Breath Fresh Air: Quit Smoking.

Quote of the Month:

“Breathing is a gift. Quit smoking and cherish it.”

~ Anonymous

I hope all is well with you and your family on this beautiful day. Imagine having the opportunity to time travel and meet your future self twenty years from today. What advice would your future self tell you? Also , what would you tell your future self?

Every year patients are evaluated at hospitals across the globe with the surprised diagnosis of Lung cancer. According to Harrison’s Principle of Medicine, each year more than 480,000 individuals die prematurely in the United States from cigarette use; this represents almost one of every five deaths in the United States. Cigarettes smoking increases the risk of Cardiovascular disease such as Myocardial Infarction. By the numbers, 24% of Coronary Artery Disease, and 11% of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are cause by cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking is responsible for 80% of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD). Smoking Tobacco causes cancer of the lung, lips, stomach, pancreas, liver, urinary bladder, colon,rectum, and breast.

Nicotine is the principal chemical in tobacco products. Nicotine is addictive. Sadly, many people that prematurely picked up smoking at younger ages were not aware of the addictive potential and negative impact of Nicotine.

Fortunately, there are many smoke cessation methods. Some of the methods include Nicotine patch, Nicotine gum, pharmacological agents such as Wellbutrin, Varenicline. The above mentioned techniques work to decrease Nicotine cravings until the individual has the courage to stop tobacco use. If you want to quit smoking, talk with your Doctor today.

One of the negative impacts of daily smoking tobacco is the chronic inflammatory changes from Nicotine’s Toxins in the lung. The excessive toxins results in the destruction of lung cells responsive for adequate physiological exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide in our lungs. For example, an individual who smokes cigarette for more than 20 years, can develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease results in destruction of lung parenchyma, decreasing the body’s ability to exhale Carbon Dioxide. As a result, the build up of Carbon Dioxide results in decreased mental acuity, increased confusion, increased yearly hospitalizations, and worsening shortness of breath at rest or with exertion. Unfortunately, advanced COPD patients become oxygen dependent. In other words, smoking cigarettes and other smoking products decreased one’s quality of life, and leads to premature deaths.

Our ability to breath is synonymous with life. Smoking cigarette impedes optimal health and destroy cilia cells in our lungs. The cilia cells are task with upward mobilization of trapped mucus in the lungs.

Similarly in our daily lives, there are many technological stimuli that destroy and disrupt our productivity due to their negative inflammatory effects on our well-being . Excessive consumption time on personal computers, Social Medias, if not limited to a few hours , slowly results in addictive behaviors that impedes progress and quality of life for our societies.

Smoke Cessation is important.

The rate of first myocardial infarction and death from Coronary Artery Disease declines after 2-4 years of smoke cessation. For example smoke cessation after 15 years is similar to nonsmoker risk of development of new myocardial infarction or death from coronary artery disease.

Here are some benefits from fresh air. Quality oxygenation to the brain improves mental capacities and decision making. All organs in our body depend on proper oxygenation for adequate cellular and molecular activities.

In conclusion, get daily fresh air to enhance the clarity of your thoughts. For every good idea begins with a clear mind. The optimization of one’s dreams requires determination, mental clarity, good health, preparedness, strong desire intertwined with lots of luck.

For the month of May, may your life be filled with utter beauty and true happiness. May your life be transformed by the Almighty. May you find your purpose this month and become the blessing this world needs!

Cheers!

From Dr. Kofi Amo-Mensah.