Cebu City – Smoking is widespread in all countries of the world. The Philippines is not exempted. Along the streets of Cebu City, you can see people smoking outside the establishments, whether young or old, male, or female. Based on the Department of Health, there are currently an estimated 1.3 billion smokers in the world, with 4.9 million people dying because of tobacco use in a year. If this trend continues, the number of deaths will increase to 10 million by the year 2020, 70% of which will be coming from countries like the Philippines.
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Nicotine is the main component of cigarettes and is classified as a stimulant known to cause a decrease in appetite and increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Smoking also causes the depletion of various nutrients in the body including zinc, calcium, folate, vitamin C and E, lycopene, and essential fatty acids in the omega 3 and omega 6 families. Possible causes of this depletion may include free radicals in cigarette that destroys natural antioxidants of the body and unbalanced nutrition more than body requirement resulting from the suppressed appetite of smokers. They were also at high risk for malnutrition and the dangers along with it.
The best remedy for these risks and problem is to quit smoking. Though it is hard for some people who smoke for years, they may consider speaking with a professional to begin their smoking cessation journey. And have good and balanced meals that are rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, zinc, calcium, lycopene, and essential fatty acids to replace those depleted nutrients caused by smoking.
Starting a healthy lifestyle, good exercise, balanced nutrition, and self-discipline is the key to a healthy and long life. Always remember that prevention is way better than a cure. // NO I 1 Armie D. Plando RN
Source: https://doh.gov.ph/search/node/smoking
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/index.htm#
https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/cigarette-smoking-appetite-suppressant
