Steemit Engagement Challenge Season 8 Week 3: "Smoking Kills"

Dear Healthy Life Warriors...!

Health problems continue to increase nowadays, the trigger is the awareness of the individual as the smallest part of their environment, the question is "don't they realize the impact an unhealthy lifestyle can have negative impact on themselves and their families?".

Health education can be accessed easily, and an understanding of healthy living and lifestyle has become part of their knowledge since preschool age. The problem that occurs is ignorance of the risks that will occur which should be an important element as agents of change.

"Smoking Kills" is an interesting topic and stimulates me to take part in this engagement. Previously, I would like to thank @harferri for the invitation, who is known as an active smoker, so I encouraged me to write this short article.

If seen from the expression "Smoking Kills", the combination of these two words describes the Worst Risk experienced by smokers, both active and passive smokers, this is closely related to the percentage of deaths that occur every day caused by smoking.

WHO records that around 225,700 people in Indonesia die every year due to smoking or diseases related to the substances contained in cigarettes, so it is necessary to take action on a large scale to protect the public from the dangers of smoking.

^{Research journals translated into English}

The risks posed by smoking have been clearly illustrated by the expression "Smoking Kills", various types of diseases can be caused by substances contained in inhaled cigarette smoke, for example lung cancer, heart disease, pregnancy and fetal disorders. as well as various other diseases that can reduce life expectancy (shorten life).

^{Internal Documentation Data}

As a health worker in one of the First Level Health Service Units in North Aceh District, I present cases of pulmonary disease identified in 2022, from the chat shows that the discovery of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis has increased from the previous year due to smoking.

Smoking addiction is closely related to the chemical compounds contained in cigarette smoke, and nicotine has an important role so that smokers will experience addiction and desire to smoke again. As a smoker, I experienced a difficult phase to leave this unhealthy lifestyle. stop completely, but always fail.

Nicotine has a psychoactive effect on nerve cells in the human brain so the brain will give orders to every smoker to increase nicotine production in the blood and distribute it throughout the body. A significant increase in the hormones dopamine and endorphins due to nicotine will affect changes in behaviour for smokers as if by smoking a cigarette, I will find a different sensation in the form of pleasure, increase self-confidence and trigger work productivity. Even though this is a pseudo-pleasure and smokers will continue to need nicotine intake due to brain stimulation to get this delicious sensation

Previously I was a non-smoker, I started smoking when I was still in high school, at that time I was in class III in the final semester (2001) but smoking did not reduce my academic achievement.

Studying in the health sector made me quit completely after ever trying smoking, I have avoided smoking even though I am a college friend. Thank God, I was able to survive this bad habit for 4 years.

Starting in 2006, I tried another cigarette. At that time, I was participating in the Training of Trainers at the World Food Program. The 27-day training at the Garuda Citra Hotel, North Sumatra Province, made me feel bored. I was used to friends smoking at the time. rest by the pool with music sung by a local band. I again tried a cigarette and have continued to smoke until recently.

I experienced many changes after smoking, I used to sleep late, my eating pattern was not regular, my skin was dry and I started to love coffee, coffee and cigarettes were my two main needs. My previous weight was up to 70 kg, now because of bad habits I have lost up to 60 kg. I realize that this is very dangerous for my life, but I'm also struggling to stay away from it by filling my spare time with positive activities, and providing candy if I feel like smoking again.

When compared to the time span from 2016 to 2021, my smoking frequency has greatly reduced, from 2 packs of cigarettes per day to 1 pack per day or even for 2 days only spending 1 pack of cigarettes.

Eliminating the smoking habit is not easy, but what is needed is commitment and consistency to eliminate this bad habit, the next step is to avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, the smell of cigarette smoke and seeing smokers will trigger former smokers to try. trying again, even if it's just for fun, will return to being a more active smoker than before.

Fill every free time with positive activities, divert your attention to doing positive activities and avoid places where there are lots of smokers, I more often resist the urge to smoke while working by not leaving the room, so at least it will reduce it as much as possible.

I am very sensitive to my family's health, even though I smoke, I really avoid smoking at home and even go straight to the bathroom and change clothes when I get home. I also ask my family to throw away my cigarettes if I am caught smoking, so I just buy cigarettes and store them in the trunk of the vehicle or buy cigarettes in sticks it is very effective in reducing this bad habit.

That's participation in the Steemit Engagement Challenge Season 8 Week 3 at STEEMIT HEALTH COMMUNITY. Hopefully, I can continue to contribute again in the next season

<sup>Reference:
1. Research journals translated into English
2. Kandungan Rokok yang Berbahaya Bagi Kesehatan</sup>

Thursday, March 16, 2023

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