“Don't take alcohol, you will get drunk and not be able to control your actions ...“Don’t smoke, except you are tired
of life and really hate your lungs” and hey, ”it is unchristian to smoke and get drunk”.
These are what most persons know about the
effects of alcohol and smoking, but, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
We begin by saying that smoking
and drinking are two lifestyle habits that get a lot of negative criticism in
the health industry and for good reason. They both cause multiple complications
in the body, which eventually would range from mild sicknesses to lethal conditions, such
as;
EMPHYSEMA
This is simply the abnormal accumulation of
air in tissues, especially in lungs. The lungs, originally are pliable organs that need to
be elastic and flexible to move properly. Smoking causes the lungs to become
damaged and it compromises their elasticity. This in turn leads to a condition
called emphysema where breathing becomes labored, even with minimal exertion.
Smoking is responsible for 80 to 90 per cent of all cases of emphysema,
according to PDR [Physician’s health reference].
LUNG
CANCER
Smoking is one of the leading risk factors
for this disease. This could emanate from first-hand smoking or second-hand
smoking. Second-hand smoking is the smoke you breathe in from other people’s
“business”, some call it the TATAFO PUFF. This unhealthy threat can linger on in a room, even hours after a smoker has left.
ERECTILE
DYSFUNCTION
AHA!!! THIS ONE WILL GET YOU GUYS ATTENTION,
if nothing else will. To achieve an erection, males must get a steady flow
of blood going to the penis. If this flow of blood is compromised due to
excessive intake of alcohol or incessant smoking, erection dysfunction can
occur. MayoClinic.com views both
excessive tobacco use and unremitted drinking as risk factors for erectile
dysfunction.
HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE
When you drink excessively and smoke, you
increase your chances of getting high blood pressure. This is defined as having
a reading of 140/90 mmHg or above. If left untreated, high blood pressure can
cause congestive heart failure, heart attacks, stroke, kidney damage and vision
loss, notes the American Heart
Association.
HIGH
CHOLESTEROL
Cholesterol is produced naturally in the
liver and it is used by the body for hormone and cell production. When levels
become elevated, plaque can form on the walls of the arteries and obstruct the
flow of blood to the heart. Smoking promotes this process by damaging the blood
vessel walls. In addition, smoking lowers the levels of “good” cholesterol,
thus putting the body at risk to hormonal malfunction, amongst other things.
CIRRHOSIS
OF THE LIVER
The liver is a major organ in the body that
produces bile which breaks down fat; the liver also helps purify the blood in
addition, the liver performs glucose break down and serves as storage for iron.
However, heavy drinking over the course of time can cause liver damage. In the
worst of cases, a condition in which the liver slowly deteriorates and
malfunctions due to chronic injury.
WRINKLES
ALL MY LADIES!! you really need to read this. The skin, amongst other things is composed of elastin and collagen fibre, however, nicotine
and other harmful chemicals found in cigarettes damages this skin components, which in
turn leads to premature wrinkling. This could take place anywhere on the body,
including the face and arms. HEHE…SO IF YOU DON’T WANNA LOOK LIKE YO GRAND MA, you
really need to quit the habit, if you are already engaged passively or actively! pronto!
**Now, it is pertinent to note
that the foreigners that we in Africa tend to copy, smoke and drink partly due to their cold weather in
other to generate body heat, the weather in Washington DC ranges around 240
C /170 C , while that in Nigeria about 860 F /710
F. Even to one who really isn't good with figures, this difference is alarming. the question is WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO HEAT UP? IS IT OUR ALREADY HOT WEATHER IN NIGERIA OR OUR ALREADY SWEATY BODY?
This article would be a failure without
proffering suggestions on how to quit smoking. Thus, here are a few tips;
-Self-help books provide advice and useful
techniques.
-You can find free information leaflets at
your local health institution or library.
-Your doctors or specialist may be able to refer you to a stop-smoking group.
-Nicotine replacement; chewing gum, sprays
and patches can help in the early stages of giving up but is not suitable for
people who have already had a stroke.
**Public Health England’s Stop-tober campaign is back for its third year – encouraging the nation the nation’s 8 million smokers to stop smoking for 28 days. If you can stop smoking for 28 days, you’re five times more likely to stay quit. You will begin to experience financial, physical and health benefits including a better sense of taste and smell and a reduced risk of stroke, lung, cancer and heart disease, you can join England in this adventure, distance is not a barrier. You can watch the Stop-tober promotional movie on YouTube or search for more information about it via goggle.
-The NHSSmokefree Helpline can also help you
discuss the different ways you can give up the addiction, that is, if you are already hooked. Their helpline opening hours are
Monday-Friday 9am-8pm and Saturday-Sunday 11am-5pm. Call Smokefree on 0800 022
4 332 or log onto www.cantstopsmoking.com
.
-According to one researcher, women should not
drink more than two to three units of alcohol a day but if one is pregnant it is advisable not drink at all. This
will do no damage to the body as well as ensure the sanity of the person.
-Although doctors support a less than moderate unit of alcohol in a small glass of
wine, or a single measure of spirits or half a pint of beer. the writer of this article does not
vouch for this though, thus, if you want to be clean, be clean and not have spots
because the negative effects of these twin pillars greatly outweigh the
positives. OH WELL, EVERYONE IS EENTITLEDTO REVIEW THE OPTIONS.
Conclusively, we are
all free to make choices, but, the consequence of our choice is what we are not
free from. So make the right choice today, LIVE HEALTHY, DDON'TDIE, ONLY STAY ALIVE!
By JOE-RAY
great job JOE -RAY .... I am inspired
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