondhand smoke:
* It kills about 3,000 non-smokers each year from lung cancer.
* It causes up to 300,000 lung infections (like pneumonia and bronchitis) in babies and young children each year.
* It causes babies to be at risk for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
* In a crowded restaurant, smoking can produce six times the pollution of a busy highway.
* Pets suffer too! It can cause leukemia (a type of cancer) in cats and enlarged hearts in dogs.
* It causes 30 times as many lung cancer deaths as all the different kinds of pollution combined.
* It causes wheezing, coughing, colds, earaches and asthma attacks.
* It fills the air with many of the same poisons found in the air around toxic waste dumps.
* It ruins the smell and taste of food.
* It causes reddening, itching, and watering of the eyes.
Source: It's my life. - PBS
Check out: Go Beyond the Stick Photo Contest
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Image EXIF:
Title: Ciggy Vendor
Camera: Nikon D80
Aperture: F3.5
Shutter: 10/1250 sec
Focal Length: 27mm
ISO: 400
posted by Señor Enrique at 6:44 AM
18 Comments:
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Photo Cache said... I dont smoke but it's nice to have reminders. I used to tease my mom regarding the medical problems my brother and I face (mostly respiratory). She asked me once why my brother and I easily get sick of colds and sinus problems and I had bronchitis for a while. I responded with you and dad smoked around us kids when we were young and look what we're dealing with now. But of course in those days, the perils of smoking are not known.
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armovil said...
I agree with you 100%. I usually include the hazards of smoking when I teach the Respiratory System in Biology. So that my students will know the peril of smoking at the young age. These are some symptoms of smoking, the bottom of line of this is death.
Waaaa... miss ko na ang Pinas!-
nutart said...
i was a chain smoker during my college times simply because all my barkada smoked. When I developed a smoker's cough I stopped smoking---cold turkey. Just like that. As for my barkada, the way the Universe worked is that I began to attract non-smoker friends as well!
I was thinking what if I was the only non-smoker in my previous barkada, would I have gotten a smoker's cough earlier?
But nevertheless my previous smoking habit did still give me some chronic maladies that have lasted until now. I have been dealing with it in alternative medicinal ways. Talagang smoking does not pay...except short-term peer acceptance.-
said... It's good to remind ourselves how bad smoking or second hand smoke is. But I think it's hard to ask smokers quit; noh? My father is a smoker pero he never smokes in front of us. Usually outside at the patio or garden.
:D-
said...
Thanks for this good reminder. The smkoing menace has really gotten worst. It's about time we all eradicate it.
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Señor Enrique said...
I see many adults here in Manila, Photo Cache, who nonchalantly smoke with kids around them. I'm just too chicken to say something :(
Both my parents smoked as well, but I was the only offspring who got seriously addicted to nicotine. I think my parents where very much influenced by the glamorous Hollywood image of cigarette-smoking as projected by its movie stars during the '40s.-
Señor Enrique said...
That's good of you, Alan. But you know what astonishes me is that despite the millions of dollars spent in the States to promote awareness on the hazards of smoking, many young people still choose to smoke.
Not too worry, someday soon you'll be traveling back for a vacation :)
For now, enjoy your new digs!-
Señor Enrique said...
Sadly, Bernadette, I was a chain smoker for many years. And I must admit that I'm still paying the tolls of which even after I've already kicked the addiction :(
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Señor Enrique said...
You are so right, Kyels. It is virtually impossible to convince anyone to quit smoking.
And this is why this post is meant to simply to remind them of the possible adverse effects caused by the smoke that emanate from their cigarettes.-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Major Tom!
A noble thought, indeed, but much too tough to implement. And this is why the only thing we can do is remind our smoking friends and relatives to remain cognizant on the ill-effects of secondhand smoke.-
said...
My father never smoked. My mother did, occasionally, but none of my siblings caught the habit. I guess I'm the "black sheep". Hehehe. I'm an on and off smoker. When the babies started coming, I stopped for many years then got back to it about three years ago. But now I smoke only a stick a day, after breakfast. And I can do without that one stick a day if I want to. There are days when I don't crave for it at all. I think it's best for me to just kick the habit. A stick a day is equal to 365 sticks a year, my son Aypee admonishes me all the time. And then he keeps reminding me about how the nicotene can constrict my blood vessels, etc.
Thanks for these reminders, Eric. :)-
Señor Enrique said...
My sister, like you Rhoda, rarely lights up a cigarette, but nonetheless she does. Perhaps, when she's ready, she'll just give it up altogether :)
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Unknown said...
i smoked for more than 10 years, and stopped almost 5 years ago---cold turkey. my father seldom smoked, and my mom did for a while when we were kids but she eventually quit. my mom's family however, is a bunch of smokers, mostly, the women. aunts would ask us kids to light their cigarettes while they were playing mahjong...maybe that's where i caught the habit. my maternal grandmother would lock herself in the bathroom to smoke even when she was already sick. i've had nasal surgery due to allergies, smoking was one of them, and other smoking-related health issues. When you start paying for expensive meds, you'd be motivated to quit smoking.:D
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Sidney said...
I recognize that guy...this was thumps down for the "evil one" not the cigarettes! ;-)
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Señor Enrique said...
Wow! Didn't realize you went through some challenging moments due to allergies, Luna. Glad to know that they're now all behind you.
My mother used to ask me to light her cigarettes at times, too, and that may be the green light that made me got me started to develop my own smoking habit.
It's sad that many folks back then didn't really have any idea about the side effects of smoking and nicotine addiction.-
Señor Enrique said...
That's right, Sidney! Besides, selling cigarettes is his occupation; hence, doing a thumbs down gesture on his products may not be a smart marketing strategy ... hehehe.
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pelotario said...
Yep! I used to smoked pack & half a day till the year 2000 that almost ended my life. Yes sir, my first heart attack, a very painfull experience. I was lucky to reached the E.R. I looked like a christmas tree, hooked-up to those different Cardio Machine. My physician approached my bed and said,"(my name),I will not stop you from smoking,unfortunately, you only have two choices left in life right. Ist if you
will not quit, I promise that you will not last a year. 2nd if you quit, you might prolong your life to see your friends and country again (Phils). Believe me you, Cold turkey is the best, now what is your choice? Thanks
Pelotario-
said...
Good reminder ! Studies conducted in this part of the world confirm that second hand smoke is equally dangerous.
I actually had a friend in Pinas whose 2 year old son was hospitalized due to a primary complex ( spot on the lungs). Little did they know that the yaya of the baby was a smoker. She smoked when the couple were at the office. A neighbor told them and they fired the yaya on the spot.
