Oct 19, 2001 10:30 PM
1864 Views
Give up smoking!.is the advice on everyone’s lips! And we must all know that it is sound advice.Of course we might argue it hasn’t done us any harm, or my grand mother smoked all her life and never had a day ill! We’ve all heard those type of stories haven’t we? Fact: IN the UK there are some 8.5 million smokers. Many starting as teenagers.
I begun smoking when I was just thirteen, more in rebellion and being ‘egged on’ than through choice! However, I was soon hooked. How did I get the cigarettes? Easy, in those days it was more acceptable(and not illegal either, I don’t think). Plus I used to ‘borrow’ the odd cigarette from my Dad’s pack(who didn’t even know I smoked- so I supposed it should be classified as s tealing really). I used to get pocket money, and my friend and I clubbed together to buy a pack when we could.
At sixteen I got my first job, and was able to afford my own cigarettes. I could now buy twenties instead of the miserly ten I was getting, or the ones I was s tealing from my Dad.
My working years went by, and I smoked on average about 10 to 15 a day, rarely sticking to the one brand, and buying what was the cheapest. Working for the NHS I saw people who suffered from the dreaded big C(Cancer Why do we think we might get it just by saying the word?). Still it never put me off, after all most of the doctors and nurses smoked, so the warnings on the pack couldn’t be right could they? I was unaware then that doctors and nurses are among the biggest group of smokers!
Then my life changed-I had a rather an R T A. I was an inpatient for six months, and smoking wasn’t allowed in any of the hospital ward(except one), so the only way to satisfy that craving was to go outside and smoke in all sorts of weather.
Then I had a really bad experience in hospital, it was one night when a nurse was checking everyone, that I suddenly became unable to breath (Despite having a tracheotomy at the time). She tried to clear/clean the trachy clear, but still I choked, still I couldn’t breathe. She pressed the emergency button, and the emergency team came running through the door. It was then my mind was mad up, if I was to survive this the habit that had shared my life for many years was to go. Luckily, I survived, and I haven’t had a cigarette since. Oh yes I have had severe cravings, and they have usually gone away after a little while and finding something to do.
Will power is essential on giving up smoking if you don’t WANT to give up, then don’t bother trying because you won’t succeed. Despite, all the help available failure is almost certain. However, if you do want to give up then there is many reasons to try, and much help available.
Smoking increases the risk of cancer, and can leave you breathless, and smelly. I couldn’t believe it when after a few months of being a ‘non smoker’ someone who did smoke came to visit; the smell was horrendous, it was completely awful! And the worse bit was I used to smell like that too. That aside though, there is enough type of cancer around without added to your chances of getting one that can be avoidable.
I would really urge you to give up, before it’s too late- like I thought it was going to be.You know as well as me the risks, and I know that it is addictive, but addicts can be cured. The NHS offers a help line, chemists offer patches advice etc, and friends can also offer support. But at the end of the day the choice is completely yours!
RING OR VISIT THE FOLLOWING FOR HELP:
0800 169 0 169
0800 00 22 00
http://www.quit.org.uk
http://www.lifesaver.co.uk
Thanks for reading- Best wishes- Dave
